Manager of Procurement, Indirect Spend

The Opportunity

We are seeking a seasoned procurement leader to join our Enterprise Procurement team as an Manager, Enterprise Procurement, providing leadership and operational oversight. This role is responsible for leading a team of Sourcing Partners and Coordinators while ensuring the successful delivery of sourcing initiatives, supplier governance, risk management activities, and stakeholder engagement across key Indirect Spend categories.

Reporting to Enterprise Procurement leadership, you will play a critical role in maintaining excellence procurement, advancing strategic sourcing objectives, supporting third-party risk governance, and delivering measurable business value through effective supplier management and commercial negotiations.

This is an excellent opportunity for a collaborative and results-oriented leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

What to Expect 

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Sourcing Partners and Coordinators, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and solutions-focused culture.
• Establish clear goals, priorities, and performance expectations aligned with Enterprise Procurement objectives.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings to review workloads, address challenges, provide coaching, and support professional development.
• Mentor team members on sourcing strategy development, negotiations, executive presentations, stakeholder engagement, and procurement best practices.
• Deliver timely performance feedback and conduct mid-year and year-end performance reviews.
• Support succession planning, capability development, and continuous learning initiatives within the team.

Sourcing Leadership & Delivery Excellence

• Oversee the execution of sourcing and contracting initiatives across multiple Indirect Spend categories, ensuring alignment with business objectives, budgets, timelines, and governance requirements.
• Provide leadership and guidance on complex sourcing events, including RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, contract negotiations, supplier evaluations, and commercial assessments.
• Review and approve procurement deliverables, including business cases, recommendation presentations, negotiation strategies, contract summaries, and executive briefing materials.
• Drive commercial value through supplier rationalization, competitive sourcing initiatives, contract optimization, cost savings, cost avoidance, and demand management strategies.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives and special projects as required.
• Manage escalations involving stakeholders, suppliers, contractual disputes, capacity constraints, or sourcing risks.

Strategic Business Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor and primary procurement partner to senior business leaders across Personal Insurance, Commercial Insurance, Human Resources, Marketing, Finance, and other corporate functions.
• Provide market intelligence, sourcing expertise, supplier insights, and commercial recommendations to support business decision-making.
• Develop and oversee category strategies that align with organizational priorities, business objectives, and long-term procurement goals.
• Represent Enterprise Procurement in leadership forums, steering committees, governance meetings, and executive updates.
• Build strong relationships across the organization to promote procurement engagement, compliance, and value creation.

Procurement Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to procurement policies, regulatory requirements, documentation standards, and third-party risk management frameworks.
• Partner closely with Legal, Privacy, Compliance, Technology Security, Risk Management, and Vendor Management teams throughout the sourcing and contracting lifecycle.
• Oversee third-party risk assessments and ensure appropriate security, privacy, business continuity, regulatory, and operational risk considerations are incorporated into sourcing decisions.
• Support governance activities related to material and critical suppliers, including risk mitigation, remediation tracking, and issue escalation.
• Ensure contract renewals, amendments, and lifecycle management activities are completed proactively and within established timelines.
• Support the evaluation and governance of emerging technologies, including AI-enabled solutions, to ensure alignment with enterprise risk and regulatory expectations.

Supplier Performance & Value Realization

• Oversee strategic supplier performance management activities, including supplier business reviews, performance scorecards, issue resolution, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor supplier performance, contractual obligations, and service delivery outcomes to ensure expected value is achieved.
• Identify opportunities to improve supplier relationships, service quality, operational efficiencies, and commercial performance.

Reporting, Metrics & Executive Communication

• Oversee procurement reporting, project dashboards, and leadership updates.
• Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of sourcing progress, savings, cost avoidance, supplier rationalization activities, contract compliance, and procurement KPIs.
• Develop and present executive-level reports, business cases, sourcing recommendations, supplier performance updates, and risk assessments.
• Support leadership reporting on vendor harmonization, strategic sourcing outcomes, and procurement value creation initiatives.

What you Bring 

Leadership & Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, vendor management, contract negotiation, third-party risk management, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams, coaching employees, and developing talent.
• Proven track record of delivering complex sourcing initiatives within cross-functional environments.
• Experience influencing stakeholders and driving outcomes at both operational and executive levels.
• Strong change management and organizational leadership capabilities.

Procurement Expertise

• Significant strategic sourcing and procurement experience within a corporate environment; insurance sector experience is considered an asset.
• Deep understanding of procurement practices, category management, supplier negotiations, contract management, and commercial strategy.
• Experience operating within regulated environments and managing third-party risk requirements.
• Strong knowledge of supplier governance, contract lifecycle management, and procurement controls.
• Experience supporting enterprise-wide transformation, supplier rationalization, or procurement optimization initiatives is preferred.

Core Competencies

• Exceptional relationship-building, influencing, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities with a data-driven mindset.
• Excellent planning, prioritization, organizational, and project management capabilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and lead through ambiguity.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills, with the ability to distill complex topics into clear business recommendations.
• Strategic thinker with a focus on delivering measurable business value and operational excellence.

Education & Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Business, Supply Chain Management, Commerce, or a related discipline.
• Professional procurement designation (SCMP, CSCMP, CPSM, CPM, or equivalent) is considered an asset.
• French language proficiency is considered an asset.

Measures of Success

Success in this role will be demonstrated through:

• Delivery of sourcing initiatives within agreed timelines and business objectives.
• Achievement of procurement savings, cost avoidance, and value creation targets.
• Strong stakeholder satisfaction and engagement.
• Effective management of third-party risk and procurement governance requirements.
• Reduction of contract renewal risks and lifecycle management issues.
• Development and engagement of team members.
• Advancement of supplier rationalization and vendor harmonization objectives.
• Clear and effective executive communication on sourcing outcomes, supplier performance, and procurement value delivered.

Join us and help drive strategic sourcing excellence, supplier governance, and enterprise value while leading a talented procurement team.

Salary Range: $88,000 - $138,000

Actual salary for the role may vary depending on work location of the successful candidate and other factors including but not limited to, skills, education, experience, working conditions and the local labour market.

This position is being posted to fill an existing vacancy.

Interested in this role, but don’t meet every requirement? We encourage you to apply! We know from experience that a candidate doesn’t need 100% of the qualifications listed to bring incredible value to our team. We’re actively seeking diverse backgrounds and perspectives to help us make insurance better. At Definity, inclusion, diversity, and equity aren’t just “nice to have” — they’re essential to our success. 

What’s in it for you?

• Hybrid work schedule for most roles
• Company share ownership program
• Incentive Program - Eligible employees may participate in various incentive plans which are paid out at the discretion of the company and subject to individual and company performance.
• Pension and savings programs, with company-matched RRSP contributions
• Paid volunteer days and company matching on charitable donations
• Educational resources, tuition assistance, and paid time off to study for exams
• Focus on inclusion with employee groups, support for gender affirmation surgery, access to BIPOC counsellors, access to programs for working parents 
• Wellness and recognition programs 
• Discounts on products and services

Go ahead and expect a lot — you deserve it.

It’s better here — but don’t take our word for it. Definity was named by Great Place to Work® as one of the Best Workplaces™ in Canada for women, for youth, and for inclusion.

Our inclusive work environment welcomes diversity and supports accessibility. If you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process, please let us know by contacting [email protected].

As part of Definity’s commitment to reconciliation, we acknowledge that our work, meetings, and travel take place on the lands now known as Canada, and recognize the enduring presence, wisdom, and stewardship of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples who have long cared for these lands.

Background checks

This role requires successful clearance of background checks (including criminal checks and leadership references).

#LI-Hybrid