Location: Toronto, ON (Full-Time Onsite)
Salary: $85.00 - $100.00 
Vacancy: New Position 
Engagement: Multi-Year Contract
Client: Large Public-Sector Retail Organization (LCBO)

About the Opportunity

Our client is delivering a large-scale, multi-year retail business transformation program and is seeking an experienced Release Lead to orchestrate one of several major releases within the program.

This is not a Project Manager role. The successful candidate must be a true Release Lead with hands-on experience managing release execution across complex, enterprise environments. You will partner closely with a Business Transformation Partner and lead coordinated delivery across multiple workstreams, ensuring scope, timelines, and readiness are rigorously controlled.

You will play a critical role in planning, execution, deployment, and cutover for releases involving 100+ business and IT resources, operating under aggressive timelines and high visibility.

What’s in it for You

You’ll be embedded in one of the most complex retail transformation programs in the public sector, with direct exposure to senior leadership and enterprise-scale delivery. This role offers the opportunity to:

• Lead high-impact releases with real business and operational consequences.

• Work across business and IT in a fast-paced, transformation-driven environment.

• Apply disciplined release governance while influencing outcomes at scale.

• Operate in a leadership role with visibility across executive stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a highly structured Microsoft Project plan coordinating multiple workstreams in alignment with program governance and delivery standards.

• Enforce strict scope control to prevent scope creep and protect budget, resources, and delivery timelines.

• Lead development and execution of deployment and cutover plans, proactively managing risks, interdependencies, and readiness criteria.

• Lead and coordinate large cross-functional Business and IT teams (100+ resources) to ensure alignment with transformation objectives.

• Define, track, and actively manage Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Dependencies (RAID) to ensure predictable delivery.

• Provide regular, concise, data-driven updates to Program Leadership and senior executives on release status, risks, and readiness.

• Drive business readiness activities, ensuring stakeholders are informed, aligned, and prepared for each release.

• Ensure releases meet business transformation objectives, quality standards, and industry best practices.

• Manage delivery using a hybrid methodology, blending Waterfall and Agile approaches to support complex enterprise execution.

Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of experience in project or program delivery, with direct Release Lead experience.

• Proven delivery experience within retail transformation or large-scale enterprise programs (mandatory).

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Project for structured, dependency-driven planning.

• Demonstrated success leading large, multi-disciplinary teams (100+ resources).

• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills, including C-suite engagement.

• Deep experience with RAID management and proactive risk mitigation.

• Exceptional problem-solving and decision-making skills in high-pressure environments.

• Track record of delivering complex releases with aggressive timelines and interdependencies.

Preferred Experience & Certifications

• Experience with retail ERP greenfield implementations, digital transformation programs, supply chain/WMS initiatives, or POS replacements.

• Familiarity with enterprise retail platforms such as SAP, Manhattan, BY Product Suite, Adobe Suite, GK is an asset.

• Knowledge of organizational change management and technology-driven retail innovation.

• PMP or PRINCE2 certification is mandatory.

We appreciate the time and effort all applicants invest in their submissions. Please note that only candidates shortlisted for this role will be contacted directly. However, your profile will remain under consideration for future opportunities that align with your experience and career goals. All qualified applicants will receive fair consideration for employment. We welcome individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities including those who identify as women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. If you require an accommodation, please review our accessibility policy and reach out to our accessibility officer with any questions. Our human recruiters review all applications and always make the final hiring decision. On occasion, we also use AI-assisted tools to help review applications.