Role Summary

Reporting to the Vice President, Automotive Merchandising, the Associate Vice President, Automotive Data & Systems is the business leader accountable for the strategy, governance, and delivery of technology initiatives across Canadian Tire's Automotive division. This role serves as the critical link between business and technology teams, ensuring that automotive systems, data capabilities, ecommerce platforms, and digital customer experiences are aligned to business objectives and delivered effectively.

The AVP will oversee a broad portfolio that includes the Co-Star shop management platform, legacy automotive systems, search and fitment capabilities, ecommerce enhancements, automotive data initiatives, and customer-facing digital experiences. With significant transformation underway across the automotive business, this leader will be responsible for managing multiple concurrent technology workstreams, creating structure and alignment across stakeholders, and ensuring technology investments support a seamless and frictionless customer and dealer experience.

Success in this role will require a strong blend of strategic thinking, program leadership, stakeholder management, and technology fluency. The ideal candidate will be able to translate business priorities into actionable technology roadmaps, influence cross-functional teams, and drive delivery without becoming consumed by technical detail. They will act as a "general contractor" across the automotive technology ecosystem, bringing together business leaders, digital teams, technology partners, and Associate Dealers to execute against a shared vision.

What You Will Do

• Lead the strategic direction, governance, and execution of Automotive Data & Systems initiatives across the Automotive division.
• Provide business ownership and oversight for the Co-Star shop management platform and related automotive technology systems, ensuring ongoing enhancement, adoption, and operational effectiveness.
• Serve as the primary bridge between Automotive business teams and IT, translating business requirements into scalable technology solutions and delivery plans.
• Manage a portfolio of multiple concurrent technology, data, and digital initiatives, ensuring alignment, prioritization, accountability, and successful execution.
• Drive key transformation initiatives supporting automotive ecommerce growth, search modernization, fitment and cataloguing capabilities, customer data, and digital product innovation.
• Lead the evolution of the automotive customer journey through online appointment booking, digital service intake, self-service capabilities, cashless payments, touchless experiences, and digital checkout solutions.
• Partner closely with technology, digital, product, and data teams to ensure solutions are delivered effectively and integrated across the broader enterprise ecosystem.
• Build strong relationships with Associate Dealers and key business stakeholders to ensure technology investments support both customer and dealer needs.
• Establish effective project governance, operating rhythms, communication processes, and delivery frameworks across a complex set of initiatives.
• Identify emerging technologies, customer trends, and market opportunities that can improve business performance and customer experience.
• Communicate project status, risks, priorities, and recommendations to senior leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing team while fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across the function.

What You Will Need

• Ideally a Bachelor's degree in Business, Technology, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Ability to successfully manage 6-7 concurrent technology workstreams.
• Proven track record delivering business-led technology and digital product initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional leadership capabilities.
• Ability to establish structure, governance, and prioritization in a complex environment.
• Credibility with both business and technology teams.
• A collaborative, customer-focused leadership style with a passion for transformation and execution.
• Demonstrated success leading business technology, digital product, ecommerce, systems, data, or technology transformation initiatives within a large, complex organization.
• Strong program and portfolio management capabilities, including the ability to oversee multiple concurrent projects and competing priorities.
• Experience serving as a translator between business and technical teams, with the ability to communicate effectively across both groups.
• Strong understanding of digital products, ecommerce platforms, enterprise systems, data management, system integrations, search technologies, and customer experience solutions.
• Experience working with technology delivery teams and cloud-enabled solutions, with sufficient technical knowledge to challenge, guide, and influence discussions without being a hands-on technical expert.
• Proven ability to build alignment and drive results across a highly matrixed environment with numerous stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
• Strong business acumen coupled with a structured and pragmatic approach to execution.
• Demonstrated resilience and adaptability, with the ability to drive results in a fast-paced environment characterized by ambiguity and ongoing transformation.
• Proven leadership experience building, developing, and motivating high-performing teams.
• Experience within automotive retail, the automotive aftermarket, service operations, fleet services, or related industries is considered a strong asset.
• Experience managing or supporting platforms such as Co-Star, shop management systems, automotive ecommerce solutions, cataloguing, fitment, or customer-facing automotive technologies is highly desirable.

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This posting represents an existing vacancy within our organization.

We may use artificial intelligence tools as part of our recruitment process to assist in the initial screening of resumes. All hiring decisions, including candidate evaluation, selection, and disposition, are made by human recruiters.