Associate Manager, Strategy Enablement

Position: Associate Manager, Strategy Enablement (18 Month Contract)
Toronto, ON
Full time
JR
We are seeking a strategic, analytical, and execution-oriented Associate Manager to join the CTC Strategy Enablement team. This role plays an important part in translating strategic vision into actionable initiatives, driving cross-functional alignment, and ensuring successful execution of the strategies for key customer Lighthouse occasions.
The Associate Manager, Strategy Enablement will support the development and execution of our Customer Centric Growth (CCG) strategy by synthesizing customer insights, developing business recommendations, and partnering across the organization to bring strategies to life. This individual will contribute to strategic planning and help translate strategic priorities into action through effective project management, performance tracking, and stakeholder coordination.
If you are passionate about putting customer insights at the centre of decision-making, enjoy solving complex business challenges, and want to strengthen your strategic leadership capabilities, we encourage you to apply.
What You'll Do:
Project Management & Lighthouse Execution
Manage assigned Lighthouse (Occasions) work streams from planning through execution, including critical path timelines, stakeholder coordination, and performance tracking.
Coordinate cross-functional inputs, monitor progress, and proactively identify risks, dependencies, and mitigation plans.
Facilitate working sessions and planning discussions to drive alignment and advance business priorities.
Prepare status updates, recommendations, and reports for leadership stakeholders.
Support the successful execution of broader strategic priorities through strong project management and organizational skills.
Strategic Planning, Customer Insights, & Business Recommendations
Contribute to the development and refinement of Customer Centric growth strategies by leveraging customer research, market intelligence, competitive insights, and business performance data.
Translate customer research into actionable recommendations that inform assortment and go-to-market strategies.
Support COO and CCO stakeholders in evaluating opportunities, prioritizing initiatives, and making evidence-based business decisions.
Develop strategic narratives, business cases, analyses, and executive-ready materials that communicate opportunities, implications, and recommendations.
Partner with the Customer Research Team and cross-functional stakeholders to identify emerging trends, customer need, and opportunities for growth.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence
Build strong relationships with merchandising, marketing, digital, loyalty, store operations, and other cross-functional teams to translate customer insights into customer-focused assortments and go-to-market plans
Influence cross-functional stakeholders through fact-based recommendations, strong communication, and customer-centric thinking.
Facilitate communication and information sharing across teams to ensure alignment on objectives, priorities, and execution plans.
Support leadership discussions and planning forums by providing clear analysis, recommendations, and updates.
Leadership & Growth
Demonstrate accountability and initiative in the delivery of strategic work streams and key deliverables.
Act as a trusted partner to stakeholders through strong problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
Share knowledge and best practices with peers and cross-functional partners.
Seek opportunities to broaden strategic, commercial, and leadership capabilities in preparation for future growth opportunities.
Performance Measurement & Continuous Improvement
Track business performance and customer outcomes to evaluate strategy effectiveness and identify opportunities for optimization.
Conduct post-Lighthouse reviews to identify learnings, implications, and opportunities for future improvement.
Stay informed on industry trends, competitive activity, customer behaviour, and retail best practices to help identify emerging opportunities.
What You'll Bring:
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Marketing, Strategy, Economics, or a related field.
4-5 years of experience in strategy, consulting, customer insights, merchandising, marketing, project management, retail, or related business functions.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize multiple sources of information into clear insights, recommendations, and business implications.
Experience translating customer insights and business analysis into actionable strategies and plans.
Demonstrated ability to manage projects, initiatives, or work streams involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
Strong communication, storytelling, and presentation skills, including the ability to create concise, compelling, executive-ready materials.
Proven ability to influence stakeholders and build alignment without direct authority.
Experience working cross-functionally and building productive relationships across diverse teams.
Strong business acumen…