Director Individual Portfolio Management

Position Title: Director Individual Portfolio Management
Reports To: AVP Individual Portfolio and Operational Enablement
Department: Individual Project Management
Term: Permanent Full Time
Band:4H

Work Arrangements: This is a hybrid role. You will work in our office in Waterloo ON a minimum of two 2 assigned consecutive days every other week plus a fifth 5th) assigned day per month. You are welcome to work from the office more than the minimum requirement and there may be some roles that are required to work in our office more than the minimum requirement.


The Opportunity:We are looking for a Director of Individual Portfolio Management Office (PMO) who is accountable for leading the planning and delivery of Individual Insurance projects within the portfolio aligning priorities to the approved division strategic financial plan. This leadership role will ensure our project delivery enables the achievement of our sales expense and growth plan for the role will provide leadership to a team of Project Managers and Business Analysts.

Now is an exciting time to join one of the Waterloo Areas Top Employer for 2025 and Southwestern Ontarios Top Employers for 2024!

What you will be doing:

Portfolio Planning and Delivery:

• Participate in the development of the annual portfolio plan
• Support quarterly replanning of portfolio delivery and coordinate review of portfolio outcomes
• Lead the delivery of the Individual business unit portfolio of projects
• Manage delivery of project outcomes in support of business objectives andkey results for the division.
• Negotiate with functional areas including product marketing finance administration and IT among others to plan for appropriate resource levels within budget to meet business goals and objectives
• Lead prioritization discussion on a regular basis to create alignment across all delivery teams and workstreams

Management of resource allocation during annual cycle:

• Lead business project management and Business Analyst teams in support of skills/practice development and alignment of accountability within teams and across the organization.
• New initiative intake alignment with the appropriate strategic theme and prioritization
• Coordinate the reallocation of resources as necessary to ensure business activities continue to align to plan
• Assess business performance against objectives and key results and coordinate reprioritization of activities to address business needs relative to strategy
• Highlight any possible implications to objectives and key results and business targets resulting from changes in project portfolio
• Identify and escalate activity or allocation of resource which is not aligned with plan or strategy

Portfolio Oversight

• Regular cadence and review of OKRs
• Revisit priorities objectives and key results quarterly with individual portfolio delivery teams to validate plans or adjust as necessary as PMO Leader
• Direct and communicate any pivots required as delivery changes throughout the year.

Program Management:

• Support and enhance the portfolio management framework to manage project portfolio
• Assign project type (agile waterfall or hybrid) for prioritized initiatives
• Provide Project Management to large complex projects where required.

What you will bring:

• Require degree in business economics or equivalent. Project Management Professional designation is an asset.
• Minimum 15 years insurance or financial services experience including senior project management program management and portfolio management experience
• Strong understanding on both business and technology program delivery interactions and planning
• Change agent with a strong ability to negotiate to manage and influence resource conflicts and negotiate to optimal outcomes in a finite resource environment.
• Exceptionally strong communication and interpersonal skills an ability to move seamlessly between different levels withing the organization working and supporting executive level conversations including strategic and financial planning as well as working closely with teams and squads to facilitate sprint delivery and success.
• Proven project management and project planning experience with an ability to work in both agile and waterfall delivery models and coordinate resources across models
• Strong organizational skills and requires technical competence in Excel PowerPoint and Access along with a willingness to learn new tools
• Strategic growth mindset with understanding of key competitive levers and desired differentiators relative to competitors
• Strong indirect leadership with an ability to attract talent as well as coach and mentor employees across the organization regardless of role in both their professional and leadership development.
  
  
  

Whats in it for you:

• A healthy worklife balance with employee wellness top of mind
• Annual bonus program annual vacation allowance and companypaid benefits program
• An additional paid volunteer day each year so you can spend time giving back to the community
• Immediate enrollment in the companys pension program with employer matching
• Employee resource groups that support an inclusive work environment
• Tuition support and specialized program assistance
• An onsite fullservice cafeteria with a variety of daily options
• Discounts on company products and services and access to exclusive employee perks
• Regular EQ Together events focused on company togetherness and collaboration
  
  
  

As part of the recruitment/offer process you will be required to:

• Provide two professional references (minimum one supervisor and above)

This role is open due to an existing vacancy.

To learn more about Equitable we encourage you to explore our organization.

At Equitable we are committed to providing equal access to employment opportunities across our organization. Please contact our HR team at if you would like to receive our job postings in an alternative format or require an accommodation with the application process.

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