Job
Assistant Director - Project and Initiative Delivery
Description
Location: Montréal
Permanent, Full-time
What we offer:
- 4 weeks of vacation and 3 personal days
- Sick leave bank
- Employee discount program on our products
- Defined benefit pension plan
- Access to group insurance and telemedicine services
- Free access to the company gym, cafeteria, and parking
- Access to virtual training on wines and spirits
- An employer where social responsibility is a priority
- And many other benefits!
Role Overview
Reporting to the Director of the Organizational Project Office and IT Performance at the SAQ, you will provide strategic and operational leadership in planning, governance, and delivery of the organization’s project portfolio and initiatives.
Combining strategic vision, methodological rigor, and strong interpersonal skills, you will ensure the implementation of tools, frameworks, and practices required for high-performance project delivery. You will mobilize teams, foster cross-functional collaboration, and act as a catalyst for organizational performance.
You will be responsible for:
- Integrated and cross-functional planning of the project portfolio
- Centralized management of risks, interdependencies, and organizational capacity
- Alignment of projects with strategic priorities and annual budgets
- Evolution and governance of project management practices within the SAQ
As an Assistant Director, you will coach and supervise project managers, PCOs, and delivery coordinators. You may also lead large-scale strategic programs or projects.
Key Responsibilities
Project Delivery
- Define execution strategies and high-level delivery plans for all initiatives supporting the SAQ’s strategic plan
- Monitor portfolio execution and coordinate interdependencies between projects
- Collaborate with project owners and stakeholders across the organization
- Conduct project reviews, analyze issues, and identify solutions
- Analyze budget variances and assess impacts of new initiatives or changes
- Optimize organizational change management practices
- Ensure alignment with enterprise architecture standards and strategic orientations
- Inform leadership of risks, opportunities, and improvement areas
Reporting
- Provide regular updates to leadership on portfolio performance, including strategic objectives, benefits realization, budgets, staffing efficiency, dependencies, milestones, risks, and change integration
- Coordinate post-implementation benefit evaluations with Finance and project owners
Project Portfolio Management
- Plan and launch projects based on realistic timelines and internal approvals
- Structure programs supporting the strategic plan
- Manage selected programs following best practices
Practice Management
- Continuously evolve project management culture and best practices
- Develop adaptable methodologies for various project contexts
- Coach project managers and support their delivery
- Maintain competency frameworks and participate in recruitment
- Manage departmental financial resources
- Ensure high-quality service delivery at optimal cost
- Represent IT with business partners and suppliers
- Promote knowledge sharing networks
- Support onboarding and integration of new project professionals
- Act as a change agent for project management practices
Team Management
- Coach team members in their career development
- Plan, organize, and lead team activities
- Manage performance and foster continuous improvement
- Support employee engagement and retention
- Recruit new resources as needed
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, IT, or equivalent
- Master’s degree (asset)
- 10 years of experience in project management (retail or IT preferred)
- 3 years of experience in organizational change management
- 3 years of team management experience (unionized environment is an asset)
Key Skills
- Experience managing large-scale projects (minimum of 3 major projects)
- Project portfolio management experience
- Strong stakeholder management skills
- Coaching experience
- Organizational change management expertise
- Financial management in complex projects
- PMI certification or equivalent
- Knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office
- Bilingualism (French & English required)
- Scrum Master certification (asset)
- Knowledge of EPM systems (asset)
Leadership Competencies
- Influential leadership
- Ability to mobilize diverse teams
- Adaptability and client-focused approach
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Coaching and teamwork abilities
- Innovation mindset
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to operate in ambiguity
Please ensure your résumé is submitted in French.
At SAQ, we value diversity and foster an inclusive and respectful workplace. We encourage applications from women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and individuals from visible and ethnic minority groups.
We are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment experience. Please let us know if you require accommodation at any stage of the process.
