Director, Strategic Procurement

Director, Strategic Procurement

The opportunity

The Director, Strategic Procurement is responsible for establishing, designing, growing and leading the Teachers’ strategic procurement function which includes setting standard methodologies, policies and approaches for optimizing external spend for the organization. The Director is also responsible for leading large sourcing initiatives by developing the procurement strategy, guiding the business in developing their requirements, negotiating complex deals, and ensuring that the business area is suitably prepared to manage the delivery of services from the supplier.

Who you'll work with

You will build strong relationships and partnerships with internal business units and existing Category Managers to engage external supply markets and suppliers.

What you'll do

• Support the Senior Managing Director to build & implement a structured, strategic procurement function that is aligned to Teachers’ financial goals, strategy, and customer service expectations that will help facilitate the efficient and effective procurement of annual spend for the enterprise (including but not limited to: external investment management fees, investment transaction costs, professional services, technology and data services).

• Develop and implement opportunities to streamline processes (e.g. producing a contract negotiation approach and framework, working with legal to develop standard terms and conditions if appropriate, identifying and selecting new tools, application of AI , self service, etc..)

• Support the Senior Managing Director in the implementation of a structured, consistent procurement planning process to identify and deliver sustainable cost savings and operational efficiencies across all spend categories and effectively support and management of all external categories of expenditure in collaboration with category / budget owners

• Support the development and delivery of sourcing strategy and operating model, including full sourcing and supplier management lifecycle

• Capture business requirements from various internal partners and translating them into clear and concise supplier requirements

• Provide project leadership and key partners with decision-oriented and timely financial support, including strategic plans, budgets, forecasts, and analyses of current project cost and alternative support approaches

• Align business activities with Teachers’ financial reporting and analysis processes

• Identify ways to streamline and improve procurement processes, governance, risk management, enabling technologies and performance analytics.

• Develop benchmarks, assessment criteria of vendor performance and assist in evaluating vendors against expected delivery. Continually seek optimal value in service from vendors, initiating contract modifications, renewals, terminations and monitoring the contract pipeline

• Develop and maintain vendor relationships including tracking and analysis of vendor spend and performance

• Build a Third Party Risk Management Framework and associated risk appetite statements which align to Teachers’ existing risk management frameworks and domains

• Negotiate vendor agreements and contracts

• Lead team of 3-5 procurement managers and specialists and manage the skills, competency development and performance management of procurement staff

• Decide how the procurement function and processes should operate, be governed, be measured, reported on and communicated.

• Decide how to improve processes and procurement performance

• Recommend how to resolve problems with input from Category Managers, buyers and senior management

• Make hiring decisions for direct reports and their teams

What you'll need

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance or related field

• Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain Strategy (development and execution), Vendor Management, Accounting, Budgeting, Cost Management, Risk Management, Change Management

• 10+ years procurement and sourcing experience

• Proven experience in Change Management, Business Transformation & Risk Management including the ability to influence, facilitate and reinforce the changes and the value that a new Procurement function will introduce to Teachers’ across all levels

• Leadership experience in Vendor Management and Contract Lifecycle Management

• Proven ability to successfully apply project and change management tools and methods. Sound knowledge of procurement, strategic sourcing, market research, benchmarking, economic analysis, risk management, customer service, contracting and contract management principles aligned with the assigned service areas.

• Strong negotiation and influence skills with an ability to communicate professionally in tense situation and conflicts

• Solid customer and vendor relationship management and performance management skills including the development Performance Metrics and KPI’s.

• Experience with managing and leading a team

• Experience of implementing P2P or S2C system solutions

• Excellent writing and presentation skills with experience in business and change management process development

• Excellent analytical skills including the ability to understand complexity and related data/information

• Excellent computer and financial application skills

• Ability to communicate and influence well with a variety of audiences (and levels), internally and externally

• Align and coordinate with other teams to ensure and coordinate cross-business processes

• Champion of new ideas and new ways of doing things

• Use astute judgement to solve problems

• Promote a culture of accountability and performance related to procurement

#LI-OTPP, #LI-Hybrid

What we’re offering

• Pay-for-performance environment that offers competitive salary and incentive

• Numerous opportunities for professional growth and development

• Comprehensive employer paid benefits coverage

• Retirement income through a defined benefit pension plan

• The opportunity to invest back into the fund through our Deferred Incentive Program

• A flexible/hybrid work environment combining in office collaboration and remote working

• Competitive time off

• Our Flexible Travel Program gives you the option to work abroad in another region/country for up to a month each year

• Employee discount programs including Edvantage and Perkopolis

• Degreed: a digital platform that helps you quickly and easily discover, share, and track various learning resources – from courses to videos to articles and more

At Ontario Teachers', diversity is one of our core strengths. We take pride in ensuring that the people we hire and the culture we create, reflect and embrace diversity of thought, background and experience. Through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy and our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), we celebrate diversity and foster inclusion through events for colleagues to connect for professional development, networking & mentoring.  We are building an inclusive and equitable workplace where our talent is respected, accepted and empowered to be themselves.  To learn more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, check out Life at Teachers'.

How to apply

Are you ready to pursue new challenges and take your career to the next level? Apply today! You may be invited to complete a pre-recorded digital interview as part of your application.

Accommodations are available upon request (peopleandculture@otpp.com) for candidates with a disability taking part in the recruitment process and once hired.

Candidates must be legally entitled to work in the country where this role is located.

The privacy of your personal information is important to us. Please visit our Privacy Centre to learn how we handle your personal information.

Functional Areas:

Corporate Services, Finance

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