Associate Director, Program Manager - AI / ML

Job Description

What is the opportunity? This role is for a highly experienced and strategic IT Program Manager focused specifically on the execution and scaling of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) initiatives across the enterprise. The ideal candidate will bridge the gap between technical AI / ML teams, business stakeholders, and IT infrastructure, ensuring that complex AI programs deliver maximum business value on time and within budget. What will you do?

Portfolio Management : Manage the entire lifecycle of the AI program portfolio, including prioritization, resource allocation, and dependencies across various business units and technical teams (Data Science, Data Engineering, MLOps, Security, Infrastructure).

Risk Management : Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate technical, ethical, and operational risks unique to AI deployments (e.g., model drift, data bias, integration complexity).

Establish Governance : Implement a robust governance framework tailored for AI / ML development, focusing on experimentation, reproducibility, and the transition of models from research to production (MLOps).

Roadmap Management : Create and maintain a consolidated program roadmap, tracking key milestones related to model development, data pipeline readiness, infrastructure deployment, and business adoption.

Stakeholder Alignment : Act as the primary point of contact for executive sponsors, translating complex AI technical concepts and program status into clear, business-relevant language.

MLOps Coordination : Work closely with MLOps engineers to define and enforce standards for CI / CD pipelines, automated testing, model monitoring, and continuous retraining.

Infrastructure Planning : Partner with IT Infrastructure teams to ensure the necessary computational resources (e.g., specialized GPUs, scalable data lakes, cloud environments) are provisioned and optimized for AI workloads.

Ethical AI & Compliance : Ensure all AI models and programs adhere to internal ethical guidelines, data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), and corporate security standards.

What do you need to succeed? Must have

Minimum of 10 years in IT Program Management with at least 3-5 years specifically managing programs related to Data Science, AI, or Machine Learning.

Experience within financial services

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field. Master's degree preferred; certifications : PMP, PgMP, or equivalent program management certification required.

Technical Acumen : Strong understanding of the core concepts of the AI / ML lifecycle, including : data preparation and feature engineering; common ML algorithms (e.g., deep learning, NLP); cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and services related to AI (e.g., Sagemaker, Azure ML, Vertex AI).

Agile / Scrum methodologies, adapted for data science workflows.

Nice to have

Project or Program Management within Capital Markets

Exceptional Communication : Proven ability to communicate effectively with highly technical data scientists, business executives, and cross-functional teams.

Strategic Thinking : Ability to see beyond individual projects and understand how AI initiatives align with long-term business goals.

Influencing Skills : Demonstrated ability to influence decision-making without direct authority, particularly in matrix organizations.

What's in it for you? We thrive on the challenge to be our best, progressive thinking to keep growing, and working together to deliver trusted advice to help our clients thrive and communities prosper. We care about each other, reaching our potential, making a difference to our communities, and achieving success that is mutual.

A comprehensive Total Rewards Program including bonuses and flexible benefits, competitive compensation, commissions, and stock where applicable

Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities

Ability to make a difference and lasting impact

Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team

A world-class training program in financial services

Flexible work / life balance options

Opportunities to do challenging work

Opportunities to take on progressively greater accountabilities

Access to a variety of job opportunities across business and geographies

RBC is presently inviting candidates to apply for this existing vacancy. Applying to this posting allows you to express your interest in this current career opportunity at RBC. Qualified applicants may be contacted to review their resume in more detail#LI-POST Job Skills Business Oriented, Communication, Decision Making, Long Term Planning, Organizational Change Management, Program Management, Resource Coordination, Results-Oriented, Team Management, Time Management Additional Job Details

Address :

90 WESTERN PKY : BEDFORD

City : Bedford

Country : Canada

Work hours / week : 37.5

Employment Type : Full time

Platform : CAPITAL MARKETS

Job Type : Regular

Pay Type : Salaried

Posted Date : 2026-01-23

Application Deadline :

2026-02-07 Note : Applications will be accepted until 11 : 59 PM on the day prior to the application deadline date above I nclusion and Equal Opportunity Employment At RBC, we believe an inclusive workplace that has diverse perspectives is core to our continued growth as one of the largest and most successful banks in the world. Maintaining a workplace where our employees feel supported to perform at their best, effectively collaborate, drive innovation, and grow professionally helps to bring our Purpose to life and create value for our clients and communities. RBC strives to deliver this through policies and programs intended to foster a workplace based on respect, belonging and opportunity for all.

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RBC is presently inviting candidates to apply for this existing vacancy. Applying to this posting allows you to express your interest in this current career opportunity at RBC. Qualified applicants may be contacted to review their resume in more detail.