Project Manager/Leader (Release Lead)

Key Responsibilities

• Release Planning & Execution: Develop and maintain a highly structured Microsoft Project plan, ensuring coordination across multiple workstreams while adhering to established program governance standards and delivery procedures.
• Scope & Timeline Management: Enforce strict scope control to prevent scope creep, safeguarding budget integrity, resource efficiency, and program timelines.
• Deployment & Cutover Strategy: Develop and oversee a comprehensive deployment and cutover strategy, ensuring teams remain on track and proactively addressing risks and dependencies.
• Resource Management: Lead cross-functional teams across Business and IT to ensure alignment with transformation objectives.
• RAID Management: Define and rigorously track Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Dependencies (RAID) to ensure seamless delivery.
• Executive Reporting & Communication: Deliver regular updates to Program Leadership and Senior Executives, providing clear, concise, data-driven insights on project status and solution readiness.
• Change Management & Business Readiness: Drive organizational change and ensure all stakeholders are informed, aligned, and prepared for each release.
• Quality Assurance & Compliance: Ensure all releases meet business transformation goals, industry standards, and best practices.
• Problem-Solving & Decision-Making: Resolve challenges with strategic problem-solving and decisive action to keep releases on track.
• Hybrid Methodology Coordination: Manage the project using a hybrid approach, blending Waterfall and Agile practices for optimal task execution.

Qualifications & Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in project/program management, ideally within retail transformation or large-scale enterprise initiatives.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Project for structured direction and task clarity.
• Proven ability to lead teams of 100+ individuals in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
• Exceptional communication and executive stakeholder management skills, including regular engagement with Program Leadership and C-suite leadership.
• RAID management expertise, with a strong focus on risk mitigation.
• Exceptional problem-solving and decision-making skills to address obstacles and maintain release integrity.
• Demonstrated experience delivering high-impact releases with aggressive timelines and complex dependencies.

Work Requirements

• This role will be required to be onsite 4 days per week and move to 5 days per week in January to foster collaboration, ensure team alignment, and provide hands-on leadership within fast-moving retail transformation initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing retail ERP greenfield implementations, digital transformation initiatives, supply chain warehouse management projects, or POS replacements is a plus.
• Familiarity with enterprise retail systems such as SAP, Manhattan, BY Product Suite, Adobe Suite of Products, GK is an asset.
• Knowledge of organization change management and technology-driven retail innovation.
• Project management and release certifications (PMP or PRINCE2) is a must have.