Business Innovation Manager

About Toyota Financial Services

Toyota Financial Services (TFS) provides comprehensive retail, leasing, and dealer financing solutions to Toyota and Lexus dealerships and their customers throughout Canada. As a key member of the global Toyota Financial Services Corporation (TFSC), our Canadian operations are headquartered in Markham, Ontario.

What Sets Us Apart?

At TFS, we are dedicated to crafting exceptional customer and dealer experiences within an innovative, collaborative, and team-oriented environment. We are proud to be part of the esteemed Toyota family, a globally recognized leader renowned for its technological advancements, superior quality standards, commitment to continuous improvement, and environmental stewardship.

We are currently seeking a full-time, permanent Business Innovation Manager to join our team, reporting directly to the Vice President of Business Operations. This pivotal role is responsible for driving enterprise-wide operational excellence, Kaizen, and mobility initiatives. The objective is to enhance efficiency, elevate service quality, and uncover new business opportunities across the organization. The successful candidate will lead the implementation and sustained success of impactful process improvements and mobility programs, guiding teams through structured problem-solving methodologies and continuous improvement practices. Ensuring that solutions are effectively integrated into daily operations is paramount. This position offers leadership, execution governance, and cross-functional coordination to transform business challenges into tangible, measurable outcomes. The role is based at our Markham Head Office.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Spearhead the enterprise-wide innovation function, operational excellence, Artificial Intelligence, and Kaizen initiatives to achieve measurable gains in performance, efficiency, quality, and both customer and employee satisfaction.
• Drive the evolution of the TFS Business Innovation Framework, fostering associate engagement and cultivating a culture of innovation. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the progress and success of innovation efforts organization-wide. Lead cross-functional teams from idea conception through testing, piloting, and full-scale deployment.
• Oversee the delivery and ongoing sustainment of process improvements by applying Toyota Business Practices to translate complex business issues into structured, value-driven solutions.
• Effectively balance the execution of critical transformation and innovation projects with the management of day-to-day operational enhancements to ensure Business Innovation consistently delivers demonstrable value.
• Provide operational leadership for mobility programs, taking accountability for their performance, stability, and continuous enhancement.
• Manage the performance of mobility programs, including forecasting, scenario analysis, and use case modeling to support informed decision-making and scaling strategies.
• Collaborate with global Toyota affiliates and external partners to harmonize mobility operating models, performance benchmarks, and execution strategies.
• Institute and maintain robust governance structures for Innovation, Operational Excellence (OE), AI, and mobility initiatives, covering intake, prioritization, resource allocation, and delivery timelines.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders, utilizing data-driven analysis and insights to propose operational enhancements and identify new avenues for value chain expansion.
• Lead diverse, cross-functional teams spanning operations, technology, analytics, and customer experience (CX) to implement practical, well-governed, and sustainable solutions.
• Promote standardization in work methodologies, metrics, and management routines to ensure improvements are deeply embedded in daily operations.
• Mentor, coach, and develop members of the Business Innovation team, ensuring team capacity aligns with business priorities and maintains a focus on achieving outcomes.
• Partner with Toyota affiliates and Dealerships to implement the Connected Retail Roadmap, aiming to enhance the customer sales and service journey.
• Lead the creation and deployment of learning programs designed to equip TFS leaders and associates with the necessary competencies and tools to champion innovation and process improvement initiatives.

What You’ll Bring

• A university degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, Finance, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience leading initiatives in innovation, operational excellence, continuous improvement, mobility, or enterprise transformation, including experience in people management.
• Proficiency in Toyota Business Practices, Kaizen, or equivalent methodologies such as Lean or Six Sigma.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse partners, vendors, and stakeholders to build consensus and alignment on critical initiatives.
• Proven track record of delivering measurable value through process improvements, program performance management, and operational execution.
• Experience supporting mobility or complex enterprise programs, including performance forecasting, scenario analysis, and use case modeling for decision support.
• Exceptional skills in stakeholder management, facilitation, and communication, with experience engaging senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Flexibility to work varied hours and a commitment to being in the office a minimum of three days per week.

What We’ll Bring

• A supportive work environment that values teamwork, flexibility, and mutual respect.
• A competitive salary package, including bonus opportunities.
• Comprehensive health and dental benefits available from day one.
• A company pension plan with a matched contribution component.
• Access to an associate vehicle discount program.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development, including tuition reimbursement.
• A fitness reimbursement program.
• Generous time off benefits.
• An outstanding company culture rooted in respect for individuals and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• A hybrid work model, contingent on role requirements.

Additional Information

Our success is fundamentally driven by our people. We actively encourage diverse perspectives and value the unique experiences each individual brings. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, celebrating the diversity of the communities we serve. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, or any other characteristic protected by law.