Director, Ops Engineering & Automation

RBC • Toronto, ON

4d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven Director to lead our Operations Engineering & Automation function across our global middle and back-office investment banking operations. The ideal candidate will be a visionary leader who excels at orchestrating complex, enterprise-scale automation initiatives while driving measurable operational value. This role combines strategic planning with hands-on leadership, developing end-to-end automation strategies, championing technological innovation, and building high-performing teams that deliver transformational change. The successful individual will serve as the architect of our automation platform, the champion of process excellence, and the mentor to teams driving the next generation of operational efficiency.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in operations, automation, process optimization, and/or technology leadership within a financial services institution.
• Demonstrated expertise in process optimization methodologies (Lean Six Sigma certification preferred) with proven track record of delivering measurable operational improvements.
• Deep knowledge of RPA and low-code/no-code automation platforms (Blue Prism, Power Automate, or equivalent), including deployment, governance, and scaling considerations.
• Strong foundation in Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) practices, project management, and risk management frameworks.
• Proven ability to conduct Return on Investment (ROM) analysis, financial modeling, and business case development for technology initiatives.
• Demonstrated stakeholder management expertise with the ability to influence senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and external partners.
• Expert-level knowledge of investment banking operations, including settlement, compliance, regulatory reporting, middle-office functions, or equivalent financial services experience.
• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate complex organizational structures and ambiguity.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, capable of articulating technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with digital transformation programs or enterprise-wide automation initiatives in a regulated financial environment.
• Familiarity with new technology implementation methodologies and center-of-excellence (CoE) models.
• Background in compliance, risk management, or audit functions within a financial institution.
• Knowledge of technologies such as intelligent document processing (IDP), machine learning (ML), or artificial intelligence (AI) applications in operations.
• Executive- or Senior Leadership-level presentation experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive, end-to-end automation strategies that align with business objectives and drive sustainable competitive advantage across middle and back-office operations.
• Lead cross-functional teams to design, develop, and deploy automation solutions leveraging conventional SDLC, RPA, low-code/no-code platforms, and emerging technologies.
• Partner with business units to conduct deep-dive analyses of current-state processes, identify automation opportunities, and translate business requirements into scalable automation solutions.
• Design and establish automation frameworks, governance structures, and reference architectures that ensure scalability, maintainability, compliance, and seamless integration with existing enterprise systems.
• Build and oversee a robust quality assurance and support framework to ensure automation solutions operate at the highest standard and deliver sustained value.
• Define and track key performance indicators and return on investment (ROI) metrics for all automation initiatives, providing executive-level reporting and insights to senior management and business stakeholders.
• Evaluate, assess, and integrate top-tier automation solutions and vendor platforms, ensuring alignment with business needs and delivery of measurable value.
• Champion a culture of continuous innovation by staying abreast of emerging automation technologies, trends, and industry best practices, identifying opportunities for competitive advantage.
• Establish and maintain automation governance frameworks and control environments that ensure full regulatory compliance, operational risk mitigation, and adherence to industry best practices.
• Collaborate with data strategy and enterprise architecture teams to ensure automated processes have access to high-quality, validated data and integrate effectively with enterprise infrastructure.
• Mentor, coach, and develop the Intelligent Automation team's technical and leadership capabilities, fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and excellence.

Benefits

• A comprehensive Total Rewards Program including bonuses and flexible benefits, competitive compensation, commissions, and stock where applicable.
• Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities
• Ability to make a difference and lasting impact.
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team.
• Flexible work/life balance options.
• Opportunities to do challenging work.
• Opportunities to take on progressively greater accountabilities.
• Access to a variety of job opportunities across business.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director