Program Lead

We are partnering with a leading integrated facilities and real estate services organisation to appoint a Program Lead responsible for overseeing major corporate real estate and workplace transformation initiatives for a large financial institution with a national presence across Canada.

This is a senior leadership opportunity to oversee complex, multi-site real estate programs, bringing together project delivery, construction, workplace strategy, and stakeholder management to deliver significant business outcomes.

Working closely with senior client executives and internal delivery teams, you will provide strategic oversight across the full program lifecycle, ensuring multiple interdependent projects are aligned with business objectives, delivered to a high standard, and managed against agreed budgets, timelines, and performance expectations.

The successful candidate will combine strong program management expertise with commercial acumen, executive presence, and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in a complex corporate environment.

This is an opportunity for an experienced program leader to take ownership of high-profile real estate initiatives, influence strategic decisions, and deliver meaningful outcomes for a major national client.

The Role:

As Program Lead, you will be responsible for the overall planning, coordination, governance, and execution of a portfolio of interrelated real estate and construction projects.

Programs may include workplace fit-outs, office relocations, lease exits and decommissioning, construction and renovation, and broader workplace transformation initiatives.

You will provide leadership across project delivery teams, manage complex dependencies, and serve as a key point of contact for senior client stakeholders, ensuring effective communication, strong governance, and consistent delivery across the program.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Leadership & Delivery

• Lead the planning, initiation, execution, and oversight of complex corporate real estate and construction programs across multiple locations.
• Establish program governance, delivery frameworks, reporting processes, and performance measures to support successful execution.
• Coordinate interdependent projects, resources, timelines, and deliverables to ensure alignment with broader business objectives.
• Oversee project scope, schedules, budgets, procurement, contracts, risk management, quality, commissioning, and closeout activities.
• Identify and proactively manage program-level risks, issues, dependencies, and changes, implementing mitigation strategies where required.
• Monitor program performance and drive continuous improvement across delivery processes, standards, and controls.
• Ensure projects are appropriately resourced and sequenced to meet client requirements, operational constraints, and commercial objectives.

People Leadership & Team Development

• Provide leadership, direction, and accountability to multidisciplinary program and project delivery teams.
• Coach, mentor, and develop team members, establishing clear objectives and supporting individual and collective performance.
• Promote collaboration across project managers, construction teams, designers, workplace strategists, consultants, and external partners.
• Manage resource planning and allocation to support program demands, delivery schedules, and overall workload.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and high-quality client service.

Executive & Client Relationship Management

• Act as a senior point of contact for client leadership, providing clear communication and executive-level reporting on program progress, risks, financial performance, and key decisions.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders across corporate real estate, facilities, finance, operations, and other business functions.
• Prepare and present program updates, performance reports, recommendations, and escalation items to executive audiences.
• Manage complex stakeholder expectations and resolve escalated issues that could affect program delivery or client satisfaction.
• Translate business priorities into practical delivery strategies, ensuring program outcomes align with client objectives.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the client relationship and enhance the value of services delivered.

Financial Management & Commercial Performance

• Oversee program budgets, financial forecasts, cost reporting, and performance against agreed financial targets.
• Work closely with finance and project teams to monitor expenditure, manage changes, and maintain financial control throughout the program lifecycle.
• Evaluate program performance against cost, schedule, quality, service, and broader business objectives.
• Support business case development, feasibility assessments, financial analysis, and resource planning where required.
• Ensure appropriate controls, documentation, reporting, and administrative processes are maintained.
• Identify opportunities to improve delivery efficiency, manage commercial risk, and enhance value for the client.

Risk, Governance & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain effective program controls across scope, schedule, financials, communications, procurement, contracts, risk, and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with applicable legislation, client requirements, internal policies, and established delivery processes.
• Lead post-implementation reviews, capturing lessons learned and implementing improvements across future projects.
• Incorporate sustainability and responsible design considerations into program delivery where appropriate.
• Maintain oversight of program metrics, performance indicators, and reporting to support informed decision-making.

What We're Looking For:

We are looking for an experienced program or senior project delivery leader who can operate confidently at both a strategic and operational level.

You will ideally bring:

• Program Management Experience: A proven track record overseeing complex, multi-project programs within corporate real estate, construction, workplace transformation, or related environments.
• Financial Institution Experience: Exposure to corporate or retail banking real estate portfolios would be highly valuable, particularly within large, multi-site organisations.
• Construction & Project Delivery Knowledge: A strong understanding of design, construction, fit-outs, renovations, relocations, and associated real estate delivery activities.
• Executive Presence: The ability to communicate confidently with senior client stakeholders, present complex information clearly, and influence decisions.
• Leadership Capability: Experience leading multidisciplinary teams, managing resources, and developing project delivery professionals within a matrix environment.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong financial management, budgeting, forecasting, business planning, and performance reporting capabilities.
• Risk & Governance Expertise: The ability to establish appropriate controls, manage competing priorities, and proactively address program-level challenges.
• Stakeholder Management: Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex organisations and competing demands.
• Strategic Thinking: The ability to look beyond individual project deliverables and understand the wider business objectives, dependencies, and outcomes of a program.
• Organisation & Accountability: A self-starting approach, strong documentation and reporting skills, and the ability to maintain oversight across multiple concurrent initiatives.

Education & Professional Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in a relevant discipline, such as construction management, engineering, architecture, business, or real estate, or equivalent professional experience.
• PMP certification is an asset.
• Program management accreditation is an asset.
• LEED accreditation or progress toward certification is beneficial.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, alongside project scheduling and reporting tools such as Microsoft Project.
• A valid driver's license and ability to travel to project sites as required.

If you are or someone you know could be a good fit for this role, please apply through LinkedIn or send me an email/message with your CV and we can have a conversation! Callum.tam@foresightrg.com / 416-999-6127