Job Information
Manulife Director, Strategic Partnerships Execution in Waterloo, Ontario
The Director, Strategic Partnerships Execution is accountable for managing a team responsible for third party contracting, vendor relationship management, performance oversight, and issue management in alignment with Manulife’s Procurement and Third-Party Risk Management policies. This includes establishing key focuses for partnership contracts that support business objectives, optimize value and strengthen vendor capabilities. This role provides leadership, guidance, and subject matter expertise to ensure outstanding vendor partnerships and plays a central role in overseeing complex negotiations, governance activities, and the effective delivery of external services.
Position Responsibilities:
Leadership & Team Management
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Strategic Partnership Managers and vendor management professionals, encouraging an environment of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
Set clear expectations, monitor performance, and ensure successful execution of vendor contracting and management activities.
Provide direction and complete complex procurement strategies, contract negotiations, and risk-related decision making.
Champion best practices, process consistency, and knowledge sharing across the Strategic Partnerships team.
Contracting & Oversight
Establish strategic partnership contract priorities to ensure consistency with business objectives, emerging needs, risk considerations, and long term vendor strategies.
Provide oversight of all procurement initiatives, (including complex and high-value contracts) ensuring alignment with business strategy, sourcing frameworks, and approval requirements.
Drive RFIs, RFPs, MSAs, SOWs, NDAs, and contract amendments to ensure completeness, risk mitigation, and adherence to Procurement and Third-Party Risk Management policies.
Lead complex vendor negotiations, including high risk, high value, and multi stakeholder agreements, ensuring competitive outcomes and strong contractual protections for Manulife.
Act as a senior point of escalation for contracting issues, supporting teams in achieving competitive and sustainable vendor agreements.
Partner with Procurement, Legal, and Risk to ensure high-quality contracting outcomes.
Relationship & Stakeholder Management
Build strong, collaborative relationships with Business Units, Procurement, Legal, Risk, Vendor Governance, and other internal partners.
Serve as a senior liaison between vendors and Manulife stakeholders, ensuring alignment to business strategies and expectations.
Influence and support senior leaders with strategic vendor insights, issue management updates, and performance trends.
Provide coaching and support to team members in complex stakeholder situations.
Vendor Performance & Risk Governance
Ensure vendor partnerships align with all Manulife risk and governance requirements, including risk assessments, scorecards, audits, and Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BC/DR) obligations.
Establish, review and validate KPIs, SLAs, and performance reporting to ensure accuracy, completeness, and actionable insights.
Lead escalation management and oversee corrective action plans related to vendor performance gaps.
Ensure contract compliance, oversight discipline, and effective risk mitigation across vendor portfolios.
Issue Management & Escalations
Lead the resolution of complex or high impact vendor contract and service issues; act as senior escalation point for the team and business partners.
Partner with internal teams and vendors to address root causes, implement corrective actions, and ensure timely communication.
Oversee trend analysis and process improvements to minimize repeated issues.
Required Qualifications:
7–10+ years of progressive experience in procurement, sourcing, vendor management, or strategic partnerships.
Strong understanding of contract law, procurement processes, negotiation strategies, and third party risk management.
Strong leadership capabilities with proven ability to guide, develop, and enable high-performing teams.
Proven ability to influence and collaborate across functions, including executive‑level partners.
Exceptional communication skills with strong presentation and facilitation abilities.
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and drive informed decisions.
Solid understanding of risk governance requirements, vendor oversight frameworks, and operational controls.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver quality results within tight timelines.
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, or related field; advanced degree an asset.
2+ years of people leadership or team‑lead experience preferred.
Experience working in a complex, matrixed enterprise environment.
When you join our team:
We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.
We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.
As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see
The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.
Acerca de Manulife y John Hancock
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Referenced Salary Location
Toronto, Ontario
Modalidades de Trabajo
Híbrido
Salary range is expected to be between
$125,100.00 CAD - $175,100.00 CAD
Los empleados también tienen la oportunidad de participar en programas de incentivos y recibir una compensación vinculada al rendimiento empresarial e individual. El salario real variará según las condiciones del mercado local, la geografía y factores relacionados con el puesto como conocimientos, habilidades, requerimientos, experiencia y educación/formación. Si solicitas este puesto fuera de tu ubicación principal, por favor escríbenos a hr@manulife.com para conocer el rango salarial correspondiente a tu ubicación.
Manulife ofrece a los empleados aptos una amplia variedad de beneficios personalizables, entre ellos, beneficios de salud, odontológicos, de salud mental, oftalmológicos, por discapacidad a corto y a largo plazo, cobertura de seguro de vida y por muerte accidental y desmembramiento, adopción/subrogación y bienestar, y planes de asistencia al empleado/familiar. También ofrecemos a los empleados admisibles varios planes de ahorro para la jubilación (incluidos planes de pensiones y un plan mundial de propiedad de acciones con contribuciones equivalentes del empleador) y recursos de asesoramiento y educación financiera. Nuestro generoso programa de tiempo libre remunerado en Canadá incluye feriados, vacaciones, días personales y días por enfermedad, y ofrecemos la gama completa de ausencia laboral reglamentaria. Si se está postulando para este puesto en los EE. UU., póngase en contacto con hr@manulife.com para obtener más información sobre las disposiciones relativas al tiempo libre remunerado específicas de EE. UU.
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