Job Description

Join the Ride!
Position: Senior Director of IT
Location: AutoCanada Home Office, Edmonton, AB
Classification: Full Time, Internal Promotion Opportunity
Join the ride!
AutoCanada is the largest Canadian-owned and publicly traded automotive dealer group operating in Canada and the US. We are innovative, data-driven, and our commitment to our Team Members, customers, and operational excellence fuels our success. We reward high-performers regularly and are looking for leaders who empower and motivate their teams to do their very best. We want someone whose values align with our own and can support our people-driven culture of learning and continuous development. Working here is fast-paced, non-stop, and a little unpredictable--and we love it.
This role is designed for an internal candidate who has already demonstrated leadership and impact in an acting capacity. It's an opportunity to formalize and elevate that contribution into a strategic leadership position.
What drives your day-to-day?

• Partner closely with the VP of Information Management and Technology to shape and execute AutoCanada's long-term technology vision and strategy.
• Execute AutoCanada's enterprise IT strategy, ensuring alignment with business goals and operational excellence.
• Provide exceptional customer service to internal and external stakeholders by ensuring reliable, responsive, and user-friendly technology solutions.
• Act as a technology partner to business units, enabling innovation and operational efficiency through collaborative solutioning.
• Ensure business continuity through robust infrastructure, disaster recovery planning, and proactive risk mitigation.
• Navigate and optimize a complex, often OEM-driven application environment across dealerships and collision centres.
• Adequately resource projects and operations to meet stakeholder expectations, balancing priorities, timelines, and team capacity.
• Oversee infrastructure, enterprise applications, cloud environments, and IT operations across all locations.
• Drive digital transformation initiatives, including modernization of legacy systems and adoption of scalable technologies.
• Manage vendor relationships and contracts to ensure cost-effective and high-performing technology solutions.
• Champion data governance, system integration, and business intelligence initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and public company requirements.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing IT team, fostering growth, accountability, and innovation.
• Support acquisition activities from IT due diligence through post-acquisition integration.
• Rationalize and fully utilize available technology across the organization.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, agility, and service excellence.

What are the must-haves...

• 10+ years of progressive experience in IT, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles.
• Proven success in leading enterprise-wide IT initiatives and managing complex environments.
• Strong understanding of infrastructure, cloud platforms (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), enterprise applications, and cybersecurity fundamentals.
• Experience with vendor management, budgeting, and strategic planning.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to translate technical strategy into business value.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.

Nice to Haves:

• Experience in the automotive retail industry or a similar multi-location business.
• Familiarity with hybrid IT environments (on-premise and cloud).
• Exposure to compliance frameworks relevant to Canadian businesses.
• Certifications such as ITIL, PMP, or cloud platform certifications (e.g., AWS, Azure).

The Perks.

• Competitive Compensation and Benefits Package
• Employee Vehicle Purchase & Service Plans
• Employee and Family Assistance Programs
• Company-wide appreciation events and contests throughout the calendar year
• Professional development and the opportunity to grow your career

We strive every day to create a workplace culture that embraces diversity and inclusivity, ensures fairness and equal opportunities, and fosters a sense of belonging for all Team Members. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively support everyone in expressing themselves and reaching their full potential.
Can you picture yourself here already?
We hope so. It's equally as important that you choose us as we choose you. Take a sneak peek at what we think makes this one of the best workplaces around.
If you think you're a good fit to come along on our ride, apply now through our website at www.autocan.ca/careers. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Our commitment extends to reaching out to individuals from various backgrounds and identities. We do not discriminate based on gender identity, race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital or family status, or mental/physical disabilities. AutoCanada is committed to collaborating with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need accommodation during the recruitment process, please inform your recruiter.

Skills Required