Manager, Innovation and Transformation

PURPOSE

The Manager of Innovation & Transformation is responsible for driving the organization's strategic innovation and transformation initiatives in the space of AI, RPA & Data Science. This role involves identifying opportunities for new products, services, processes, and technologies, and leading the implementation of innovative solutions that improve efficiency, customer experience, and organizational growth. The individual will work cross-functionally with various departments to align innovation goals with the company’s vision and strategic objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

· Team Leadership & Management: Lead, mentor, and manage a team of application developers, fostering a collaborative and innovative development environment. Provide regular feedback, conduct performance evaluations, and support the professional growth of team members.

· Innovation Strategy Development:

o Collaborate with senior leadership to define and develop innovation strategies that align with the company’s goals.

o Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and market dynamics to provide insights and direction for new initiatives.

o Drive the exploration of new business models, technologies, and practices to meet evolving customer demands.

· Project Management: Work with Manager of PMO to manage multiple projects & initiatives

· Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including business analysts, UX/UI designers, QA engineers, and IT operations, to gather requirements, define technical specifications, and ensure seamless integration of applications into the overall IT ecosystem.

· Cost savings: Identify areas of opportunities for cost savings within the team, project execution and other aspects. Execute and realize cost savings, in alignment with multiple stakeholders and Head of IT.

· Technical Oversight: Provide technical leadership on application architecture, design patterns, and technology stacks. Ensure that the solutions deployed follows coding standards, best practices, and security protocols.

· Continuous Improvement: Promote a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging the use of agile methodologies, implementing development best practices, and staying up to date with new technologies and trends in software development.

· Resource Allocation: Manage development resources effectively, ensuring appropriate allocation of personnel, tools, and technologies to meet project goals and deadlines. Prioritize tasks based on business needs and technical requirements.

· Quality Assurance: Ensure that all developed applications undergo thorough testing and validation processes, including unit testing, integration testing, and performance testing, to ensure high-quality deliverables.

· Stakeholder Communication: Act as the primary point of contact for business leaders, project managers, and other stakeholders regarding the status of development projects. Translate business requirements into technical solutions and communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

· Budget & Timeline Management: Develop and manage budgets for application development projects. Ensure that development efforts are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget constraints.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Technical Skills:

· Experience with application frameworks, development tools, and integrated development environments (IDEs).

· Strong expertise in solution & technical architecture principles & philosophies

· Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure) and containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).

· Knowledge of software architecture and design patterns, including microservices, RESTful APIs, and database design.

· Experience of RPA, Data Science & other cutting edge technologies/platforms

Leadership & Management Skills:

· Strong leadership and team-building abilities, with a focus on mentoring and motivating developers.

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical teams.

· Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.

Project Management:

· Experience with agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and project management tools (e.g., Jira, Trello).

· Ability to manage project schedules, budgets, and resources to ensure timely delivery.

Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills:

· Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify issues, evaluate alternatives, and implement solutions in complex development environments.

Quality Assurance & Testing:

· Experience in guiding the implementation of testing frameworks and ensuring the delivery of high-quality code. Knowledge of automated testing tools and CI/CD pipelines is a plus.

TECHNICAL/PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES (EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE)

· Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or a related field. A architecture certification is a big asset for the role, as it requires deep understanding of ever changing landscape in AI, RPA & Data Science.

· 10+ years of experience in application development & transformation roles, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership or managerial role.

· Proven experience managing software development teams and successfully delivering applications.

This position requires English to collaborate with cross-functional teams, vendors, and technology partners located outside Quebec. The incumbent must also review technical documentation, communicate with international stakeholders, and support solutions and platforms that operate in English.

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