Director, Payments Policy and Strategy

Take a central role

The Bank of Canada has a vision to be a leading central bank—dynamic, engaged and trusted—committed to a better Canada. No other employer in the country offers you the unique opportunity to work at the very center of Canada’s economy, in an organization with significant impact on the economic and financial well-being of all Canadians. You will be challenged, energized and motivated to excel in our environment. 

Building on the principles that have always guided us – excellence, integrity and respect – we strive to be forward-looking and innovative, to welcome people with diverse perspectives and talents, and to earn trust by living up to our commitments and by clearly explaining the intent of our policies and actions.  

With our defined-benefit pension plan, benefits, and high flexibility for work life balance - find out more about why we are annually ranked as one of Canada's top employers:  Working Here - Bank of Canada

Find out more about the next steps in our Recruitment process. 

Did you know?

One of the Bank’s strategic priorities for 2025–27 is ensuring that Canadians have access to safe, modern, reliable, and efficient payment options, now and into the future. As part of this agenda, the Bank is putting emphasis on broad payments system research, technical experimentation, and policy development.

The Role

As the Director of the Payments Policy and Strategy (PPS) team, you will lead a multidisciplinary group of policy analysts, researchers, and technical specialists responsible for shaping and delivering the Bank’s payments policy agenda. Your core mandate is to set strategic direction and oversee the delivery of high‑quality analysis that supports the Bank’s work on the current and future state of domestic and international payments ecosystems.

You will guide deep analytical and research efforts to assess emerging trends, evaluate innovative technologies, and strengthen the Bank’s understanding of evolving payments models. You will integrate insights from multiple areas and translate complex findings into actionable policy recommendations that advance the Bank’s objectives.

You will engage directly with participants across the payments ecosystem to gather insights, identify issues, and communicate the Bank’s positions. You will also collaborate with international partners to align and promote shared views on global payments issues and support senior leadership’s participation in international committees and working groups (e.g., G20, G7, CPMI).

Your portfolio will include policy contributions to guide:

• The evolution of the Canadian retail and wholesale payments ecosystem
• Settlement account policies for Lynx, RTR, and ACSS
• Management of the Bank’s settlement account work, including the processing of account applications
• Technical projects and pilots with external stakeholders and the BIS IH Toronto Centre
• Stablecoins and tokenization
• Future development of the ACSS
• Interlinking with foreign fast-payment systems

You will also contribute to the preparation and delivery of briefings for senior management and support the Bank’s leadership in their international responsibilities.

What you need to succeed

You are a strategic thinker who leads by example. You are a strong communicator both written and verbal with the ability to articulate complex technical and economic concepts clearly to diverse audiences. Your expertise spans payments economics, financial market infrastructures, digital assets, regulation, and technology and system design.

You have a proven track record of policy development and implementation, and experience leading multidisciplinary research and analytical teams. You bring sound judgement, the ability to extract meaningful policy insights from complex research, and the skill to mentor and develop staff.

You are forward‑looking and change‑oriented, able to set a long‑term vision, guide your team through transformation, and align work to the Bank’s strategic priorities. You have experience preparing senior leadership for domestic and international engagements and representing institutional positions with confidence and credibility to external audiences, reinforcing the Bank’s role as a trusted and influential policy authority.

Nice to have

• Leadership experience in research, including drafting and reviewing research papers and analytical notes, and managing research staff
• A track record of publications in relevant academic journals
• Experience with technical experiments and pilots related to payments and financial infrastructures

Your education and experience

This position requires a PhD, MBA, MSc (finance), or MA (economics) with a minimum of 12 years of recent relevant experience.

Innovative Mindset
We value candidates who demonstrate adaptability, curiosity, and a willingness to learn new technologies, including AI and digital tools. We seek individuals who can think critically about data, question existing processes, and find ways to simplify our work while embracing change and new ways of doing things. 

Language requirement
The Bank’s work environment is conducive to the use of both of Canada’s official languages - English and French.  The position language requirement is Level 5 (Fully Functional).  If a qualified candidate who meets the language requirement of the position is not found, a qualified candidate who does not meet the language requirement may be considered. Training may be provided to help reach the required level.  Both bilingual and unilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. 

What you need to know

• Priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents
• Security level required: Be eligible to obtain Secret 
• Relocation assistance may be provided, if required
• Please save a copy of the job poster. Once the closing date has passed, it will no longer be available.

Hybrid Work Model
The Bank offers work arrangements that provide employees with flexibility, enable high-performing teams, and support an excellent workplace culture. Most employees can telework from home for a portion of each month as part of the Bank’s hybrid work model, and they are expected on site at the Bank location a minimum of 12 days per month to help build connections between colleagues. You must live in Canada, and within reasonable commuting distance of the office. 

What you can expect from us
This is a great opportunity to join a leading organization and be part of a high-performing team. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet your needs at every stage of your life and career. For more information on key benefits please visit A great deal to consider. 

• Salaries are based on qualifications and experience and typically range from $208,020 to $244,730 (job grade 21)
• The Bank offers an incentive for successfully meeting expectations at  7 to 10% of your base salary. The Bank offers additional performance pay (5%) for those who exceed expectations. Exceptional performers who far exceed expectations may be eligible for higher performance pay.
• Flexible and comprehensive benefits so you can choose the level of health, dental disability and life and/or accident insurance coverage that meets your needs
• Extra vacation days (up to five each year) that you can purchase to add to your vacation entitlement
• Indexed, defined-benefit pension

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.