Senior Director, Strategy Risk Business Operations and Shared Services

Royal Bank of Canada•Toronto, ON

4d•Onsite

About The Position

As the Senior Director, Strategy Risk Business Operations and Shared Services you will lead a high-performing team of directors, senior managers, and managers to drive strategic, operational, and financial excellence within RBC’s Commercial & Payment Technology (CPT) portfolio. This critical leadership role is accountable for Financial Management, Project Portfolio Planning, Vendor Management, Risk & Compliance, and Strategic Planning, ensuring alignment with enterprise priorities and delivering exceptional business outcomes. You will champion employee engagement, change management, and innovation (e.g., AI adoption) while maintaining rigorous governance and operational excellence.

Requirements

15+ years of leadership experience in Technology, Financial Services, or Operations, with expertise in Risk, Governance, and Vendor Management.
Proven track record in strategic planning, financial management, and large-scale project delivery.
Strong understanding of AI, Agile/SDLC methodologies, and regulatory compliance.
Exceptional negotiation, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or related field

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced certification preferred.
Payments industry experience

Responsibilities

Lead the Planning, Risk & Governance functions, overseeing financial management, project portfolio planning, and strategic alignment with RBC’s Commercial Banking and T&O objectives.
Develop and execute CPT’s 5-year strategic plan, leveraging internal/external research and partnering with business executives to drive disciplined project management.
Champion enterprise initiatives (e.g., AI/AIDLC) and change management within CPT, ensuring successful adoption and engagement.
Foster exceptional employee engagement through targeted strategies and communication plans in partnership with Enterprise Communications.
Ensure adherence to Risk & Governance policies, standards, and control points (e.g., audits, access reviews, compliance attestations).
Lead T&O and RBC-initiated Risk & Governance campaigns, collaborating with Risk, GS, and business partners.
Oversee Business Continuity Management (BCM), including plan approvals, testing, and strategy.
Monitor Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) and escalate issues, ensuring alignment with first-line defense (Internal/External Audit).
Lead the expansion of Vendor Management, optimizing on-shore/off-shore resources and negotiating multi-million-dollar contracts.
Drive cost savings, efficiencies, and service standards across vendor relationships, ensuring alignment with financial and operational targets.
Define and execute the Financial Plan for application maintenance, development, and Risk & Governance efforts.
Provide timely, actionable financial reporting (budgets, forecasts, metrics) to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and stakeholders.
Manage IT Development, Maintenance, and Financial budgets, ensuring alignment with annual and 5-year plans.
Oversee project accruals, cost accounting, and vendor invoice management to meet overhead and recovery targets.
Monitor performance metrics, scorecards, and dashboards, driving process improvements and benchmarking.
Lead Program/Project onboarding/closure, ensuring accurate financial tracking in systems (e.g., Planview, MIS).
Leverage AI and automation for reporting and project delivery efficiencies.
Build and mentor a high-performing team, aligning individual goals with RBC’s Leadership Model.
Drive diversity, reward & recognition, and career development initiatives.
Instill a culture of change readiness and empowerment across CPT.