Royal Bank of Canada

Associate Director, Innovation Portfolio Lead

Royal Bank of Canada$135K — $225K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7+ years leading innovation or product portfolios in complex organizations
  • Expertise in innovation and product lifecycle from discovery to scale
  • Skilled in evaluating and prioritizing competing opportunities based on strategic value
  • Experienced in defining business cases and success measures for initiatives
  • Fluent in technology trends including AI and fintech, engaging with both technical and business teams
  • Capable of managing executive stakeholders and synthesizing complex information
  • Adept at structured problem-solving in ambiguous situations

Responsibilities

  • Own and manage the Innovation Portfolio, providing insights into pipeline and investment
  • Drive ideas through lifecycle stages from concept to validation and scaling
  • Prioritize opportunities in partnership with business and tech leaders based on strategic fit
  • Establish portfolio management structures including stage gates and success measures
  • Enable teams to innovate by connecting ideas with resources and sponsors

Benefits

  • 401(K) program with company-matching contributions
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Life and disability insurance
  • Generous paid time-off plan
Full Job Description
Job Description

What is the opportunity?

The Innovation Portfolio Lead will own the management and progression of the Innovation Foundry's portfolio of ideas, experiments, and emerging solutions. This role will create the structure and discipline required to move ideas from initial concept through validation, incubation, and ultimately to a clear decision to scale, transition, or stop. Sitting at the intersection of business, technology, and innovation, the Portfolio Lead will work closely with idea originators, Foundry teams, subject matter experts, and senior stakeholders to ensure we invest time and resources in the opportunities with the greatest potential to create meaningful business value.

What will you do?
  • Own the Innovation Portfolio: Maintain the view of Foundry initiatives, providing visibility into pipeline, maturity, investment, dependencies, risks, and expected business value.
  • Drive Ideas Through the Lifecycle: Establish clear pathways from intake and evaluation through experimentation, validation, incubation, and scale, ensuring every initiative has defined outcomes and decision points.
  • Prioritize & Challenge: Partner with business and technology leaders to assess opportunities based on strategic alignment, client or business value, feasibility, differentiation, and potential to scale.
  • Create Portfolio Discipline: Define lightweight stage gates, success measures, investment criteria, and governance that allow the Foundry to move quickly while making deliberate decisions about where to invest.
  • Enable Founders & Teams: Work closely with employees bringing forward ideas, connecting them with the right expertise, resources, sponsors, and partners to give strong ideas the best opportunity to succeed.


What do you need to succeed?

Must-Have
  • 7+ years of experience leading innovation portfolios, product portfolios, venture building, product strategy, or similar initiatives within a complex organization.
  • Innovation and product lifecycle expertise - strong understanding of how ideas move from discovery and validation through experimentation, incubation, product development, and scale.
  • Portfolio management and prioritization - ability to evaluate competing opportunities, balance strategic value against feasibility and investment, and recommend where to accelerate, pivot, pause, or stop.
  • Business case and value assessment - experience defining hypotheses, success measures, investment requirements, expected business outcomes, and the evidence required to support continued investment.
  • Technology and emerging innovation fluency - working knowledge of AI, data, digital products, fintech, and emerging technology trends, with the ability to engage credibly with both technical and business teams.
  • Executive stakeholder management - ability to influence senior leaders, challenge assumptions constructively, synthesize complex information, and communicate clear recommendations and portfolio narratives.
  • Structured problem solving in ambiguity - ability to bring clarity and momentum to early-stage opportunities where the problem, solution, ownership, or path to value may not yet be fully defined.
  • Experience working across business, product, technology, and other cross-functional teams to move initiatives from concept toward execution.


Nice-to-Have
  • Experience within financial services, capital markets, fintech, or another highly regulated industry.
  • Experience with AI, alternative data, data products, or technology-enabled business models.
  • Exposure to venture studios, accelerators, corporate innovation programs, product incubation, or internal venture building.
  • Experience developing commercialization strategies, go-to-market plans, or transitioning incubated products into scaled business or technology teams.
  • Experience working directly with founders, entrepreneurs, or employee-led innovation programs.


The Expected Salary Range For The Above Position Is $135,000 - $225,000 Depending On Factors Including But Not Limited To The Candidate's Experience, Skills, Registration Status; Market Conditions; And Business Needs. This Salary Range Does Not Include Other Elements Of Total Compensation, Including A Discretionary Bonus And Benefits Such As A 401(K) Program With Company-Matching Contributions; Health, Dental, Vision, Life And Disability Insurance; And Paid Time-Off Plan.

Job Skills
Adaptability, Budgeting, Business Oriented, Decision Making, Innovation, Innovation Management, Long Term Planning, Program Management, Resource Management, Results-Oriented, Team Management, Time Management

Additional Job Details

Address:

BROOKFIELD PLACE FKA 3 WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER, 200 VESEY STREET:NEW YORK

City:

New York

Country:

United States of America

Work hours/week:

40

Employment Type:

Full time

Platform:

CAPITAL MARKETS

Job Type:

Regular

Pay Type:

Salaried

Posted Date:

2026-08-25

Application Deadline:

2026-09-15
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the application deadline date above

About Royal Bank of Canada

Royal Bank of Canada Careers

Join the dynamic team at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), a global leader in financial services and a company committed to excellence and innovation. At RBC, we offer a wide range of job opportunities that empower professionals to shape their career paths with leadership, diversity training, and continuous growth.

Work You’ll Do

At Royal Bank of Canada, we are not just hiring; we are building a culture of innovation and leadership. Our team members are at the forefront of the financial industry, driving transformation and delivering targeted solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients and communities.

Explore Job Opportunities and Employment at RBC

Whether you are starting your career or looking to take it to the next level, RBC offers positions that challenge your skills and fuel your ambition. From entry-level positions to leadership roles, our job opportunities span across various functions and regions. Join us and be part of a team that values professional growth and diversity.

Internship and Professional Development

Kickstart your career with an internship at Royal Bank of Canada. Our internships provide invaluable hands-on experience, networking opportunities, and insights into the financial services industry. Interns at RBC gain the skills necessary to excel and are often considered for full-time positions within the company.

Benefits and Culture

At RBC, we prioritize the well-being and satisfaction of our employees. Our benefits package is designed to support our team members at every stage of their life and career. RBC’s culture is built on a foundation of respect, integrity, and responsibility, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.

Career Growth and Innovation

We believe in nurturing the potential of our employees through continuous learning and career development programs. At RBC, you will find endless opportunities to grow professionally through on-the-job experiences, formal training programs, and leadership development initiatives. Our commitment to innovation means we are constantly seeking out new ideas and perspectives, making RBC a perfect place for those who aim to lead and innovate.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity is our strength. At Royal Bank of Canada, we are committed to building an inclusive workplace where every employee feels valued and respected. Our diversity training programs are designed to educate and inspire, creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace.

Join Our Team

Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Start your journey with RBC today and be part of a world-class team known for its commitment to client service, community involvement, and innovation.

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Learn more about Royal Bank of Canada
Size
86,007 employees
Market Cap
$130.3 billion
Industry
5 Year Trend
+8.7%
NASDAQ

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