Director & Head, Portfolio Management, IT Risk

Requisition ID: 249334
Join a purpose driven winning team, committed to results, in an inclusive and high-performing culture.

The role:

The Portfolio Head reports into the VP, Delivery & Portfolio Management supporting the Enterprise Delivery office within technology. This role is accountable primarily for delivering the project and program portfolio within a CIO pillar, while other initiatives may be added as required to meet business objectives, ensuring alignment with Scotiabank's business strategy. This role is a key advisor to leaders, providing strategic guidance, robust governance, and operational excellence to enable successful delivery of initiatives.

With adept knowledge of Operational IT Risk and Regulatory experience, this leader is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing risk management and regulatory projects and program initiatives within the CIO pillar. This role focuses on identifying, assessing, and mitigating IT risks to ensure the security, compliance, and resilience of critical systems as per the regulatory initiatives. The ideal candidate will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including IT, cybersecurity, compliance, and business operations, to promote a comprehensive risk-aware culture through these programs. This role champions a high-performance culture, fosters cross-functional collaboration, and ensures that all project and program activities support Scotiabank's strategy.

What will you do?

• Across the portfolio, oversee the management of program objectives, project coordination and enable activities between the governance, design, delivery and support of workstreams.
• Leverage robust project management skills, including agile and waterfall methodology, to lead the senior executive program streams, and manage multiple concurrent projects, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to budget and quality standards.
• Ensure that program strategy and objectives are fulfilled within the established timelines and risks are managed and mitigated.
• Provide leadership for the assigned portfolio and serve as a key advisor to executive leadership on project prioritization, project risk management, and resource allocation.
• Provide support for planning and prioritizing initiatives across portfolios that support business strategy.
• Lead and guide project teams throughout all phases of program and project management including planning, execution, monitoring, and closure to ensure successful delivery of expected outcomes.
• Consistently interact with clients both in business and technology to manage project expectations and deliverables within allocated timelines and budget.
• Escalate critical issues to senior leadership for timely resolution.
• Monitor and report project governance and key performance indicators to leadership.
• Track portfolio progress, prepare and distribute status reports to internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate and motivate project management resources for quality delivery, including resource allocation and day-to-day people management.
• Responsible for establishing and managing portfolio integrated plan in collaboration with project delivery teams. Identify key stakeholders and involve subject matter experts as required.
• Identify and implement continuous improvements to project management methodologies, tools, and processes. Champion the adoption of best practices and drive operational excellence.
• Organize and lead portfolio status meetings.
• Conduct post-project/program evaluations and identify successful and unsuccessful elements to drive for continuous improvement of delivery.
• Understand how the Bank's risk appetite and risk culture should be considered in day-to-day activities and decisions.
• Creates an environment in which their team pursues effective and efficient operations of their respective areas in accordance with Scotiabank's Values, its Code of Conduct and the Global Sales Principles, while ensuring the adequacy, adherence to and effectiveness of day-to-day business controls to meet obligations with respect to operational, compliance, AML/ATF/sanctions and conduct risk.
• Build a high-performance environment and support a people strategy that attracts, retains, develops and motivates the team by fostering an inclusive work environment and using a coaching mindset and behaviors; communicate vision/values/business strategy; and manage succession and development planning for the team if applicable.

What do you need to succeed?

• Strong Knowledge of risk Management frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO27011, COBIT)
• Strong Project Management background with management experience, in both Agile and waterfall programs in a financial institution
• Demonstrated success delivering large technology projects and programs with risk and regulatory lens
• Proven track record for overseeing the strategic direction, implementation and overall success of large-scale complex programs in a portfolio
• Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, drive strategic change, and influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience working across cross-functional teams and collaborating with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Experience with Enterprise Delivery Frameworks
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience leading, design and execution of IT risk management frameworks, policies, and procedures.
• Experience with conducting risk assessments and audits to identify vulnerabilities in systems, networks, and applications.
• Proven ability with monitoring regulatory changes and industry trends to ensure ongoing compliance and best practices.
• Ability to develop and deliver risk awareness training and communications for staff and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with leadership to prioritize risk mitigation initiatives and allocate resources efficiently.

• Relevant certifications (e.g., CRISC, CISM, CISSP) are a plus.
• PMP or equivalent certification
• 10+ years of experience in IT Risk Management, audit, or cybersecurity leadership roles
• Experience and expertise with agile environment/methodologies
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills
• 12+ years leading large-scale business/technology programs
• 10+ years establishing and championing program governance, PMO practices, or agile delivery frameworks
• 7+ years managing and developing high-performing teams

What's in it for you?

• We have an inclusive and collaborative working environment that encourages creativity and curiosity and celebrates success
• We provide you with the tools and technology needed to create meaningful customer experiences
• You'll get to work with and learn from diverse industry leaders, who have hailed from top technology companies around the world
• We hire you for your talent — not just a job — so you can grow with us. We'll equip you for success not only in your role, but also in your career as a whole
• Dress codes don't apply here: being comfortable does
• Access to thousands of online and in-person courses so you can hone your current skills, or learn new ones
• A competitive rewards package that includes a base salary, a performance bonus, company matching programs on pension and profit sharing, paid vacation, personal & sick days, medical, vision, and dental and much more

Location(s): Canada : Ontario : Toronto
Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future", we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets.
At Scotiabank, we value the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the Bank, and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site, alternate format documents, ASL Interpreter, or Assistive Technology) during the recruitment and selection process, please let our Recruitment team know. If you require technical assistance, please click here. Candidates must apply directly online to be considered for this role. We thank all applicants for their interest in a career at Scotiabank; however, only those candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.