Sr. Program Manager, AI Research Programs

RBC • Vancouver, BC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

We’re looking for an enthusiastic candidate to fill our Sr. Program Manager, AI Research Programs role. As a Senior Program Manager you will play a critical role in leading one or more strategic partnerships across the portfolio. This is a high-impact role at the intersection of industry and academia, where you will enable world-class research collaborations, drive program excellence, and help scale our flagship innovation programs. As a member of the team, you will be joining a group that believes in being bold & curious, so we are looking for someone who is passionate about the AI ecosystem, eager to make an impact, and thinks outside the box!

Requirements

• Master’s or PhD in a scientific field, with experience working in research environment
• 3-4 years’ experience in program or project management, ideally in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Experience working with or within academia (e.g., university research programs, grants, labs, or academic partnerships)
• Strong understanding of research program lifecycles, particularly in AI, technology, or related fields
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent programs with competing priorities
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with experience bridging industry and academic environments
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving capabilities

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with the Canadian & international AI research ecosystem is preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end program management for one or more research partnerships
• Serve as the primary point of contact between RBC Borealis, funding agency, and academic partners
• Develop and manage full lifecycle of programs, including planning, timelines, budgets, and reporting frameworks
• Ensure successful execution of program goals by tracking milestones, risks, and outcomes
• Partner with internal leaders & researchers to align program requirements with organizational priorities and resources
• Support onboarding and regular engagement of external partners and/or funding agency within assigned partnership
• Drive continuous improvement of program operations, including processes, tools, and governance models
• Prepare executive-level updates, insights, and impact reporting for senior leadership

Benefits

• Be part of a dynamic & flexible working environment
• Become part of a team that thinks progressively and works collaboratively
• Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities
• Ability to make a difference and lasting impact from a local-to-global scale

What This Job Offers

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