Senior Director, Program Delivery

Royal Bank of Canada • Toronto, ON

25d • 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. 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 a blend of technical depth and program execution excellence to drive delivery at scale. The individual will establish program delivery excellence, build governance frameworks, and foster a culture of ownership and continuous improvement, enabling RBC to accelerate AI adoption and deliver measurable business value.

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