Associate Director, Innovation Solutions

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Position Summary

The Associate Director, Innovation Solutions serves as the strategic bridge between business stakeholders and enterprise enablement partners, including Technology, AI Centre of Excellence (CoE), Enterprise Architecture, Information Security, Privacy, Risk, Legal, Compliance, and external technology providers. The role is accountable for identifying, shaping, and advancing AI, Agentic AI, Intelligent Automation, and innovation opportunities that deliver measurable business value.

The incumbent will establish, lead, and continuously mature the AI & Innovation Solutions practice by translating business priorities into actionable technology initiatives, while ensuring alignment with enterprise standards, governance frameworks, and risk management requirements. Acting as a trusted advisor and innovation partner, the role will help business leaders understand emerging technologies, identify high-value use cases, assess feasibility, and guide initiatives from concept through implementation and operationalization.

The position will serve as the primary point of coordination and accountability for AI-related initiatives within the portfolio, bringing together business teams and key enterprise partners to evaluate opportunities, navigate governance processes, resolve dependencies, and accelerate responsible adoption. Success in this role requires the ability to translate complex business challenges into solution opportunities and, conversely, communicate technical concepts in a business-relevant and understandable manner.

A key responsibility of the role is to work closely with business stakeholders and enterprise partners to validate opportunities, develop business cases, assess risks, and advance viable concepts into implementation-ready initiatives.

In addition, the Associate Director will provide leadership and oversight for the Power Platform and Innovation Solutions portfolio, including Power Apps, Power Automate, Copilot technologies, AI Agents, Agentic AI solutions, intake and demand management, governance, delivery coordination, and operational support. The role will ensure solutions are aligned with business objectives, enterprise technology strategies, and responsible AI principles while maximizing organizational productivity, employee experience, operational efficiency, and business outcomes.

AI Strategy & Innovation Leadership

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the AI and Innovation Solutions strategy and roadmap.
• Establish a long-term vision for AI, Agentic AI, automation, and emerging technologies.
• Identify opportunities where AI and innovation can improve business processes, employee productivity, client experience, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, industry trends, vendor capabilities, and competitive developments.
• Assess and recommend opportunities involving Generative AI, Agentic AI, AI Agents, intelligent automation, copilots, and autonomous workflows.
• Create and maintain an innovation framework that balances experimentation with appropriate governance and risk controls.
• Advise senior leaders on strategic AI investments, implementation priorities, and innovation opportunities.
• Drive a culture of innovation, curiosity, experimentation, and continuous improvement.

AI Opportunity Assessment & Business Consulting

Key Responsibilities

• Lead AI opportunity intake, discovery, assessment, and prioritization activities.
• Facilitate business workshops, interviews, and discovery sessions.
• Analyze business challenges and identify opportunities for AI-driven solutions.
• Develop business cases, cost-benefit analyses, and value realization plans.
• Assess solution feasibility, scalability, implementation complexity, and organizational readiness.
• Evaluate business, operational, regulatory, technology, and reputational risks.
• Act as a trusted advisor to business leaders navigating AI opportunities.
• Develop executive recommendations and implementation strategies.

Innovation Incubation, Agentic AI & Proof of Concept Development

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and lead an AI innovation and incubation function within the team.
• Design, build, and execute proof-of-concepts, rapid prototypes, business-led pilots, and technology experiments.
• Develop lightweight solutions to validate ideas and business value prior to formal project initiation.
• Explore and assess Agentic AI capabilities, AI Agents, copilot solutions, and autonomous workflows.
• Build and evaluate AI-driven concepts using approved enterprise tools and platforms.
• Conduct solution trials with business stakeholders to determine viability and readiness for enterprise adoption.
• Validate user experience, process impacts, operational requirements, and expected business outcomes.
• Prepare recommendations on whether initiatives should proceed, be refined, or be discontinued.
• Partner with technology teams to transition successful prototypes into enterprise delivery and production environments.
• Create repeatable innovation assessment and incubation methodologies.

AI Governance, Compliance & Risk Management

Key Responsibilities

• Establish governance frameworks, standards, controls, and operating procedures for AI initiatives.
• Lead AI due diligence and assessment activities.
• Ensure compliance with enterprise AI governance requirements and responsible AI principles.
• Coordinate reviews with Legal, Compliance, Information Security, Privacy, Risk Management, Enterprise Architecture, and Procurement partners.
• Evaluate implementation risks and establish mitigation strategies.
• Support audits, governance reviews, regulatory assessments, and control validation processes.
• Define standards for responsible deployment of AI Agents and autonomous capabilities.
• Ensure appropriate human oversight, transparency, escalation paths, and operational controls are established for AI-enabled solutions.

AI Program & Portfolio Management

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end AI and Innovation Solutions portfolio.
• Develop roadmaps, priorities, and implementation plans.
• Oversee initiative planning, execution, risk management, and value realization.
• Manage stakeholder expectations and executive reporting.
• Establish performance measures and success criteria for AI initiatives.
• Monitor implementation outcomes, adoption, and realized benefits.
• Ensure successful transition into operational support and maintenance models.
• Continuously identify opportunities for optimization and enhancement.

Change Management, Communications & Adoption

Key Responsibilities

• Lead organizational change management activities for AI and innovation initiatives.
• Develop comprehensive stakeholder engagement and adoption strategies.
• Create communication plans that support awareness, understanding, and adoption.
• Partner with Learning and Development teams on training programs and educational materials.
• Drive AI literacy and organizational readiness efforts.
• Support business users during implementation and post-launch adoption.
• Measure adoption effectiveness and continuously improve engagement strategies.
• Promote sustainable behavioural and process changes that maximize business value.

Power Platform & Innovation Solutions Leadership

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Power Platform and Innovation Solutions practice.
• Oversee intake, assessment, prioritization, governance, and delivery of Power Apps and automation initiatives.
• Establish standards and best practices for Power Apps, Power Automate, Copilot Studio, AI Agents, and related technologies.
• Evaluate incoming requests and determine the appropriate solution approach.
• Support business stakeholders in identifying automation and innovation opportunities.
• Provide governance and oversight for AI-enabled and low-code solutions.
• Drive the evolution of the team's Innovation Solutions operating model.
• Collaborate with technology teams to ensure solutions are scalable, secure, supportable, and aligned with enterprise standards.

Vendor & Technology Partner Management

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with internal and external technology partners.
• Evaluate emerging AI platforms, vendors, and solution providers.
• Lead vendor assessments, proof-of-concept evaluations, and technology reviews.
• Participate in procurement, due diligence, and implementation planning activities.
• Monitor industry developments and recommend strategic technology investments.
• Ensure external solutions comply with organizational governance and security standards.

Team Leadership & Capability Development

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the team's senior AI and Innovation Solutions leader.
• Mentor and coach team members in AI, innovation, automation, and Power Platform capabilities.
• Build organizational awareness and capability in emerging technologies.
• Establish reusable frameworks, governance models, standards, and best practices.
• Promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning.
• Develop a sustainable operating model that supports future growth and innovation.

Qualifications

Education

• University degree in Business, Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related discipline.
• Advanced certifications in Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft Power Platform, Change Management, Project Management, Business Analysis, or Innovation Management are considered assets.

Experience

• 8+ years of progressive experience in technology, consulting, innovation, digital transformation, or business solution delivery.
• Experience leading enterprise initiatives involving business and technology stakeholders.
• Experience evaluating and implementing Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Agentic AI, intelligent automation, and emerging technologies.
• Experience developing prototypes, proof-of-concepts, pilot solutions, or innovation incubation initiatives.
• Experience working with AI Agents, Copilot technologies, workflow automation, or autonomous business solutions.
• Experience working with Legal, Compliance, Information Security, Privacy, and Risk Management teams.
• Experience leading organizational change management and adoption initiatives.
• Experience managing technology vendors, strategic partnerships, and cross-functional stakeholder groups.
• Experience with Microsoft Power Platform, including Power Apps, Power Automate, Copilot Studio, and related technologies.

Personal Attributes & Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong intellectual curiosity and passion for emerging technologies.
• A growth mindset and eagerness to continuously learn evolving AI capabilities.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and helping shape new functions and processes.
• Entrepreneurial thinking with the ability to transform ideas into actionable solutions.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.
• Ability to balance innovation with appropriate governance and risk management.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills that translate complex concepts into clear business language.
• High degree of influence, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong executive presence and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Self-motivation with the ability to work independently and lead through influence.
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and delivery focus.
• Passion for coaching others and building organizational capability.

Success Measures

The successful candidate will:

• Establish and mature the AI & Innovation Solutions practice.
• Create a sustainable governance and operating model for AI and Agentic AI initiatives.
• Develop a repeatable innovation incubation and proof-of-concept framework.
• Successfully identify, validate, and advance high-value AI opportunities.
• Increase organizational AI literacy, readiness, and adoption.
• Mature the Power Platform and Innovation Solutions portfolio.
• Strengthen collaboration across business, technology, legal, compliance, security, and risk teams.
• Deliver measurable business value through AI, AI Agents, automation, and innovation initiatives.
• Ensure all solutions meet governance, operational, security, and compliance requirements.
• Build a strong pipeline of future AI and innovation opportunities that support business growth and operational excellence.

Salary:

Pay Type:

The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type.

Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year in this position.

BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards

About Us

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact. We strive to help you make an impact from day one – for yourself and our customers. We’ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we’ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.

To find out more visit us at https://jobs.bmo.com/ca/en.

BMO is committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace. By learning from each other’s differences, we gain strength through our people and our perspectives. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. To request accommodation, please contact your recruiter.

Note to Recruiters: BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to BMO, directly or indirectly, will be considered BMO property. BMO will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. A recruiting agency must first have a valid, written and fully executed agency agreement contract for service to submit resumes.