Director, AI & Emerging Technology Sourcing

Scotiabank • Toronto, ON

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Join Scotiabank at a pivotal time of transformation, where Procurement is driving strategic value and innovation. As the Bank accelerates its adoption of AI and digital capabilities, you’ll play a key role in shaping the future of sourcing within a global organization. The Role: Lead the sourcing strategy behind Scotiabank's AI journey. AI is redefining how banks operate, serve clients, and manage risk — and Scotiabank is investing boldly. As Director, AI & Emerging Technology Sourcing, you'll set the commercial strategy for the partnerships powering our AI journey: foundation model providers, AI platforms, GPU compute, data platforms, and the next wave of agentic and generative capabilities. This is a rare opportunity to lead at the intersection of procurement, technology, and innovation — building the Bank's commercial playbook for AI, negotiating with the world's leading AI companies, and helping Scotiabank scale responsibly, commercially, and safely. You'll also build and lead a specialized team focused on this fast-moving category.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of progressive strategic sourcing / procurement experience, with clear exposure to AI, SaaS, cloud, or data platform deals.
• Bachelor's degree required; CPM, CPSM, CIPS, or equivalent designation preferred.
• People leadership experience - building and coaching teams, ideally in emerging or fast-evolving categories.
• Strong grasp of AI/ML commercial constructs - token pricing, inference vs. training costs, model licensing, data usage rights, and hyperscaler AI services.
• Curiosity and fluency in AI trends - foundation models, agentic AI, RAG, fine-tuning, and responsible AI frameworks.
• Proven ability to negotiate with sophisticated tech vendors and influence VP/SVP/EVP stakeholders through ambiguity and change.
• Hands-on with TCO modelling, benchmarking, and scenario analysis for novel pricing models.
• Awareness of third-party AI risk, model risk management, and evolving AI regulation in financial services.
• Clear executive presence, results orientation, and demonstrated ability to drive rapid and significant change.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree or AI-related certifications are an asset.

Responsibilities

• Own sourcing strategy for AI and emerging tech categories including LLM providers, AI platforms, GPU/compute infrastructure, vector databases, and AI-enabled SaaS.
• Build and lead a high-performing team dedicated to AI and emerging tech sourcing; coach for both performance and long-term development and foster an inclusive culture.
• Serve as the Bank's senior commercial voice on AI sourcing: advising Technology, Data, and business executives on build vs. buy vs. partner decisions and deal structures that preserve optionality in a fast-moving market.
• Decode and negotiate complex commercial models: token-based pricing, consumption tiers, committed use discounts, enterprise agreements, model access rights, fine-tuning economics, and reserved capacity.
• Lead high-stakes negotiations with hyperscalers and AI-native vendors: balancing cost, model performance, data rights, IP protection, indemnification, and responsible AI commitments.
• Partner with Technology, Data, Legal, Privacy, Risk, and Model Risk Management to ensure AI sourcing aligns with regulatory expectations and internal AI governance - consistent with the Bank's risk appetite, Operational Risk, Regulatory Compliance, and Conduct Risk frameworks.
• Shape commercial guardrails for enterprise AI adoption: evaluation criteria, benchmarking clauses, exit rights, audit rights, and data/model portability.
• Build market intelligence on the AI vendor landscape: pricing trends, benchmark deals, model capability, and competitive positioning across peer banks.
• Own executive-level supplier relationships with strategic AI partners - governance, escalations, and innovation opportunities.
• Track and report benefits, risks, and commitments across the AI sourcing pipeline with executive-ready transparency.
• Understand how the Bank’s risk appetite, risk culture and risk policies & processes should be considered/adhered to in day-to-day activities and decisions.
• Create an environment in which his/her team pursues effective and efficient operations of his/her respective areas, while ensuring the adequacy, adherence to and effectiveness of day-to-day business controls to meet obligations with respect to operational risk, regulatory compliance risk, AML/ATF risk and conduct risk, including but not limited to responsibilities under the Operational Risk Management Framework, Regulatory Compliance Risk Management Framework, AML/ATF Global Handbook and the Guidelines for Business Conduct.
• Build a high-performance environment and implements a people strategy that attracts, retains, develops and motivates their team by fostering an inclusive work environment and using a coaching mindset and behaviors; communicating vison/values/business strategy; and, managing succession and development planning for the team.

Benefits

• A competitive rewards program includes annual bonus, flexible vacation, personal and sick days, and comprehensive benefits that start on your first day.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director