Director, Innovation

About this Opportunity

Reporting to the VP, Strategy & Innovation, and Member Services, the Director, Innovation is responsible for the development and execution of CIRO's initiatives to support transformation and innovation in the Canadian investment industry and assist CIRO and member firms in identifying and managing emerging risks and trends. The Director is responsible for the management and delivery of InnovateSafe, CIRO's regulatory innovation program, and for supporting responsible pathways for testing and advancing novel ideas.The Director also leads CIRO'sAI & Automation Centre of Excellence, supporting the responsible, scalable and value-driven adoption of AI and automation across the organization.

The Director is expected to bring a curious, solutions-oriented and forward-looking mindset to the role, actively engaging with firms and other stakeholders, challenging conventional approaches where appropriate, and looking for responsible ways to enable innovation. The role requires comfort operating in areas where the regulatory answer may not yet be clear and an ability to find practical pathways forward.

Core Responsibilities:

• Leadership and team management
• Manage a team of individual contributors, providing guidance, mentoring, and fostering a collaborative, accountable, curious, and innovative work environment
• Manage the day-to-day activities, workflow and projects of the Member Services and Innovation team
• Manage team members' compliance with departmental policies and procedures, KPIs, security protocols, code of conduct
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand business needs, bringing together different perspectives, and developing practical solutions to complex or novel issues
• Keep up to date with CIRO Rules, industry processes, practices and securities laws, as well as with emerging technologies, business models and industry developments
• Innovation
• Develop and execute CIRO's Innovation mandate, projects, and annual priorities, working with internal and external stakeholders
• Lead and manage InnovateSafe, including the assessment and advancement of novel proposals, development of testing approaches and conditions, ongoing oversight of tests, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders
• Engage proactively with Members, innovators, regulators and other stakeholders to understand emerging ideas, technologies, business models and barriers to innovation
• Navigate regulatory uncertainty and identify practical pathways where existing rules or regulatory frameworks may not have contemplated a new technology, product or business model
• Identify and evaluate existing and emerging risks and issues impacting Members, investors and the capital markets, and provide solutions to help address these risksand identify opportunities arising from industry transformation
• Perform research and analysis on new areas of potential industry innovation, as well as relevant regulatory and industry developments and transformation, to understand impact and risksand translate findings into actionable recommendations
• Monitor and identify market and industry trends and best practices to identify opportunities and potential disruption that may impact CIRO and members
• Measure innovation impact through partnering in the development of KPI's and communication mechanisms to share learnings, requirements and realized value
• AI & Automation Centre of Excellence

• Lead CIRO's AI & Automation Centre of Excellence (COE) and own its roadmap, operating model and evolution as adoption matures across the organization.
• Oversee the COE's centralized approach tointake, prioritization, risk screening and oversight routingof AI and automation use cases
• Identify and help advance high-value opportunities to use AI and automation to improve CIRO's effectiveness, efficiency and ways of working
• Monitor adoption and outcomes and provide leadership with visibility into demand, implementation, risks, benefits and realized value
• Continuously evolve the COE's approach as CIRO's capabilities, technologies and adoption mature

What You Bring:

Must-haves:

• Minimum 10 years' relevant work experience in the investment industry and/or investment regulation, including strategic development and management of organization-wide regulatory initiatives
• Bachelor's degree in a related field
• Strong understanding of technology and infrastructure concepts including both foundational systems and emerging, transformational technologies -such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud and edge computing, digital assets, blockchain, and distributed ledger technologies-with the ability to assess their practical applications, associated risks, and potential implications for the investment industry
• Demonstrated experience establishing, leading or maturing Centre of Excellence models, with a track record of driving adoption, measurable outcomes and sustained organizational value
• Strong understanding ofAI and automation and their practical application within organizations, including opportunities, limitations, risks and governance considerations. Deep technical expertise is not required
• Demonstrated curiosity and appetite for continuous learning, with confidence approaching unfamiliar ideas, emerging issues and areas without established precedent
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder-engagement skills, including the ability and willingness to engage openly and constructively with regulated firms, innovators, regulators and other stakeholders
• Demonstrated history of success in managing and leading a team of professionals and subject-matter experts
• Demonstrated experience in managing and delivering on multiple complex or transformational projects with strong execution, responsiveness and follow-through to meet multi-year objectives
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, including the ability to engage constructively with regulated firms, innovators, regulators and senior stakeholders

Nice to Have:

• Experience with regulatory sandboxes, innovation programs, fintech or the assessment of novel products, technologies or business models
• Experience leading and delivering transformational projects involving emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital assets, blockchain and distributed ledger technologies
• Strong project management skills with a consistent track record of successful project delivery
• Exposure to programming (such as Python, Jupyter notebooks, SQL or others)
• Professional designation (e.g. CPA, CFA)
• Additional certifications in data science, IT, business analytics

What we offer:

• Competitive base salary in alignment with market
• Performance based bonus *
• Hybrid work environment
• Employer paid Health Benefits and Spending Account that offer flexibility to meet your individual or family needs as of day one
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with company matching that starts on your first day of employment *
• Paid flex days and sick days *
• Vacation days
• Maternity Leave Of Absence/Paternity Leave Of Absence top up *
• Paid continuous learning and continuing development including designations

*Asterisked offerings are not applicable to contracts

OurRecruitment Process:

• This posting reflects an active vacancy on our team
• We use automated (AI) tools toassistwith candidate sourcing and communications. Applications are reviewed by our hiring team and hiring decisions are made by people.
• This role has a hiring range of $150,000 - $165,000 with the placement and offered salary being based on knowledge, skills, education/training and experience, as well as external market conditions and internal equity.

While we appreciate receiving applications, only those applicants who closely meet the position requirements will be contacted. #LI-HYBRID#Hiring