Manager of Procurement - Definity, Mississauga

The opportunity

Definity is seeking a seasoned procurement leader to join the Enterprise Procurement team as a Manager, Enterprise Procurement, providing leadership and operational oversight. This role is responsible for leading a team of Sourcing Partners and Coordinators while ensuring the successful delivery of sourcing initiatives, supplier governance, risk management activities, and stakeholder engagement across key Indirect Spend categories. Reporting to Enterprise Procurement leadership, you will play a critical role in maintaining procurement excellence, advancing strategic sourcing objectives, supporting third-party risk governance, and delivering measurable business value through effective supplier management and commercial negotiations.

This is an excellent opportunity for a collaborative and results-oriented leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution. Definity offers a flexible, hybrid work experience where employees work from the office and virtually.

Your impact

As a procurement leader, your day-to-day responsibilities span team leadership, strategic sourcing delivery, business partnership, risk governance, and performance realization:

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Sourcing Partners and Coordinators, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and solutions-focused culture.
• Establish clear goals, priorities, and performance expectations aligned with Enterprise Procurement objectives.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings to review workloads, address challenges, provide coaching, and support professional development.
• Mentor team members on sourcing strategy development, negotiations, executive presentations, stakeholder engagement, and procurement best practices.
• Deliver timely performance feedback and conduct mid-year and year-end performance reviews.
• Support succession planning, capability development, and continuous learning initiatives within the team.
• Oversee the execution of sourcing and contracting initiatives across multiple Indirect Spend categories, ensuring alignment with business objectives, budgets, timelines, and governance requirements.
• Provide leadership and guidance on complex sourcing events, including RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, contract negotiations, supplier evaluations, and commercial assessments.
• Review and approve procurement deliverables, including business cases, recommendation presentations, negotiation strategies, contract summaries, and executive briefing materials.
• Drive commercial value through supplier rationalization, competitive sourcing initiatives, contract optimization, cost savings, cost avoidance, and demand management strategies.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and primary procurement partner to senior business leaders across Personal Insurance, Commercial Insurance, Human Resources, Marketing, Finance, and other corporate functions.
• Develop and oversee category strategies that align with organizational priorities, business objectives, and long-term procurement goals.
• Ensure adherence to procurement policies, regulatory requirements, documentation standards, and third-party risk management frameworks.
• Oversee strategic supplier performance management activities, including supplier business reviews, performance scorecards, issue resolution, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

Candidates must meet the following leadership, experience, expertise, and educational requirements:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, vendor management, contract negotiation, third-party risk management, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams, coaching employees, and developing talent.
• Proven track record of delivering complex sourcing initiatives within cross-functional environments.
• Experience influencing stakeholders and driving outcomes at both operational and executive levels.
• Strong change management and organizational leadership capabilities.
• Significant strategic sourcing and procurement experience within a corporate environment; insurance sector experience is considered an asset.
• Deep understanding of procurement practices, category management, supplier negotiations, contract management, and commercial strategy.
• Experience operating within regulated environments and managing third-party risk requirements.
• Strong knowledge of supplier governance, contract lifecycle management, and procurement controls.
• Post-secondary education in Business, Supply Chain Management, Commerce, or a related discipline.
• Professional procurement designation (SCMP, CSCMP, CPSM, CPM, or equivalent) is considered an asset.
• French language proficiency is considered an asset.