Manager, Strategic Initiatives & Execution, Aviva Direct

Aviva • Toronto, ON

7d • CA$100,000 - CA$120,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

We're seeking a results-driven Manager, Strategic Initiatives & Execution to play a critical role in delivering Aviva Direct's strategic priorities and long-term growth ambitions. Reporting to the AVP, Direct & Partnerships, this position will serve as a key partner in driving cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution, ensuring business priorities are translated into clear action plans and delivered with discipline, accountability, and measurable impact. The successful candidate brings a strong blend of business acumen, strategic thinking, and structured problem-solving capabilities. They excel in navigating complex business challenges, building alignment across diverse stakeholder groups, and driving execution in a fast-paced, evolving environment. A natural influencer and collaborator, this individual can effectively coordinate teams across multiple functions, remove barriers, and maintain momentum to achieve shared business outcomes. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution and is passionate about turning ambitious goals into tangible results.

Requirements

• University degree in Business, Commerce, Economics, Engineering, or a related field.
• 2-3 years of experience in P&C insurance or management consulting with demonstrated work supporting Property & Casualty insurance carriers, ideally with exposure to cross-functional initiatives, strategy, operations, or transformation programs.
• Strong understanding of P&C insurance operations and business processes, with an appreciation for how different functions contribute to organizational objectives.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills with a bias toward action and execution.
• Strong analytical and business acumen with the ability to identify opportunities and drive them through implementation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting enterprise transformation, strategic planning, or business performance initiatives.
• Familiarity with business case development, financial analysis, and benefits tracking.
• Experience creating executive dashboards and management reporting.

Responsibilities

• Own the opportunity board and supporting the execution of Direct's priorities and five-year growth ambitions by coordinating initiatives across multiple business functions.
• Act as the central point of coordination ("quarterback") for key strategic programs, ensuring alignment, accountability, and timely delivery.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and execution bottlenecks, proactively driving resolution and maintaining momentum.
• Bring strong project management discipline to cross-functional initiatives, including planning, governance, tracking, and reporting.
• Establish clear milestones, success metrics, and stakeholder accountability frameworks.
• Facilitate working sessions and governance forums to ensure initiatives remain on track.
• Build strong relationships across business, operational, technology, and support functions.
• Influence stakeholders at various levels to drive alignment and decision-making.
• Address day-to-day business challenges and remove obstacles that may impact delivery.
• Develop executive-level reporting, dashboards, and presentations that provide visibility into progress, outcomes, risks, and opportunities.
• Conduct analysis to identify performance improvement opportunities and support data-driven decision-making.
• Prepare business cases and strategic recommendations to support investment and prioritization decisions.
• Maintain an ongoing understanding of market trends, competitive dynamics, and emerging industry developments within the P&C insurance landscape.
• Translate external insights into actionable recommendations that improve customer experience, operational effectiveness, and business performance.
• Proactively identify opportunities for growth, efficiency, and innovation.

Benefits

• Outstanding career development opportunities.
• Support for professional development education.
• Competitive vacation package with the option to purchase 5 extra days off per year.
• Employee-driven programs focused on gender, LGBTQ+, origins, diversity, and inclusion.
• Corporate wellness programs to support our employees’ physical and mental health.
• Employee discount on home and auto insurance (where applicable).

What This Job Offers

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