Contract Management Senior Specialist

Manulife•Waterloo, ON

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Contract Management Senior Specialist, you will play a critical role in driving vendor relationships, optimizing third-party performance, and enabling strong business outcomes through strategic sourcing, contracting, and partnership management. You will collaborate across multiple business areas to ensure competitive agreements, effective risk management, and exceptional service delivery to internal stakeholders and customers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent business experience, with 3+ years of experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, or Vendor Management.
Strong knowledge of insurance business operations, procurement processes, sourcing methodologies, contract law, and regulations relevant to third-party engagements.
Proven ability to build strong internal and external relationships and navigate complex stakeholder environments.
Excellent collaboration, negotiation, and influencing skills, with the ability to balance business needs, vendor capabilities, and contractual obligations.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, including experience presenting to senior and executive audiences.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, consulting, and conflict-management skills.
Highly self-motivated with a strong drive for quality outcomes and the ability to achieve results through cross-functional or indirect resources.
Demonstrated project management experience.
If the successful candidate is in Québec, proficiency in both languages will be required to support clients from various provinces outside of Quebec.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and subject-matter expertise across procurement projects and outsourcing initiatives, including the development, negotiation, and management of low and medium risk contracts.
Lead collaborative contracting activities with key stakeholders—including Business Units, Procurement, Legal, Risk, and Vendor Governance—covering RFIs, RFPs, MSAs, SOWs, amendments, change requests, and NDAs.
Ensure best-in-class service delivery and competitive commercial agreements by engaging appropriate stakeholder groups and adhering to required project, operational, procurement, and risk frameworks.
Act as a trusted advisor, ensuring alignment with all Procurement policies, sourcing best practices, and enterprise standards related to third-party contracting.
Build proactive and trusted partnerships with stakeholders, Procurement, Legal, Risk, and Vendor Governance teams to identify cost-effective, innovative solutions that enhance product and service delivery.
Partner closely with Vendor Governance Risk Management, Vendor Information Security Management, and Operational Risk to appropriately assess, mitigate, and manage third-party risk.
Serve as a key liaison between vendors and business units, fostering strong collaboration, maintaining strategic alignment, and ensuring vendors are positioned to deliver optimal performance and innovation.
Oversee compliance with all enterprise risk policies and ensure that vendors meet requirements set out by Vendor Governance—such as risk assessments, scorecards, audits, and business continuity planning.
Develop deep expertise in existing and future contracts, ensuring a full understanding of vendor obligations and performance expectations.
Establish, track, and report on KPIs and SLAs to measure vendor performance and identify gaps or issues requiring corrective action.
Conduct regular performance reviews, operational meetings, and touchpoints to ensure strategic alignment, address emerging issues, and strengthen vendor accountability.
Lead the resolution of major service disruptions related to contracted services, working with business stakeholders and vendors to restore service quickly and effectively.
Act as the primary escalation point for complex vendor-related issues, driving root-cause analysis and long-term corrective actions.

Benefits

Opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.
Wide array of customizable benefits, including health insurance coverage.
Dental insurance coverage.
Mental health coverage.
Vision insurance coverage.
Short- and long-term disability insurance coverage.
Life and AD&D insurance coverage.
Adoption/surrogacy benefits.
Wellness benefits.
Employee/family assistance plans.
Various retirement savings plans (including pension).
Global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions.
Financial education and counseling resources.
Generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays.
Vacation days.
Personal days.
Sick days.
Full range of statutory leaves of absence.