Director, Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management

Canada Life; Toronto; On-site; CAD 121,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education reimbursement

Health & dental benefits

Mental health benefit

Volunteer day

Pension plan

Share ownership program

Employee discounts

ERGs & mentorship

Job summary

Canada Life is seeking a Director of Sourcing and Supplier Management in Ontario to lead a portfolio of strategic sourcing and commercial initiatives. You will drive negotiations, governance, risk mitigation, and AI-enabled optimization with senior partners across Technology, Finance, Legal, and Risk.

You will coach a team of sourcing professionals, translate enterprise strategy into action, and deliver measurable value while advancing total cost of ownership and supplier performance.

Qualifications

• Progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, or related commercial leadership roles.
• Minimum five years of leading complex technology or technology-enabled sourcing and negotiation initiatives.
• Proven success managing high-value, multi-stakeholder projects in fast-paced regulated environments.
• Strong leadership with coaching and developing high-performing teams.
• Deep commercial acumen including supplier risk, contract negotiations, TCO, market analysis, and value optimization.
• Ability to translate strategy into execution while balancing priorities and portfolio delivery.
• Experience leveraging AI, automation, data analytics, or digital tools to improve outcomes.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management for executive audiences.
• Post-secondary education or equivalent credentials in procurement, supply management, finance, legal, risk, or tech.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing and supplier strategies aligned with priorities, market dynamics, value creation, and risk management.
• Lead complex negotiations, contracting strategies, and commercial initiatives with senior stakeholders and strategic suppliers.
• Drive early engagement with business partners to shape sourcing strategies and commercial outcomes.
• Oversee supplier governance, performance management, risk mitigation, innovation, and executive relationships.
• Manage portfolio demand, pipeline, renewals, capacity, and performance to align with enterprise priorities.
• Champion AI, automation, and analytics to improve delivery quality, efficiency, and insights.
• Build trusted partnerships across Technology, Finance, Legal, Risk, Cybersecurity, Privacy, and business teams.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of sourcing professionals and strengthen commercial capability.
• Drive continuous improvement through stakeholder feedback and scalable playbooks.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Procurement leadership

Supplier management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

AI adoption

Data analytics

Team leadership

Executive communication

Education

Post-secondary education

Job description

Permanent Full Time

Join a newly evolving team that is transforming how sourcing creates value in an AI-enabled, future-ready organization. Reporting to the AVP, Sourcing and Supplier Management, the Director will lead a portfolio of sourcing and supplier management activities, translating enterprise strategy into measurable business outcomes. This role is accountable for commercial execution, supplier performance, risk management, team leadership, and the adoption of innovative AI-enabled practices that enhance efficiency and decision-making.

What You Will Do

• Develop and execute sourcing and supplier management strategies aligned with business priorities, market dynamics, value creation, and risk management.
• Lead complex negotiations, contracting strategies, and commercial initiatives involving senior stakeholders and strategic suppliers.
• Drive earlier engagement with business partners to proactively shape sourcing strategies, supplier decisions, and commercial outcomes.
• Oversee supplier governance, performance management, risk mitigation, innovation, and executive-level supplier relationships.
• Manage portfolio demand, pipeline, renewals, capacity, and performance to ensure effective execution against enterprise priorities.
• Champion the adoption of AI, automation, and analytics to improve delivery quality, efficiency, insight, and team effectiveness.
• Build and maintain trusted partnerships across Technology, Finance, Legal, Risk, Cybersecurity, Privacy, and business teams.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of sourcing professionals, strengthening commercial capability, digital fluency, and succession readiness.
• Drive continuous improvement through stakeholder feedback, operational metrics, and the development of scalable playbooks and best practices.

What You Will Bring

• Progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, or related commercial leadership roles.
• Minimum five years of experience leading complex technology or technology-enabled sourcing and negotiation initiatives.
• Proven success managing high-value, multi-stakeholder projects within a fast-paced and regulated environment.
• Strong leadership experience with a track record of coaching, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
• Deep commercial acumen, including expertise in supplier risk, contract negotiations, total cost of ownership, market analysis, and value optimization.
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into execution, balance competing priorities, and manage portfolio delivery.
• Experience leveraging AI, automation, data analytics, or digital tools to improve business outcomes and decision-making.
• Exceptional communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to present complex concepts to executive audiences.
• Post-secondary education or an equivalent combination of education and experience; procurement, supply management, finance, legal, risk, or technology-related credentials are considered an asset.

Why Join Us

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of sourcing and supplier management, combining strategic leadership, commercial excellence, talent development, and responsible AI adoption. You will play a key role in building scalable capabilities, improving supplier outcomes, and delivering meaningful business value across the enterprise.

The base salary for this position is between $121,200 - $171,200 annually. This represents base salary only and does not represent other variable compensation components of our total compensation ( i.e. annual bonus, commission etc). If you are selected to move forward in our recruitment process, your recruiter will be able to discuss additional details of our total rewards program with you.

Career opportunities will be open a minimum of 5 business days from the date of posting, closing dates will vary depending on the search activity. All applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Grow with Canada Life

We’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians. Our company is trusted by 1 in 3 Canadians and contributes to the strength of communities across the country.

We’re looking for people who live our values everyday: we step up, we do the right thing, and we deliver – for our customers, communities and each other. Are you someone who always strives to do the right thing, who steps up for themselves and others, and who delivers with impact? Then we want to hear from you!

What we offer

• Career Development: Opportunities for career advancement, access to industry-leading learning programs and up to$2,000 annually towards education reimbursement.
• Health & Wellness:Flexible health and dental benefits, plus a $5,000 mental health benefit to support your well-being.
• Time Off:In addition to regular vacation and personal days, we support community involvement with a volunteer day.
• Financial Security:Company-matching pension plan,share ownership program and additionalinvestment options.
• Rewards and Recognition: Employee recognition programs, service milestone celebrations, employee discounts and more!
• Emphasis on Community: We provide a workplace where employees feel connected and supported through Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), mentorship programs, social clubs and events.

Learn more about Canada Life.

We’re committed to removing barriers and ensuring equal access to employment. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the application process may contact [e-mail]. All information provided will be handled in accordance with applicable laws and Canada Life policies.

Canada Life would like to thank all applicants, however only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted.