Job Title: Senior Director, Global Delivery Lead - Data Retention
Location: Waterloo, ON (Hybrid)
Duration: Contract
Rate: CAD$120-130/hr INC
The opportunity
We are seeking a senior global delivery leader to establish and lead the program office for the Global Data Retention Management Program. The program will coordinate enterprise efforts to identify, secure, classify and remediate over-retained structured and unstructured data, using a risk-based approach and a common global framework. The role is accountable for turning a complex cross-enterprise mandate into an executable roadmap, strong governance, transparent reporting and measurable outcomes.
This is a hands-on leadership role for a self-starter who creates clarity, builds momentum and takes ownership. The successful candidate will work across business groups and control functions, lead a team of project managers and workstream leads, and engage senior business and technology leaders to resolve issues and maintain alignment.
Key accountabilities
· Own integrated delivery across discovery, planning, execution and transition to sustainable business-as-usual controls. · Establish and run the program management office, including the integrated roadmap, and master schedule. Coordinate with regional delivery teams on their work breakdown structure, resource plan, financial controls and delivery standards. · Design and operate program governance, including steering committee, governance committee and working-team forums, with clear decision rights, escalation paths and accountabilities. · Lead multiple project managers, workstream leads, internal teams and external delivery partners. Set expectations, remove barriers and drive timely decisions. · Develop executive communication and reporting models covering progress, outcomes, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, decisions, financials and capacity. · Create and maintain stakeholder, governance, communications, change and adoption plans suited to a global, federated delivery model. · Partner with business groups to sequence work based on risk, readiness, dependencies and capacity while avoiding duplication with related initiatives. · Drive consistent execution across data inventory, risk tiering, security controls, classification, retention, disposition and sustainment workstreams. · Ensure delivery evidence, controls and reporting are clear, traceable and suitable for senior management, audit and regulatory review. · Manage vendors and systems integrators, including scope, deliverables, commercial performance, quality and knowledge transfer.
Measures of success
· A credible global roadmap, governance model and integrated delivery plan are established and actively used. · Senior leaders have clear, concise and timely visibility into outcomes, trade-offs, risks and decisions. · Workstreams have accountable owners, realistic plans and disciplined execution rhythms. · Priority data risks are addressed through a repeatable model that business groups can sustain.
Experience and expertise
Stakeholder leadership
· Operate confidently with Business Group CIOs and senior business leaders at VP and SVP levels. · Build alignment across Technology, Data, Cybersecurity, Enterprise Architecture, Risk, Privacy, Compliance, Legal, Records Management, Audit and business teams. · Frame complex issues simply, present clear options and secure timely decisions without overloading leaders with detail. · Influence across organizational boundaries, manage competing priorities and maintain constructive challenge when commitments are at risk. · Create trusted relationships while preserving clear accountability for outcomes, decisions and follow-through.
Leadership competencies
Ownership and drive Acts as the accountable leader, anticipates needs and follows issues through to resolution.
Self-directed execution Creates structure from ambiguity, mobilizes quickly and works effectively with limited direction.
Enterprise perspective Connects delivery choices to risk reduction, business outcomes and long-term sustainability.
Executive communication Communicates with precision, adapts to the audience and makes decisions easy to understand.
People leadership Sets high standards, develops team members and creates a culture of accountability and collaboration. (No direct people management)
Pragmatic judgment Balances pace, control, cost, capacity and quality to keep a complex program moving.
Why this role matters
The Global Data Retention Management Program addresses a material enterprise need: reducing cyber, privacy and regulatory risk while creating stronger and more sustainable control over data assets (structured and unstructured). This role will shape how the organization mobilizes, governs and executes a complex global transformation, while building a delivery model that can be sustained across business groups.
Critical Skills / Must-Haves:
- 10+ years of progressive experience leading large, complex enterprise programs, including global or multi-business transformation.
- Demonstrated success building and running a large program office with multiple project managers, workstreams, delivery partners and senior sponsors.
- Strong command of program governance, integrated planning, dependency management, RAID management, financial oversight, resource planning and executive reporting.
- Experience delivering programs in data governance, data management, records and information management, cybersecurity, privacy, regulatory remediation, technology risk or related domains.
- Ability to translate strategy and risk objectives into practical work packages, milestones, measures and accountable execution.
- Experience leading federated programs where central standards and governance support execution by business or regional teams.
- Working knowledge of structured and unstructured data environments, data lifecycle practices, classification, retention and disposition concepts.
- Experience managing consulting firms, systems integrators and specialist vendors in outcome-based engagements.
Nice-to-Haves:
- Financial services, insurance or another highly regulated industry.
- Enterprise data governance, data lifecycle management, information management or data remediation.
- Cyber risk reduction, privacy, audit, regulatory remediation or control transformation.
- Operating-model design, organizational change and business adoption.
- Agile and traditional delivery methods, with sound judgment on where each approach fits.
Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. Program management certification is an asset.
Interview Process
- Likely 2 interview rounds (may be reduced to 1 if schedules permit). • Interview panel expected to include: o Hiring Manager o Hiring Manager's leader o Additional AVP stakeholder • Interviews are expected to be virtual.
Program & Compliance Requirements
- Is Reliability Clearance Required? No • Does the Role Require Privileged System Access via CyberArk? No o If No: Tier 1 background check required.
Notes for Agencies: Supplier Strategy Call Summary
Role: Senior Director, Global Delivery Lead - Data Retention
Role Overview
This is a highly strategic, enterprise-level program leadership role responsible for standing up and leading a brand-new Global Data Retention Management Program. The successful candidate will create structure from ambiguity, establish the program office, build the roadmap, and drive execution across a complex, globally distributed organization.
The program is in its infancy. There is no mature delivery framework in place, making this a true "build from the ground up" leadership opportunity. The leader will define the strategy, workstreams, governance model, roadmap, and execution approach.
Top Priorities (First 6-12 Months)
First 3 Months • Shape and define the overall Global Data Retention Program. • Build the program roadmap and execution plan. • Identify required workstreams and establish the PMO structure. • Develop governance, reporting, stakeholder engagement, and delivery plans.
Months 4+ • Drive execution and oversight of all workstreams. • Coordinate delivery across multiple business groups. • Influence stakeholders to complete required remediation activities. • Maintain executive visibility and program momentum.
What the Hiring Manager Really Wants
- Proven Enterprise Program Leader
The hiring manager emphasized that the ideal candidate has repeatedly led large-scale, complex enterprise programs and successfully navigated ambiguity and organizational complexity.
Candidates should demonstrate: • Multiple examples of leading enterprise-wide programs. • Ownership of a portfolio or program of projects versus a single project. • A track record of turning difficult, complex situations into successful outcomes. • Experience building PMOs and governance models from scratch.
- Exceptional Stakeholder Management
This is one of the most important success factors.
The individual will often be responsible for influencing business units and executives to take action, even when they do not directly report to them.
Strong candidates will have: • Executive presence. • Experience influencing AVPs, VPs, SVPs, and CIO-level leaders. • Strong relationship-building skills. • Ability to push for accountability while maintaining positive partnerships.
- Data Governance / Data Retention Expertise
While the Hiring Manager stated she may consider a truly exceptional program leader without direct data retention experience, candidates with data governance and data retention backgrounds will have a significant advantage because they will gain credibility much faster.
Preferred experience includes: • Data Governance • Data Retention • Records & Information Management • Regulatory remediation • Data lifecycle management • Information security-related data programs
Critical Industry Experience
Strong Preference
Financial Services experience is viewed as a requirement rather than a nice-to-have.
The manager specifically indicated candidates need credibility in regulated environments and should understand: • Regulatory-driven transformation programs. • Enterprise risk remediation. • Governance and control programs.
Highly Desired
Candidates who have worked on: • OSFI-driven initiatives. • E-21 related programs. • E-23 related programs. • Regulatory compliance and remediation efforts within financial institutions.
Program Background
The program exists because the organization has identified significant amounts of data being retained longer than required across the enterprise.
The initiative is focused on: • Reducing regulatory risk. • Complying with emerging OSFI requirements. • Identifying and remediating over-retained data. • Creating sustainable data retention controls globally.
Program Scope
Internal Team • Approximately 7-10 people within the Data Governance organization.
Broader Enterprise Reach • Expected to influence and coordinate with up to 100 stakeholders across business groups globally.
Workstreams • Anticipated 2-3 major workstreams initially. • Number may evolve as program planning progresses.
Global Experience Expectations
The role is global because the program spans: • Canada • United States • Asia • Other international business units
Candidates should have experience working across: • Multiple geographies • Large distributed stakeholder groups • Global governance models
Flexibility for occasional early morning or evening meetings with Asia-based stakeholders is expected.
What Would Make a Candidate Stand Out?
Ideal Candidate Profile
A senior program leader who can demonstrate: · 10+ years leading large enterprise programs · Financial Services experience · Data Governance / Data Retention experience · Regulatory remediation experience · OSFI E-21 or E-23 exposure · Experience building PMOs and governance structures from scratch · Strong executive communication skills · Ability to influence senior stakeholders without direct authority · Global program delivery experience · Proven track record delivering multiple complex transformation programs successfully over time
Prioritize Candidates From: • Banks • Insurance companies • Wealth management firms • Highly regulated financial institutions • Consulting organizations leading data governance transformations for financial clients
Avoid • Candidates with only project-level delivery experience. • Candidates lacking enterprise-scale stakeholder management. • Pure technical data professionals without large program leadership experience. • Candidates from non-regulated industries unless they have exceptionally strong governance and transformation credentials.
