Manager Vendor & Contracts

Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board•Bratt's Lake No. 129, SK

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Vendor & Contracts is responsible for vendor and contract management in two primary focus areas: 1) leadership in the management of vendors and contracts within the scope of the Business Transformation Program (BTP); 2) support Procurement in the continued operationalization of the vendor and contract lifecycle management framework across WCB; and lead continuous improvement efforts. The BTP is a multi-year enterprise initiative to modernize WCB’s systems, processes, and service delivery model, including implementation of a new core compensation system and digital capabilities. The program is supported by multiple strategic vendor partnerships and is projected to conclude in Q4 2027. Working closely with the Business Transformation team, this individual will be responsible for vendor management and contract lifecycle management including but not limited to: managing vendor relationships, monitoring contract performance and compliance, identifying and mitigating potential contractual risks and issues, and be the key contact for all contract-related and procurement activities within the scope of the Business Transformation Program until the conclusion of the Program. Working with WCB leadership, this individual will develop and implement contract lifecycle management and vendor management framework across the WCB. They will provide strategic advice and recommendations to WCB leadership on vendor performance, contract strategy and risk mitigation.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in business administration, commerce or related discipline.
A minimum of 5 years of progressive Vendor and Contract management experience.
Strong critical thinking, problem-solving and planning skills.
Excellent written communication, presentation and interpersonal skills that demonstrate your professionalism, innovation and integrity.
Solid understanding of risk management.

Responsibilities

Establish and maintain effective relationships with vendors through proactive management and governance practices, ensuring compliance with WCB policies, procedures, service-level agreements, budgets and contractual obligations.
Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of vendor performance and contract management practices within the Business Transformation Program. Lead vendor onboarding, including the establishment of governance structures, roles, responsibilities, and interaction models between vendors and key WCB stakeholders.
Manage BTP program vendors through scorecards and reporting tools; monitor, analyze, and report on vendor performance and collaborate with vendors to implement continuous improvement actions.
Collaborate and support the project managers in leading the contract life cycle activities within the BTP, which includes: Changes, modifications, and enforcement of performance clauses, including incentives and remedies; Coordinate and oversee contract administration and contract quality assurance to include adherence to scope, quality, service level agreements and requirements satisfaction; Provides advice and direction on specific issues related to vendor and contract management administrative governance such as developing procedures and criteria for vendor and contract oversight.
Ensure contract obligations are known and followed by the project teams within the program. The knowledge should be shared with the contract owners as well as the contract lead (who manages the day-to-day delivery of the contract).
Develops and manages the framework for escalations and disputes.
Review the SOWs to ensure clarity and quality for each of the projects within the BTP program.
Define and manage the acceptance criteria for milestones/deliverables that are tied to payment.
Recommend and present cost savings opportunities related to improved contract terms and/or performance standards.
Service-level agreement (SLA) management to define the level of service expected by WCB from a vendor.
Leads the design and implementation of an enterprise-wide contract lifecycle and vendor management across WCB.
Lead and manage the Contract and Vendor Management function, including staffing, performance management, and team development.
Develop and deliver analytics and reporting on vendor performance, contract compliance, and contract spend at departmental and enterprise levels, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement and cost optimization.
Support business departments in drafting scopes of work.
Monitor contract records and documentation, including contract changes, renewals and amendments.
Ensure contract performance aligns with service delivery objectives and business outcomes.
Work collaboratively with the Procurement and Legal Departments to support the contracting needs of all business departments, ensuring compliance with policies, legislation and trade agreements.
Facilitate effective communication between vendors and business departments to ensure alignment, issue resolution, and performance optimization.
Develop and maintain positive vendor relationships that promote collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
Oversee the review and validate vendor invoices against contractual terms and deliverables; investigate and resolve discrepancies and variances.
Oversee contract performance reviews, including data analysis, risk identification, and development of recommendations for improvement, standardization, and cost optimization.
Other duties as required.