Project Manager (Contract)

Description

">

Why Meridian?

At Meridian our aspiration is to integrate our purpose into everything we do for people, the planet, and communities. We believe that our greatest opportunity is to create opportunity and meet people where they are.

Factor us into your next career opportunity. We want you to grow with us and have an experience that’s different. This is a place where you can expect the unexpected.

Find our story here:

The role: The Project Manager is responsible for successfully delivering medium to large, moderately complex projects aligned to the Meridian for Good Strategy. This role plans, executes, and completes projects on time and within budget, leveraging AI tools to improve efficiency and decision‑making. You will coordinate cross‑functional teams, manage risks, adapt to change, and communicate effectively to ensure high‑quality outcomes. This is a 15 month contract opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning & Execution

• Define project scope, goals, and deliverables that support business objectives, utilizing AI-driven analytics to optimize planning and execution.
• Initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close projects within strict deadlines and budget, ensuring benefits are realized, with the support of AI tools for real-time monitoring and predictive analysis.
• Implement projects focused on reporting key performance indicators (KPIs) in scope, schedule, budget, and resources.
• Manage financial aspects, including drafting and submitting budget proposals, recommending changes, and ensuring proper change requests with justification.
• Coordinate efforts of team members and third-party contractors or consultants.
• Identify and mitigate risks, ensuring all requirements are documented.
• Develop and monitor integrated project plans with milestones and critical paths.
• Conduct post-project reviews to certify success criteria are met.
• Ensure adherence to project standards, governance, guidelines, and best practices.
• Ensure proper transition to portfolio for benefits realization monitoring.
• Support Agile practices and update project statuses for executive reporting.
• Effectively communicate project expectations to team members and stakeholders.
• Estimate resources and participants needed to achieve project goals.
• Set and continually manage project expectations with team members and stakeholders.
• Identify and manage project dependencies and critical paths.
• Plan and schedule project timelines and milestones using appropriate tools.
• Track project milestones and deliverables.
• Develop and deliver progress reports, proposals, requirements documentation, and presentations.
• Determine the frequency and content of status reports from the project team, analyze results, and troubleshoot problem areas.
• Proactively manage changes in project scope, identify potential crises, and devise contingency plans.

Stakeholder Management

• Engage internal and external stakeholders at the right time.
• Set, communicate, and manage project expectations with team members and stakeholders.
• Build relationships to manage and mitigate risks.
• Lead and manage project teams, utilizing team members’ strengths.
• Manage stakeholder expectations and foster win/win relationships keeping strategic goals in mind and fostering a win/win relationship.

Risk Management

• Ensure effective operations while adhering to business controls, data security, privacy governance, and risk management practices, incorporating AI-based risk assessment tools to identify and mitigate potential risks more efficiently.
• Protect confidential data and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
• Maintain an enterprise view when identifying and assessing risks inherent to operations and strategic decisions. Ensure business continuity planning within the project.

Project Portfolio

• Ensure projects align with Enterprise Strategy.
• Support business during procurement and evaluate vendor requirements.
• Manage cost estimation and collaborate on resource requirements.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

• Engage in improving project management practices in line with Enterprise Strategic Objectives, integrating AI solutions to streamline processes and enhance productivity.
• Document EPMO guidelines, processes, procedures, and best practices, including the use of AI technologies for continuous improvement.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of portfolio and project management practices.
• Consult the business on scope and business case development.
• Act as a Trusted Advisor to consult with the business
• Proficient in pinpointing issues/risks and presenting effective countermeasures.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, or a related field or relevant work experience
• 3-5 years of project management experience, with at least 3 years in a role managing multiple projects.
• Experience in managing projects in a related industry.
• Minimum 4 years managing project forecast & financials.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is advantageous but not required.
• Additional certifications such as Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) is beneficial.
• Experience with Scrum, exposure to Kanban and other Agile frameworks, and familiarity with AI-driven project management tools.
• Demonstrated aptitude for forging influential partnerships with senior stakeholders, including C-level executives, and handling external contractors.
• Strategize consistently to reduce potential threats from both outside and within the organization
• Excellent at utilizing diverse monitoring systems to gain insights into project status.
• Ability to function autonomously as well as in a cooperative, team-driven setting.
• Quick and effective responsiveness to changes and updates in project frameworks.
• Effective communication abilities, both written and oral.
• Robust relational capabilities.
• The acumen to discern and mitigate conflicts within the team.
• Possess qualities such as kindness, empathy, determination, enthusiasm, inquiry, along with an eagerness to master new knowledge.
• Comfort learning and adopting new digital tools, with an openness to using AI‑enabled technology to enhance productivity, accuracy, and the Member experience
  

This role represents an existing vacancy. Internal candidates are being considered as part of our standard process.

Salary Range: $68,800.00 to $103,200.00 CAD

Compensation for this role is based on a combination of skills, experience, and internal equity. Candidates with stronger alignment to the role’s requirements may be placed higher within the range. Your recruiter will share more information about our total rewards package during the hiring process.

Office Location: St. Catharines office - 75 Corporate Park Drive St Catharines, ON with the ability to travel to our Toronto Corporate Office as needed. This is a hybrid work opportunity.

Meridian has a remote work policy that allows flexibility for employees to work remotely but also requires a minimum of one day per week in the office for purposeful meetings to collaborate, innovate, and build effective relationships with your team, your colleagues, and your leader, which is important to us.

What’s in it for you?

• We have an inclusive and collaborative working environment that encourages teamwork, creativity, curiosity, and celebrates success.
• We provide you with the tools and technology needed to delight your candidates and clients.
• You will get to work with and learn from diverse industry leaders and colleagues, who have hailed from top organizations.
• Hybrid work arrangements with in-person office time to collaborate, innovate, and build relationships with your colleagues.
• This is not your typical “corporate” job. We work hard and we have fun!

Build the Future of Banking with Us

At Meridian, we’re not just adapting to the future—we’re shaping it. We see talent as a catalyst for sustainable growth, community impact, and future-readiness. As the financial landscape evolves, we’re looking for team members who bring:

• Embedding & leveraging technology – Confidence and willingness to learn and integrate AI and emerging technologies into new ways of working. Experience with low/no code tools like the Microsoft Power Platform and generative AI productivity tools like Microsoft Copilot is considered an asset
• Critical Thinking – The ability to analyze, evaluate and interpret information from various sources and apply logic and problem solving to make decisions.
• Data Driven– Leverage data and insights to identify, prioritize and improve member experience and business efficiency.
• Curiosity & Flexibility – Comfortable navigating and embracing change and uncertainty, ask more questions, explore more options. Continuously learn and grow.