Position Description

Executive Director, AI and Digital Products/Directrice exécutive ou directeur exécutif, Intelligence artificielle et produits numériques
Location Vancouver (Canada)
About Destination Canada Canada is so much more than just a place on a map. The beauty of our land and people have made our home one of the most desirable places in the world. A land of pure water, fresh air, rich cultures, hardy spirit, and spectacular settings. A testament to the mosaic of human possibility. Tourism is the heartbeat of communities from coast to coast to coast. At Destination Canada, our aspiration for the tourism industry is to generate wealth and wellbeing for all of Canada and enrich the lives of our guests. We seek diverse, ingenious thinkers teeming with intellectual curiosity and a deep desire to grow Canada’s tourism industry – strengthening the socio-cultural, environmental and economic vitality tourism brings to Canada.
About the Department The specialists in this group ask the tough questions. They use data and create analytical models to develop market intelligence and analysis that guides sound strategic and operational decisions. The team’s research products and tools also inform marketing strategy and planning for our key markets and partners.
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Job Grade & Compensation : DC-10 $127,200 - $165,360 (CAD) + Pay for Performance

Language Requirement      : English Essential/Anglais essentiel

Security Clearance Level    : Enhanced

Employment Status             : Indeterminate

End Date (Term Roles)        : 

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The world needs more Canada.

Destination Canada is looking for an Executive Director, AI and Digital Products to join our team in Vancouver as we inspire travellers to explore Canada.

Are you passionate about harnessing innovative ideas and cutting-edge technologies, including AI, to drive organizational transformation? Do you excel at setting visionary goals, leading change, and embedding new technologies into everyday operations?

As the Executive Director, AI and Digital Products, you will spearhead AI-driven innovation and digital transformation across the organization. This role is pivotal in defining and executing the vision for AI and digital products, driving their development, and ensuring seamless integration into the organization's digital ecosystem and extending its impact to the tourism sector. You will work closely with the Senior Executive Director of Data and Digital Innovation to craft and implement strategies that align with the organization’s broader business objectives.

Your leadership will be instrumental in guiding cross-functional teams to develop, deploy and adopt AI-powered digital products, driving innovation and enhancing operational efficiencies across the organization. You will gain deep insights into the activities of various teams, ensuring seamless collaboration and information flow across departments.

Note: The successful candidate will be working under Destination Canada’s Hybrid Working Model.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Visionary Leadership and Product Management

  • Lead the establishment of a clear and compelling vision for AI and digital products
  • Oversee and coordinate the efforts of cross-functional teams across the technology, product, and business units
  • Take ownership of the portfolio of digital products within the organization
  • Oversee the development and deployment of necessary infrastructure, including data pipelines, computing resources, and digital tools to support the effective implementation and evolution of AI and digital products
  • Effectively manage resources, including budgets and personnel

AI and Digital Product Development and Execution.

  • Define and implement the strategy for AI and digital product development
  • Oversee the entire lifecycle of AI and digital products, from concept to launch.
  • Identify, evaluate and prioritize AI use cases across the organization
  • Monitor the performance of AI and digital products post-launch
  • Drive innovation within the product development process
  • Ensure that digital products have high levels of quality that meet or exceed user and stakeholder expectations

Organizational Transformation and Change Management

  • Develop and execute comprehensive change management strategies that support the successful adoption of AI and digital products across the organization.
  • Foster a culture of innovation and agility, where AI and digital solutions are embraced as integral to the organization’s operations.
  • Develop and implement communication plans that keep all stakeholders informed about the progress of AI and digital initiatives

Innovation and Culture Building

  • Promote an organizational culture that values creativity, experimentation, and the exploration of new ideas and solutions.
  • Serve as a champion of AI and digital innovation within the organization.
  • Involve internal teams and tourism sector stakeholders in discussions and workshops focused on AI and digital product innovation
  • Lead initiatives to cultivate a culture of agility across the organization, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and iterative development in achieving business goals.

Thought Leadership and Continuous Learning

  • Serve as a thought leader within the organization and the broader tourism sector in AI and digital product innovation.
  • Continuously seek opportunities to improve the organization’s AI and digital product strategies.
  • Build and enhance the team’s capabilities in product ownership and management by establishing communities of practice

Essential Qualifications

EDUCATION:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business Analytics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
  • Professional certification in Agile Methodologies (e.g. Certified Agile Product Management, Product Owner) is highly desirable.

EXPERIENCE: When applying, the candidate must clearly demonstrate in writing how they meet the following experience criteria:

  • At least 10 years of proven leadership experience in product management, development and delivery with a focus on digital, data and AI-driven projects.
  • A minimum of 8 years of experience in team management, with a demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams effectively in a matrixed environment
  • Experience in managing large-scale digital transformation projects
  • Expertise in solution design and delivery, utilizing Agile methodologies and product management frameworks
  • Experience in stakeholder engagement and design thinking
  • Strong background in managing the full product lifecycle, from ideation to launch
  • Experience in developing and implementing change management strategies.

KNOWLEDGE:

  • Deep understanding of AI technologies and their practical application within business contexts
  • Comprehensive knowledge of digital product development processes
  • Strong grasp of data science and its practical applications
  • Strong understanding of emerging technologies and trends, particularly in AI and digital transformation
  • Knowledge of stakeholder engagement and change management principles

ABILITIES:

  • Ability to think strategically and develop innovative solutions to complex problems
  • In-depth knowledge of AI technologies and their practical application within various business contexts
  • Exceptional communication and leadership skills
  • Strategic thinker
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities,
  • Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams 

PERSONAL SUITABILITY: Effective interpersonal relationships; creativity; judgment; results-oriented; discretion; confidentiality; diplomacy; detail-oriented.

ENTITLEMENT TO WORK: You must certify in your application that you are legally entitled to work in Canada or have the ability to obtain the necessary approvals to work in Canada.  Destination Canada reserves the right to require that you provide proof of your legal entitlement to work in Canada at any time.

Please note that Destination Canada will not be providing relocation assistance.

NOTE: You must be able to provide proof of your education credentials if requested.  When applying, candidates must clearly demonstrate in writing that they meet the above-mentioned education and experience criteria.

If you require accommodation(s) at any point in the recruitment process, please reach out to Whitney Friesen, Senior Talent Advisor by one of the following methods:

Please review our Frequently Asked Questions  if you are looking for any other information.

Destination Canada’s mission is to influence supply and build demand for the benefit of locals, communities and visitors through leading research, alignment with public and private sectors, and marketing Canada nationally and abroad. 

Destination Canada is a Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada and formed under the Canadian Tourism Commission Act. We thrive on teamwork across the country and around the world, connecting and collaborating across multiple industries and government levels to promote Canada as a premier four-season destination. The world is our playing field. It is a highly competitive one and, by pulling together, we strive to create unique and rewarding experiences for our staff, while ensuring our guests, our industry, and the communities in which we operate benefit through tourism.

At Destination Canada, we believe that people who think like us, and people who don't, make the best teammates.

We believe that Canada's diversity, its greatest asset, is also what touches travellers' hearts most deeply. To that end, we are committed to inclusive leadership within our workforce, workplace, and interactions with partners and travellers alike.

Destination Canada is an equal opportunity employer committed to reflecting Canada's diversity through fair and accessible hiring and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. Applicants requiring accommodation throughout the process are encouraged to contact accessibility@destinationcanada.com at any stage of the hiring process.

Our workplace is bilingual with communications, resources and services provided in both of Canada's official languages. Persons are entitled to participate in the application process in the official language of their choice. Candidates are asked to indicate their first official language and their preferred official language in their application. Interviews are primarily conducted in the language of the work for the specific role.

Closing Date:
12/1/24
Closing Time:
11:59 PM (PST)
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