AVP, Automotive Data and Systems – Canadian Tire – Toronto, ON

Canadian Tire Corporation is looking for a strategic, execution-focused leader to take on one of its most impactful roles: Associate Vice President, Automotive Data and Systems, based in Toronto, Ontario. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Automotive Merchandising, this is a senior leadership position that sits at the intersection of business strategy and technology delivery — driving transformation across one of Canada’s most recognized retail brands.

This role carries broad accountability across automotive systems, ecommerce platforms, digital customer experiences, and data capabilities. You’ll serve as the connective tissue between business and technology teams, ensuring that a complex portfolio of concurrent initiatives is structured, prioritized, and executed with clarity and purpose.

About the Role: AVP, Automotive Data and Systems

The AVP will own strategic direction and governance across a wide range of automotive technology initiatives, including the Co-Star shop management platform, legacy automotive systems, search and fitment capabilities, ecommerce enhancements, and customer-facing digital products. With multiple transformation workstreams running simultaneously, this leader must be equally comfortable setting a vision at the executive level and rolling up their sleeves to build alignment across stakeholders.

Success here hinges on your ability to act as a “general contractor” across the automotive technology ecosystem — bringing together business leaders, digital teams, technology partners, and Associate Dealers to deliver against a shared roadmap. You’ll need to translate business priorities into scalable technology solutions while maintaining strong program governance, communication rhythms, and accountability frameworks across a highly matrixed environment.

Benefits and Salary

Canadian Tire offers competitive salaries and wages, along with a comprehensive benefits package that includes an enhanced flex benefits program featuring $5,000 per year in mental health benefits for eligible employees and their families. Additional perks include store discounts, supported learning through the Triangle Learning Academy, Canadian Tire Profit Sharing, and retirement and savings programs for eligible employees. Total well-being resources and mental health tools are available to all employees.

Responsibilities

This role carries end-to-end accountability for technology strategy and delivery across Canadian Tire’s Automotive division. The AVP will manage a broad portfolio of initiatives — from modernizing ecommerce and search capabilities to evolving the digital customer journey at the dealer level — while maintaining executive-level visibility and cross-functional alignment at every step.

• Lead strategic direction and governance for Automotive Data & Systems initiatives across the entire Automotive division
• Provide business ownership of the Co-Star shop management platform and related automotive technology systems, ensuring adoption and operational effectiveness
• Bridge the gap between Automotive business teams and IT by translating business requirements into scalable technology solutions and delivery plans
• Manage a concurrent portfolio of technology, data, and digital initiatives, maintaining alignment, prioritization, and accountability across workstreams
• Drive transformation across automotive ecommerce growth, search modernization, fitment and cataloguing capabilities, and digital product innovation
• Evolve the automotive customer journey through online appointment booking, digital service intake, cashless payments, touchless experiences, and digital checkout solutions
• Build relationships with Associate Dealers and business stakeholders to ensure technology investments address both customer and dealer needs
• Establish governance frameworks, operating rhythms, and communication processes across a complex set of initiatives
• Communicate project status, risks, priorities, and recommendations to senior and executive leadership
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team while fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement

Requirements / Skills

The ideal candidate brings a strong mix of strategic business acumen and technology fluency — someone who can credibly engage with both business executives and technology delivery teams without needing to be a hands-on technical expert. You’ll thrive here if you have a track record of driving results in large, complex, matrixed organizations undergoing significant transformation.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Technology, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline (ideally)
• Concurrent workstream management — demonstrated ability to oversee 6–7 technology workstreams simultaneously
• Business-led technology delivery — proven track record delivering digital product and ecommerce initiatives in a large organization
• Stakeholder management — exceptional ability to build alignment and influence in a highly matrixed environment
• Digital and ecommerce knowledge — strong understanding of digital products, ecommerce platforms, enterprise systems, data management, search technologies, and customer experience solutions
• Technology fluency — sufficient technical knowledge to guide and challenge discussions with delivery teams, including experience with cloud-enabled solutions
• Automotive industry experience — background in automotive retail, the aftermarket, service operations, or related industries is a strong asset
• Platform experience — familiarity with Co-Star, shop management systems, automotive ecommerce solutions, cataloguing, or fitment technologies is highly desirable

How to Apply

To apply, visit the official Canadian Tire job posting using the link below. Make sure your resume is current and tailored to reflect your technology leadership and program management experience before submitting.

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