Detailed Job Description JOIN AN ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF BC’S TOP EMPLOYERS Join an organization that plays a critical role in Canada’s economy. At the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, we focus on enabling Canada’s trade by being reliable and innovative, while protecting the environment.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is responsible for the stewardship of the Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest and most diversified port. Our mandate as a Canada Port Authority, as set out by the Canada Marine Act, is to enable Canada’s trade objectives, ensuring goods are moved safely and responsibly through the Port of Vancouver. That means providing infrastructure and ensuring the safe and efficient movement of marine traffic and cargo within the port. It also means we carry out reviews of proposed activities and developments on federal port lands and waters to determine whether a project can go ahead without impacts to the environment and community that cannot be mitigated.

We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and sustainability. We believe in creating a workplace that reflects the richness of our community and empowers all employees to reach their full potential.

The Manager, Strategic Programs – Delivery leads the PMO’s delivery team, overseeing a portfolio of high-impact strategic and business improvement projects to ensure delivery meets scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards.

This role drives project exploration, business case development, and implementation, ensuring projects meaningfully contribute to strategy implementation and fostering effective collaboration across departments. Working within established governance frameworks, the Manager’s primary focus is on ensuring successful project delivery, maintaining transparency, accountability, and alignment with strategic programs. Additionally, the role champions continuous improvement in project delivery and plays a key role in building organizational project management capacity.

In This Role, The Successful Candidate Strategic and Change Leadership

• Oversee delivery of PMO-led projects, and partner with project leaders across departments, to deliver against the full project lifecycle for projects covering a portfolio of projects which focus on the business needs of strategic programs
• Directly lead delivery of critical and/or high-impact projects, from initiation to completion, managing confidential and high-stakes projects with discretion, integrity, and strategic focus
• Act as a change leader within the organization, embedding change management principles into team practices and individual projects. Lead change readiness assessments, stakeholder communication plans, and training to support organizational transformation efforts.

Project Management and Delivery

• Develop and implement project delivery strategies to ensure successful implementation of strategic programs and portfolio priorities
• Manage the full lifecycle of assigned projects from kick-off to closure, ensuring delivery within agreed-upon scope, budget, and schedule. Ensure adherence to governance and project management frameworks, policies and directives, and service-level standards
• Develop comprehensive project plans and schedules, manage resource allocation, track progress against milestones, and manage project change
• Proactively manage project- and program-level risks, resource challenges, dependencies, and escalations, driving timely mitigations and upholding accountabilities
• Lead and oversee the sourcing, selection, and management of major suppliers and contractors, negotiating terms and monitoring performance to ensure delivery of high-quality services

Stakeholder Engagement and Communications

• Build and sustain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring appropriate levels of engagement throughout project delivery and accountability for adopting and sustaining change post-implementation
• Facilitate clear, governance-aligned project reporting, providing stakeholders with updates on progress, risks, and recommendations. Serve as the primary point of contact for key stakeholders, sponsors, and governance bodies on critical project progress and issues
• Collaborate with project owners and business leaders to define, measure, and track project outcomes, championing project delivery transparency, engagement, and collaboration

Capacity Building and Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to the development of the organization’s project management and change maturity through mentoring, coaching, and training delivery teams across the organization
• Ensure all projects under direct or indirect management adhere to organizational frameworks and standards, performing health checks on key projects and scheduling key lifecycle stage gates, such as risk assessments, go/no go decisions, and operational readiness reviews
• Capture and integrate lessons learned into future project delivery and change leadership practices, creating a feedback loop for continuous improvement
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation and record management, ensuring accurate and accessible records for organizational learning and knowledge retention

Team Management and Development

• Contribute to the development of departmental plans and budgets, including workforce requirements, overheads, consultancy services, and business activities
• Lead and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence, while ensuring alignment with departmental plans and corporate values
• Provide coaching and mentoring to direct reports, focusing on their professional growth and performance improvement, and creating development opportunities
• Manage team performance, setting clear expectations, tracking progress, and conducting regular feedback sessions to ensure individual and collective success
• Optimize workforce allocation, ensuring the right mix of skills and resources are applied to projects, and adjusting service levels as necessary to meet business needs
• Partner with HR to drive recruitment, onboarding, and talent management efforts, ensuring that staffing levels meet project requirements and performance standards

Specific Competencies

• Must demonstrate strong leadership and team development skills, with a focus on fostering professional growth and project management competencies in VFPA’s emerging leaders
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships with stakeholders at all levels. Proven ability to communicate key messages; lead meetings, facilitate sessions, and build alignment across teams and departments
• Deadline-driven and results-oriented, with the ability to set and consistently meet high-quality standards while handling competing tasks and priorities
• Advanced organizational skills with demonstrated ability to set priorities, manage multiple conflicting deadlines, and perform well under pressure
• Must possess excellent communication and public speaking skills, effectively interfacing with all levels of business, government, and other stakeholders, representing VFPA as a dynamic, world-class port authority

Education & Experience

• Experience leading the definition, planning and execution of a variety of complex cross-functional projects and programs
• Considerable experience presenting at the Executive and Board level
• Sound working knowledge of systems thinking approaches and analytical problem-solving techniques
• Experience in engaging with a broad range of diverse stakeholder and interest groups
• Experience working with Indigenous groups will be considered a strong asset
• Demonstrated track record in facilitating change and realizing benefits
• Excellent project management experience and skills
• Must have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, technology, engineering, or a related discipline. A master’s degree is an asset
• Minimum five (5) years of managerial-level experience in project and program delivery, including leading complex projects/programs in a matrix environment
• Must hold Project Management Institute (PMP, PgMP) or equivalent certification
• Proficiency in commonly used project and portfolio management tools such as Smartsheet, MS Project Online, Primavera P6
• Experience working with systems and/or with technical teams is considered an asset
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered

Marine Transportation Security Clearance The incumbent must obtain and maintain a valid Marine Transportation Security Clearance as this position is required to access restricted areas/information as defined by the Marine Transportation Security Regulations.

Working Conditions Normal office conditions. Flexibility to respond to issues during non-working hours as required.

This is Canadian-based employment, and all employees are expected to maintain legal eligibility to work in Canada. Applicants advancing in the hiring process may be subject to technical assignments, psychometric assessments, and/or background checks, including but not limited to criminal record, credit, and/or reference checks. At the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, we are dedicated to employment equity and a workplace reflective of the diversity of our port community. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates including women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and members of visible minorities. Reasonable accommodation can be provided in the selection process and while working with the port authority. If you require assistance with applying to our openings or are seeking accommodations to apply in an alternative format, please contact us at careers@portvancouver.com. We are committed to supporting your needs and will do our best to provide the necessary assistance. We recognize and acknowledge that we are located on the traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. To learn more about our indigenous relations and commitment to reconciliation, please visit our website .