Director and Head, Portfolio Management Full Time

Join a purpose driven winning team, committed to results, in an inclusive and high-performing culture.

The Role

Director & Head, Portfolio Management reports into the VP, Delivery & Portfolio Management supporting the Enterprise Delivery Office (EDO) within technology. This is a multi-discipline requirement role that is primarily accountable for delivering the program portfolio within a CIO pillar, while other initiatives may be added as required to meet business objectives, ensuring alignment with Scotiabank’s business strategy. This role is a key advisor to leaders, providing strategic guidance, transformative and innovative thought leadership and robust governance, and operational and technical excellence to enable successful delivery of initiatives. This role champions a high-performance mindset and culture, fosters cross-functional collaboration and partnership, and is accountable for the end-to-end delivery of all program activities that aligns with and support Scotiabank’s strategy.

What will you do?

• Across the portfolio, accountable for end to end project/program ideation, initiation, execution and closure. Working with business in business case assessment, creation, ensuring direct alignment between all requirements are fully identified, documented and tied to the stated outcomes and value.
• Proactively manage project/program risk mitigation and issue resolution, within the portfolio.
• Concise communicator, highlighting and escalating critical issues to senior leadership with root cause identification with solutions for timely resolution.
• Strong business acumen, continuously builds relationships and connections with portfolio executive stakeholders to ensure execution delivery are meeting business strategic outcomes
• Proven track record of building high performing team
• Hands-on experience in managing large programs (20MM+) as program manager in financial industry is a must
• Managed projects/programs in corporate functions areas in the financial industry
• Strong financial acumen, responsible for end-to-end planning, forecasting, and estimation of accurate program/project financial planning &forecasting, resource capacity plan and forecast, vendor estimates, Statements of Work (SOW), Master Service Agreements (MSA) and contingent workers are in place
• Responsible for tracking all financials, resource actuals against plan and identifying any discrepancies on time to ensure appropriate mitigations are deployed to avoid any delays on the project/program.
• A passionate problem solver that is adept at proactively , uncovering, highlighting and escalating critical issues to senior leadership with root cause identification with solutions for timely resolution.
• Responsible for the management of program and project objectives, coordination, and enable activities between the governance, design, delivery and support of workstreams.
• Leverage robust project management skills, including agile and waterfall methodology, to lead the senior executive program streams, and manage multiple concurrent projects, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to budget and quality standards.
• Ensure alignment of program strategy and objectives are delivered within the established timelines, ensuring pro-active identification of all associated risks are managed and mitigated appropriately
• Deliver thought leadership for the assigned portfolio and serve as a key advisor to executive leadership on project prioritization, preventive project risk management, and effective resource allocation.
• Accountable for planning and prioritizing initiatives across portfolios that support business strategy.
• Primarily accountable for Leading and guiding teams within the assigned portfolio through all phases of program and project management including planning, execution, monitoring, and closure to ensure successful delivery of expected outcomes.
• Accountable for the engagement and involvement of all technical stakeholders and requirements (i.e., Architectural, Infrastructure, Hosting and Network etc) are fully aligned and will deliver on the stated business benefit and outcomes.
• Consistently interact with clients both in business and technology to manage project expectations and deliverables within allocated timelines and budget.
• Accountable for developing, monitoring and reporting on project governance and key performance indicators to executive leadership.
• Track portfolio progress, prepare and distribute status reports to internal and external stakeholders.
• Primarily responsible for managing and motivating program and project management resources ensuring quality planning, delivery, including resource allocation and day-to-day people management.
• Responsible for establishing and managing portfolio integrated plan in collaboration with project delivery teams. Identify and implement rigorous and continuous improvements to project management methodologies, tools, and processes. Champion the adoption of best practices and drive operational excellence.
• Organize and lead multiple portfolio status meetings. (i.e. Organizing Committees and executive Steering groups)
• Primarily accountable to Conducting post-project/program evaluations and identify successful and unsuccessful elements to drive for continuous improvement of delivery.
• Understand how the Bank’s risk appetite and risk culture should be considered in day-to-day activities and decisions.
• Create an environment in which their team pursues effective and efficient operations of their respective areas in accordance with Scotiabank’s Values, its Code of Conduct and the Global Sales Principles, while ensuring the adequacy, adherence to and effectiveness of day-to-day business controls to meet obligations with respect to operational, compliance, AML/ATF/sanctions and conduct risk.
• Build a high-performance environment and support a people strategy that attracts, retains, develops and motivates the team by fostering an inclusive work environment and using a coaching mindset and behaviours; communicate vision/values/business strategy; and manage succession and development planning for the team if applicable.

Dimensions

• Supporting a large portfolio of programs that are aligned to a CIO pillar
• Responsible for overseeing multiple technical streams of globally transformative programs Indirect influence over large cross‑functional project teams across multiple workstreams and disciplines.
• Management of a multi‑project technology portfolio aligned to a CIO pillar.
• Typically responsible for 10–25 concurrent initiatives at varying stages of delivery.
• Oversight of multiple technical streams within complex programs.
• Supports delivery across global technology and business units, including Canada, Latin America, and Enterprise Technology groups.
• Engagement with stakeholders across multiple business lines.
• Oversight of $10M–$50M+ in annual project and program delivery budgets.
• Responsibility for ensuring budget adherence, resource allocation, and financial governance reporting.
• Ensures adherence to enterprise governance frameworks and banking regulatory expectations (e.g., OSFI technology and risk guidelines).
• Responsible for maintaining compliance with operational risk, AML/ATF, sanctions, and conducting risk controls.
• Portfolio impacts enterprise platforms (cloud, data, digital, core systems).
• Ensures adoption and continuous improvement of Agile, hybrid, and waterfall methodologies and the Enterprise Delivery Framework.
• Accountable for portfolio‑level governance, reporting, and performance indicators.
• Provides strategic advice to senior leadership on prioritization, resourcing, and risk management.
• Supports enterprise transformation initiatives and modernization efforts across the CIO pillar.
• Drives cross‑functional alignment and delivery excellence.

What do you need to succeed?

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Technology, Project Management, or equivalent experience; MBA or PMP certification is a plus
• Strong Project Management background with experience in both Agile and waterfall programs, optimizing cross-team workflows for velocity and quality
• Minimum of 10 years of project/portfolio management experience, with a track record of successfully managing complex technology transformation in banking or digital business sector
• Proven track record for overseeing the strategic direction, implementation and overall success of large-scale complex programs in a portfolio
• Hands-on experience in working in an agile delivery environment; exposure to business agility is a plus
• Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, drive strategic change, and influence senior stakeholders
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate and inspire cross-functional teams at all levels of the organization
• Experience with Enterprise Delivery Frameworks
• PM experience in the Canadian banking sector with PMP or equivalent certification.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills
• Proven experience in strategic planning and portfolio management
• Knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements in the financial industry
• Results-driven mindset with a focus on delivering business outcomes
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and changing environment
• 12+ years leading large-scale business/technology programs
• 10+ years establishing and championing program governance, PMO practices, or agile delivery frameworks
• 7+ years managing and developing high-performing teams

What’s in it for you?

• We have an inclusive and collaborative working environment that encourages creativity and curiosity and celebrates success
• We provide you with the tools and technology needed to create meaningful customer experiences
• You’ll get to work with and learn from diverse industry leaders, who have hailed from top technology companies around the world
• We hire you for your talent — not just a job — so you can grow with us. We’ll equip you for success not only in your role, but also in your career as a whole
• Dress codes don’t apply here: being comfortable does
• Access to thousands of online and in-person courses so you can hone your current skills, or learn new ones
• A competitive rewards package that includes a base salary, a performance bonus, company matching programs on pension and profit sharing, paid vacation, personal & sick days, medical, vision, and dental and much more

Location(s): Canada : Ontario : Toronto

Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: “for every future”, we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets.

At Scotiabank, we value the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the Bank, and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site, alternate format documents, ASL Interpreter, or Assistive Technology) during the recruitment and selection process, please let our Recruitment team know. If you require technical assistance, please click here. Candidates must apply directly online to be considered for this role. We thank all applicants for their interest in a career at Scotiabank; however, only those candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.