Location:
This role will be hybrid, with in-person work required at one of our SafetyCo locations in Southern Ontario.
Project Overview:
SafetyCoLabs is a new workforce education and training venture by SafetyCo. The initiative is designed to modernize workforce training by combining digital learning, industry-aligned curriculum, and direct pathways into employment.
Watch introduction video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiPqi-FnB9c&t=13s
The Lead Project Manager is responsible for leading the development, experimentation, and execution of innovative initiatives within SafetyCoLabs. Working under the direction of the General Manager, the Lead Project Manager will help translate SafetyCoLabs' broader strategy into actionable innovation initiatives. This includes identifying opportunities, exploring emerging technologies and approaches, leading experiments and pilots, coordinating cross-functional teams, and ultimately delivering initiatives that create meaningful value for learners, employers, instructors, customers, and the organization.
This isn't a role for someone looking to simply clock in and clock out. We're looking for someone who is curious, future-focused, comfortable with ambiguity, and energized by figuring out what could be possible. You should be comfortable testing ideas before all the answers are known, learning from failure, challenging assumptions, and moving quickly from concept to action.
Why This Role Exists:
This role exists to turn innovation into action. SafetyCoLabs is being built to challenge traditional approaches to workforce education and training. The Lead Project Manager creates the structure and momentum needed to explore new ideas, test emerging technologies, develop new learning approaches, and turn promising concepts into functioning solutions.
What Success Looks Like:
Success in this role means:
Innovation Strategy & Direction
Translating SafetyCoLabs' broader strategic direction into a focused pipeline of innovation opportunities, experiments, and initiatives that are aligned with organizational priorities.
Rapid Experimentation
Moving promising ideas quickly into prototypes, pilots, and proof-of-concept testing rather than allowing ideas to remain stuck in planning or discussion.
Meaningful Innovation
Developing new approaches, technologies, programs, and learning experiences that address real challenges and create measurable value.
On-Time Project Delivery
Once an initiative moves into execution, ensuring clear scope, timelines, milestones, resources, dependencies, and deliverables are established and managed through completion.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Bringing together technology, training, operations, marketing, HR, education partners, vendors, and other stakeholders to move initiatives forward and bridge communication gaps.
A Culture of Experimentation
Creating an environment where teams are encouraged to challenge assumptions, take calculated risks, test ideas, learn from failure, and share what they learn.
Successful Implementation
Turning successful experiments and concepts into practical, repeatable programs, products, processes, or technologies.
What You'll Do:
Innovation & Opportunity Development
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Identify and evaluate opportunities across training, technology, learning, and operations.
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Research emerging trends, technologies, and new approaches to workforce development.
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Turn insights and ideas into concepts, recommendations, and experiments.
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Maintain a pipeline of innovation opportunities and initiatives.
Experimentation & Prototyping
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Lead rapid prototyping, pilots, and proof-of-concepts.
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Test ideas quickly, learn from results, and iterate.
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Define problems, assumptions, success measures, and user needs.
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Apply creative problem-solving and a practical test-and-learn mindset.
Project Execution
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Lead approved initiatives from concept through implementation.
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Build project plans, timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
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Coordinate multiple workstreams and maintain momentum and accountability.
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Adapt plans as requirements and priorities evolve.
Collaboration & Leadership
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Lead cross-functional innovation initiatives across technology, training, operations, marketing, and other teams.
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Facilitate ideation sessions, workshops, and project meetings.
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Build alignment, clarify priorities, and move ideas forward without relying solely on formal authority.
Technology & Learning Innovation
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Explore practical applications of AI, automation, analytics, digital learning, and emerging technologies.
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Identify new approaches to workforce education, training delivery, learner engagement, and employment pathways.
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Work with technology and education teams to test and implement new solutions.
Risk & Continuous Improvement
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Identify risks, assumptions, dependencies, and blockers early.
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Balance appropriate controls with a high tolerance for calculated risk and experimentation.
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Know when to pursue, pause, modify, or stop an initiative.
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Measure outcomes, capture lessons learned, and use data and feedback to improve.
Partners & Implementation
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Coordinate with vendors, education providers, technology partners, and other external stakeholders.
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Transition successful pilots into implementation and support scaling.
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Maintain clear documentation, reporting, and communication throughout each initiative.
What You Bring:
Required:
- 3–5+ years of experience in innovation, project management, program development, product development, operations, technology implementation, or a related field
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Experience taking initiatives from concept through implementation
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Experience leading cross-functional teams or initiatives
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Strong project planning, organizational, and execution skills
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Strong creative problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities
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Ability to work independently and make informed decisions in ambiguous environments
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Comfortable managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and competing workstreams
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Experience working with technology, digital platforms, data, or emerging tools
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Strong ability to adapt plans based on new information, feedback, and changing requirements
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Demonstrated ability to take ownership and drive initiatives forward
Preferred:
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Experience working in an innovation lab, startup, accelerator, incubator, technology, or transformation environment
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Experience in workforce development, education, training, or learning technology
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Experience with LMS platforms or digital learning environments
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Experience with AI, automation, analytics, or emerging technologies
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Experience with user research, product development, or human-centred design
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Experience coordinating technology or vendor-led implementations
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PMP certification or equivalent project management training (asset, not required)
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Post-secondary education in business, technology, education, project management, innovation, or a related field
Core Competencies:
Innovation & Future-Focused Thinking
You look beyond the status quo, spotting emerging opportunities, technologies, and ideas that could create future value.
Creative Problem Solving
You approach complex problems from different angles and develop unconventional but practical solutions.
Experimentation & Calculated Risk
You’re comfortable testing assumptions, taking calculated risks, and learning from failure.
Project Management Discipline
You bring structure to complex initiatives, turning ideas into plans and driving them through to completion.
Ownership & Initiative
You take ownership, identify what needs to happen, and move work forward while knowing when to seek direction.
Adaptability
You thrive in environments where priorities shift, information is incomplete, and the path forward isn’t always clear.
Builder Mentality
You enjoy building what doesn’t exist, getting into the details, testing ideas, solving problems, and turning concepts into reality.
Health & Wellness
- We take care of our people, because you can’t look after others if you’re not looked after too.
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Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits
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Access to mental health resources and wellness programs that support your well-being
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Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential personal and professional support when you need it
Work-Life Balance
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We believe great work happens when people actually have time to live their lives too.
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Three weeks of vacation to start, with more as you grow with us
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Paid sick days and personal time when you need it
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No regular overtime, your evenings are yours
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A full company shutdown between Christmas and New Year’s (yes, we all take the break)
Perks & Extras
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The little things matter too.
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Employee discounts on select products and services
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Team events, social activities, and recognition moments that actually feel fun (not forced)
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The chance to do meaningful work that genuinely improves workplace safety in communities
Company Culture
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This is a place where people matter.
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A collaborative, inclusive, and supportive team environment
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Business casual dress
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A real commitment to learning, development, and helping people grow
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A workplace where ideas are welcomed, voices are heard, and contributions actually make a difference
About SafetyCo
SafetyCo is Canada’s leading integrated workplace safety partner, bringing together specialized safety companies, expert teams, and industry-leading services into one coordinated model, where we’re actively changing how workplace safety is done.
We help take the complexity out of workplace safety by making it simpler and more connected. Instead of juggling multiple providers, clients get one integrated partner for training, consulting, compliance, emergency response, occupational health, and risk management. The result is less chaos, stronger compliance, and safer workplaces that actually run better. And we do this all alongside a team of great people who genuinely enjoy what they do.
This Employment Ontario initiative is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
