Program Release Lead - Retail Transformation

Location: Toronto, ON, On-site 5 days per week
Language: English, advanced written and verbal communication required
Duration: 6-month contract (open to extension to up to 3 years total)
Background Check Requirement: Criminal and Reference check
Pay rates: $90-115/HR (relevant to experience)

About the Opportunity
A major retail transformation program is seeking an experienced Release Lead to support a large-scale enterprise modernization initiative focused on reshaping operations, supply chain capabilities, and technology delivery. This role will play a critical part in orchestrating complex releases across multiple business and IT workstreams, ensuring successful execution within aggressive timelines and evolving business priorities.

Working alongside senior leadership, transformation partners, and cross-functional teams, you’ll help drive deployment readiness, cutover execution, and organizational alignment for a high-visibility program impacting enterprise-wide operations. This opportunity is ideal for a strong delivery professional who thrives in fast-paced environments and brings a structured, business-focused approach to large transformation initiatives.

What’s In It for You
• Join a high-impact transformation program with enterprise-wide visibility and executive engagement
• Work alongside experienced business and technology leaders in a collaborative environment
• Gain exposure to large-scale retail and supply chain modernization initiatives
• Contribute to meaningful organizational change within a complex and evolving business landscape
• Be part of a team that values accountability, delivery excellence, and strategic thinking

Your Responsibilities
• You’ll lead release planning and execution activities across multiple workstreams involving large cross-functional teams
• In this role, you’ll manage deployment and cutover strategies, ensuring readiness across business and technical stakeholders
• You’ll enforce scope and timeline controls to maintain delivery integrity and prevent scope creep
• You’ll oversee RAID management activities, proactively identifying risks, dependencies, and mitigation strategies
• In this position, you’ll provide executive-level reporting and communicate project health, milestones, and release readiness updates
• You’ll support organizational change management and business readiness efforts throughout the transformation lifecycle
• You’ll coordinate delivery using a hybrid Agile and Waterfall methodology approach

Skills and Qualifications
• 10+ years of progressive project, program, or release management experience within large enterprise transformation environments
• Proven experience leading large-scale software deployments, supply chain migrations, or retail transformation initiatives
• Strong expertise in deployment planning, cutover strategy, and business transformation delivery
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Project and structured project planning methodologies
• Experience managing teams of 100+ resources across business and IT functions
• Exceptional stakeholder management and executive communication skills
• PMP or PRINCE2 certification is required
• Experience within retail, supply chain, ERP, or enterprise modernization programs is highly preferred
• Familiarity with SAP, S4 HANA, BY Product Suite, iCertis, Ariba, or related enterprise retail systems is considered an asset

We appreciate the time and effort all applicants invest in their submissions. Please note that only candidates shortlisted for this role will be contacted directly. However, your profile will remain under consideration for future opportunities that align with your experience and career goals. All qualified applicants will receive fair consideration for employment. We welcome individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities including those who identify as women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. If you require an accommodation, please review our accessibility policy and reach out to our accessibility officer with any questions. Our human recruiters review all applications and always make the final hiring decision. On occasion, we also use AI-assisted tools to help review applications.