Senior Director, Program Delivery

Royal Bank of Canada • Toronto, ON

6d • Onsite

About The Position

RBC's AI Group is scaling rapidly to deliver on its $1 billion AI ambition, deploying transformative AI solutions across various domains. As the AI Solutions portfolio expands, there is a need for a strategic leader with technical depth and program execution excellence to drive delivery at scale. The Senior Director, Program Delivery will lead the strategic planning, execution, and governance of large-scale AI solution delivery programs across RBC's enterprise. This role requires both technical credibility and program management expertise to ensure AI initiatives are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with business objectives, while managing dependencies across research, engineering, platform, and business teams. This is an opportunity to shape how RBC delivers AI at scale, establish program delivery excellence, build governance frameworks, and drive a culture of ownership and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• 12+ years of experience in technology delivery with a strong technical foundation (software engineering, platform engineering, or infrastructure engineering background preferred).
• 7+ years in program management, delivery leadership, or technical leadership roles managing large-scale, complex technology programs.
• Deep technical understanding of software delivery, platform engineering, cloud architectures, and modern engineering practices.
• Proven track record delivering complex AI, ML, data, or platform programs in production environments, preferably in financial services or regulated industries.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence technical teams while driving program execution and accountability.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML solution delivery including model development, engineering, platform integration, and production deployment.
• Experience establishing program governance, delivery frameworks, and operational excellence in fast-paced, complex environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with ability to influence senior executives, technical leaders, and business partners.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills with experience using OKRs, KPIs, and metrics to drive delivery outcomes.

Nice To Haves

• Background as a software engineer, platform engineer, or distinguished engineer who transitioned into delivery leadership.
• Experience leading platform engineering teams or building platform-as-a-product capabilities.
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile, SAFe, or Scrum Master certifications.
• Experience driving cultural transformation and organizational change in engineering organizations.
• Understanding of generative AI, foundation models, MLOps, and AI solution delivery at enterprise scale.
• Experience managing programs with budgets of $10M+ and cross-functional teams of 50+ people across multiple workstreams.
• Familiarity with digital banking platforms, online/mobile systems, or customer-facing technology delivery.
• Computer Science degree or equivalent technical background; Master's degree in technology management or related field is a plus.
• Track record of thought leadership through conference speaking, technical writing, or community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of the AI Group's most strategic and complex programs, ensuring alignment with RBC's $1 billion AI ambition and organizational goals.
• Partner with VP, Solutions Engineering & Delivery and senior AI Group leadership to translate strategic priorities into actionable program plans with clear roadmaps, milestones, and deliverables.
• Oversee multiple large-scale AI delivery programs simultaneously, managing interdependencies across ATOM Engineering, AI Solutions Engineering, platform teams, and business lines.
• Work with senior leadership to define business cases, program objectives, scope, timelines, and budgets for major AI initiatives.
• Translate program vision into detailed execution plans with associated financial targets, delivery design, and measurable key performance indicators.
• Establish and mature program management practices across the AI Solutions organization, creating standardized processes, methodologies, and tools.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities for process optimization and implementing best practices to enhance delivery effectiveness.
• Manage and facilitate the execution of scaled Agile delivery including dependencies across programs and initiatives, technology prioritization, resource planning, and platform capabilities.
• Leverage OKRs and KPIs to track program health, delivery velocity, and business outcomes, establishing data-driven decision-making practices.
• Provide executive-level reporting for Executive Steering Committees and senior stakeholders with timely updates on program status, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Apply technical expertise to understand AI solution architectures, platform dependencies, and engineering constraints that impact program delivery.
• Partner closely with engineering leaders (ATOM Engineering, AI Solutions Engineering, Platform teams) to balance technical excellence with delivery timelines.
• Navigate complex technical trade-offs and help teams make informed decisions on architecture, tooling, and delivery approaches.
• Establish technical governance processes that ensure quality, scalability, and reliability without compromising delivery speed.
• Serve as a credible technical voice in stakeholder discussions, translating technical concepts for business audiences and business needs for technical teams.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders across AI Research, Applied AI, platform teams (Lumina, AI Architecture), business line CIOs, and enterprise partners.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among program teams, technology partners, and senior leadership to drive alignment and remove blockers.
• Partner with AI Governance, Model Risk, and compliance teams to ensure program deliverables meet regulatory and ethical AI standards.
• Collaborate with business line leaders to understand requirements, manage expectations, and ensure AI solutions deliver measurable business value.
• Drive cultural transformation by fostering a program mindset, shared ownership, and user-centric delivery practices across delivery teams.
• Build and lead a high-performing team of program managers and delivery leads responsible for executing AI solution programs.
• Foster a culture of ownership, innovation, accountability, and continuous learning within the delivery team.
• Mentor and develop program management talent, creating career pathways and building organizational capability.
• Empower delivery teams with the tools, processes, and support needed to succeed in a fast-paced, complex delivery environment.
• Champion strategic storytelling and change management to drive adoption of new delivery practices and cultural mindsets.
• Identify, assess, and proactively mitigate program risks, developing contingency plans and ensuring effective risk management across the portfolio.
• Drive issue resolution and escalation management, ensuring obstacles are addressed quickly and effectively.
• Manage program budgets and financial planning in collaboration with finance and business management teams.
• Optimize resource allocation across programs, balancing capacity, skills, and priorities to maximize delivery throughput.
• Track program spend, forecast future needs, and ensure cost efficiency across the AI solutions delivery portfolio.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Total Rewards Program including competitive compensation, bonuses, flexible benefits, and stock options.
• Talent development: Leaders who support your growth through coaching, mentorship, and opportunities to expand your delivery expertise.

What This Job Offers

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