Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing, Vendor Governance and Operations Full Time

ABOUT US

We’re one of Canada’s largest pension investors, with CAD$299.7 billion of net assets as of March 31, 2025.

We invest funds for the pension plans of the federal public service, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Reserve Force. Headquartered in Ottawa, PSP Investments has its principal business office in Montréal and offices in New York, London and Hong Kong.

Capturing and leading complex global investments requires us to work as one to seize valuable opportunities, in close collaboration with some of the world’s top companies. At PSP Investments, you’ll join a team of motivated and engaged professionals, dedicated to propelling our organization further than ever before.

ABOUT YOUR ROLE

As Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing, Vendor Governance and Operations, you will define and lead organizational strategies for sourcing, vendor management, and procure-to-pay operations. You will establish a multi‑year roadmap that drives efficiency, operational excellence, and right‑sized processes, balancing sound governance and a strong sense of pragmatic execution.

You will champion a practical and outcome‑driven approach that reduces unnecessary complexity, accelerates decision‑making, and ensures sourcing, vendor oversight, and AP operations deliver measurable value, risk‑aware governance, and strong financial stewardship. You will lead a motivated team and foster a culture of continuous improvement, simplification, and enterprise collaboration.

As a Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing, Vendor Governance and Operations, your key responsibilities are as follows:

Strategic Sourcing Leadership
– Define and implement multi‑year sourcing and category strategies across major spend areas under management
– Evolve fit‑for‑purpose frameworks that right‑size effort and rigor to spend and risk profiles
– Lead complex negotiations using pragmatic, outcome‑oriented tactics
– Streamline sourcing activities to improve cycle times and reduce administrative overhead
– Promote early procurement involvement in business planning

Vendor Governance & Risk Management
– Serve as owner of the vendor governance framework
– Maintain clear policies, escalation paths, KPIs, and reporting that inform decisions without unnecessary bureaucracy
– Right‑size operationalization of third‑party risk management (TPRM) assessments based on vendor criticality and risk tier
– Strengthen accountability for performance, contractual obligations, SLAs, and commercial protections
– Ensure policy alignment and efficient coordination with Legal, Risk, Internal Audit, IT Security, and Finance

Vendor Operations & Accounts Payable Leadership
– Lead AP and vendor operations to deliver accurate, timely, and compliant payments
– Improve efficiency by automating manual processes, optimizing workflows, and reducing exceptions
– Right‑size approval matrices and controls to balance compliance with operational agility
– Enhance vendor onboarding, master data governance, and end‑to‑end payment effectiveness
– Ensure audit readiness through consistent and efficient documentation and controls

Governance, Controls & Policy Ownership
– Maintain procurement, contracting, and AP policies that are clear, lean, and scalable
– Adjust thresholds, documentation, and governance activities based on risk and value
– Strengthen compliance through streamlined and pragmatic internal controls
– Ensure end‑to‑end alignment between sourcing, contracting, and payments

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
– Lead and evolve motivated teams towards enhanced focus on efficiency, pragmatism, and operational excellence
– Build streamlined engagement models with Finance, Legal, Risk, Technology, and business partners
– Reinforce a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration
– Influence senior leaders with data‑driven recommendations and practical solutions

Innovation, Transformation & Operational Excellence
– Drive continuous improvement, lean methodologies, and process modernization.
– Deploy digital tools and automation that enhance transparency, speed, and data quality
– Eliminate waste, reduce complexity, and embed scalable processes and controls
– Deliver measurable efficiencies and organizational value across sourcing, vendor governance, and AP

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

– Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering, or related field
– Master’s degree (e.g., MBA) or similar post Bachelor procurement education considered an asset
– More than fifteen (15) years in procurement, strategic sourcing, vendor management, and/or financial operations in the financial sector or similar sectors where procurement is of indirect goods and services
– Leadership of multi‑disciplinary teams with a track record of driving efficiency and operational excellence
– Proven experience simplifying processes, right‑sizing governance, and leading transformation initiatives
– Strong experience in complex contract negotiations, category strategy, and vendor performance oversight in the financial sector or similar sectors where procurement is of indirect goods and services
– Deep knowledge of sourcing, contracting, AP workflows, controls, and vendor risk
– Strong analytical and change leadership skills
– Ability to design simple, pragmatic, scalable processes
– Strong communication, stakeholder influence, and executive alignment abilities
– Experience with P2P systems (SAP, GEP, Coupa, or Oracle) is an asset
– Proficiency in English and French (or willingness to learn) (frequent interactions in English with PSP employees based in our offices in Hong Kong, London and New York, and interactions in French with employees in our local offices in Montreal and Ottawa)

We offer a tailored employee experience and competitive total rewards and benefits package* designed to attract and retain global diverse talent, reward performance, and reinforce business strategies and priorities. Beyond salary and incentive pay eligibility, you have access to:
– Investment in career development
– Comprehensive group insurance plans
– Competitive pension plans
– Unlimited access to virtual healthcare services and wellness programs
– Gender-inclusive paid family leave policy: up to 26 weeks for primary caregivers, 5 weeks for secondary caregivers
– A personalized family-building support, from pre-pregnancy to menopause, with available financial assistance
– Vacation days available on day one with additional days on milestone service anniversaries, and summer Friday afternoons off
– A hybrid work model with a mix of in-office and remote days

*Benefits package may vary based on your employee type.

At PSP Investments, we aim to provide a workplace where everyone feels valued, safe, respected and empowered to grow. As part of this leadership commitment, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified applicants and strive to offer an inclusive and accessible candidate experience. If you require any accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

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