Strategic Partnership Manager

Manulife Financial; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 93,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

Manulife Financial is actively seeking a Strategic Partnership Manager to lead third-party vendor relationships, optimize contracting, and govern governance programs. The role focuses on end-to-end contracting, risk management, and strategic collaboration across business units to deliver commercial objectives.

In this hybrid Toronto-based position, you will drive performance, coordinate with Legal, Risk, and Vendor Governance, and ensure best-in-class supplier outcomes while maintaining

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent business experience, with 5+ years of experience in Strategic Partnerships, Insurance, and Contracting; experience in Vendor Management, Procurement, or Strategic Sourcing is an asset.
• Strong knowledge of Insurance business, operations, procurement processes, sourcing methodologies, contract law, and third‑party risk management frameworks.
• Proven ability to build internal and external relationships and navigate complex stakeholder environments.
• Exceptional collaboration, negotiation, and influencing skills; ability to balance business needs, vendor capabilities, and contractual obligations.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including experience presenting to senior/executive audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end contracting activities with stakeholders across Business Units, Procurement, Legal, Risk, and Vendor Governance (RFIs, RFPs, MSAs, SOWs, amendments, NDAs).
• Oversee vendor contracts to optimize cost, performance, and supplier value while ensuring policy alignment and enterprise standards.
• Establish, track, and report KPIs, SLAs, and contractual obligations to measure vendor performance and address gaps.
• Lead resolution of major service disruptions and act as escalation point for complex vendor issues.

Skills

Strategic Partnerships

Contracting

Vendor Management

Negotiation

Stakeholder Management

Risk Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

As a Strategic Partnership Manager, you will play a critical role in leading initiatives, driving high value vendor relationships, optimizing third-party performance, and enabling strong business outcomes through strategic sourcing, contracting, partnership management and governance. You will collaborate across multiple business areas to ensure competitive agreements are secured, manage risks effectively, and deliver exceptional service to our internal stakeholders, customers and vendors. Key success factors for this role include effective contract execution, risk mitigation, vendor performance outcomes, stakeholder satisfaction, and achievement of commercial objectives.

Key Accountabilities

Vendor Contracting

• Provide leadership and subject matter expertise across procurement, business projects and outsourcing initiatives, including the development, end-to-end negotiation, contract drafting, risk concurrence and management of high value contracts.

• Lead end-to-end contracting activities with key stakeholders across Business Units, Procurement, Vendor Information Security, Legal, Risk, and Vendor Governance, including RFIs (Requests for Information), RFPs (Requests for Proposals), MSAs (Master Service Agreements), SOWs (Statements of Work), amendments, change requests, work orders, and NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements).

• Ensure best-in-class service delivery and competitive commercial agreements by engaging appropriate stakeholder groups, optimizing total cost of ownership, driving long-term partnership value, and adhering to required project, operational, procurement, and risk frameworks.

• Function as a trusted advisor, ensuring alignment with all Procurement policies, sourcing best practices, and enterprise standards related to contracting.

Relationship Management

• Build proactive and trusted partnerships with business 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, Operational Risk, Data Governance, Legal and other required stakeholders to appropriately assess, mitigate, and manage third-party risk (including supporting the following activities: third-party risk assessments, business continuity planning, concentration risk analysis and exit planning activities).

• Build collaborative relationships with vendors and serve as a key liaison between vendors and business units to foster strong collaboration, maintain strategic alignment, and ensure vendors are positioned to deliver optimal performance and innovation.

Vendor Performance Management

• Oversee vendor stakeholder compliance with all enterprise risk policies and ensure that vendors meet requirements set out by Vendor Governance—such as risk assessments, performance scorecards, audits, and business continuity planning.

• Develop deep expertise in existing and future contracts, ensuring a full understanding of vendor obligations, KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and SLAs (Service Level Agreements).

• Establish, track, and report on KPIs, SLAs, contractual obligations as well as strategic objectives to measure vendor performance and identify gaps or issues requiring correcti…

• Conduct regular performance reviews, operational meetings, working group meetings, and touchpoints to ensure strategic alignment, address emerging issues, and strengthen vendor accountability.

Issue Management

• 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 and disputes, driving root cause analysis and long-term corrective actions.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent business experience, with 5+ years of experience Strategic Partnerships, Insurance, and Contracting; experience in Vendor Management, Procurement, or Strategic Sourcing would be an asset.

• Strong knowledge of Insurance business, operations, procurement processes, sourcing methodologies, contract law, as well as experience with third-party risk management frameworks and regulations relevant to third-party engagements.

• Proven ability to build strong internal and external relationships and navigate complex stakeholder environments.

• Exceptional 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.

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively, offer peer support and build strong relationships within a cohesive team.

• Demonstrated project management experience.

Bilingualism (English and French) is an asset. If the successful candidate is in Québec, proficiency in both languages will be required to support clients from various provinces outside of Quebec.

When you join our team:

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.

• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well‑being and inclusion aremore than just words.

• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [e-mail].

Referenced Salary Location

Toronto, Ontario

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$92,900.00 CAD - $142,900.00 CAD

Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [e-mail] for the salary range for your location.

• Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans.
• We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources.
• Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence.

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process. For more information, please refer to the personal information collection statement.