Lead, Strategic Initiatives & Engagement Toronto, ON (Hybrid - Onsite Tuesday to Thursday)

Hours:

Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Occasional evening calls (1-2 times per month) may be required

Potential for Permanent Conversion

About the Opportunity A leading financial services organization is seeking a

Lead, Strategic Initiatives & Engagement

to support the planning, execution, and delivery of high-profile brand, community impact, and corporate engagement initiatives.

This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned professional who can balance strategic thinking with hands‑on execution. While strong project management capabilities are required, this is

not a traditional Project Manager role . The successful candidate will lead initiatives from concept to completion, navigate ambiguity, influence stakeholders, and drive meaningful outcomes across multiple teams.

Key Responsibilities

Lead strategic initiatives, engagement programs, and enterprise‑wide campaigns from planning through execution.

Manage multiple concurrent workstreams while ensuring alignment with business priorities.

Develop project plans, governance structures, timelines, budgets, risk management plans, and success metrics.

Coordinate stakeholders across business functions, leadership teams, external partners, agencies, and vendors.

Support executive engagement activities, presentations, and communications.

Facilitate workshops, planning sessions, governance reviews, and decision‑making forums.

Track milestones, budgets, risks, and dependencies.

Identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness and program delivery.

Contribute both strategically and operationally to ensure successful execution of key initiatives.

Example Initiatives

Community partnership and impact programs

Brand and customer trust initiatives

Mental health and awareness campaigns

Enterprise‑wide social impact programs





Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Corporate Affairs, Social Impact, or a related field.

10+ years of experience leading complex strategic initiatives, programs, or enterprise‑wide projects.

Strong program and project management experience managing multiple priorities simultaneously.

Advanced stakeholder management experience within large, matrixed organizations.

Experience developing governance frameworks, strategic plans, budgets, risk management processes, and performance measurements.

Exceptional communication, relationship‑building, and presentation skills.

Proven ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment without formal authority.

Ideal Candidate Profile The successful candidate will bring a blend of:

Strategic thinking and hands‑on execution

Program and initiative leadership experience

Marketing, communications, campaign management, or brand experience

Community investment, CSR, corporate affairs, or social impact experience

Employee engagement program experience

Executive‑facing presentation and communication skills

Experience working within large, complex organizations

Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making abilities

Adaptability and comfort working in changing and ambiguous environments

Experience managing multiple high‑priority initiatives simultaneously

User-level familiarity with AI tools and workplace applications

Nice‑to‑Have Experience

Financial services, banking, or insurance industry experience





Experience managing agencies, vendors, PR firms, or creative partners

Exposure to global stakeholders and cross‑regional collaboration

Social media and campaign experience

Experience supporting high‑visibility enterprise initiatives

Global transformation or change management experience

What Success Looks Like

Delivery of strategic initiatives on time and within scope

Strong stakeholder engagement and satisfaction

Improved execution discipline and operational effectiveness

Achievement of measurable business, brand, community, and engagement outcomes

Successful collaboration across multiple teams and stakeholder groups

Why Apply? Lead highly visible strategic initiatives

Work closely with senior leaders and executive stakeholders

Drive meaningful community, brand, and engagement outcomes

Influence enterprise‑wide programs and priorities

Join a collaborative, fast‑paced, and purpose‑driven environment

Opportunity for contract extension and permanent conversion

Hybrid work arrangement (3 days onsite).

Primarily focused on Canadian initiatives with some collaboration across North America and other global regions.

Minimal travel expected.

Occasional meetings outside regular business hours may be required.

Chance to independently own key initiatives while contributing to larger team objectives.

Interview Process Round 2: Final virtual interview (45 minutes) We're looking for candidates who combine strategy, stakeholder engagement, communications, and execution. If you've successfully led complex initiatives in large organizations and enjoy turning ideas into action, we'd love to hear from you.

Use AI for Hiring : Our recruitment process for this role includes the use of AI-based tools to help evaluate candidate qualifications and screen applications.

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📌 Strategic Program Lead (Winnipeg)
🏢 Kelly
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