Contract Manager Operations

The Contract Manager – Operations will provide ongoing contract, performance and vendor management for a dedicated portfolio of services, products and licenses within the Operations Cluster This position will ensure that operational results of the portfolio are strategically aligned with the requirements of the business and the overall objectives of the organization.

This position is responsible for developing and maintaining effective relationships with contracted vendors and includes monitoring and assessing overall performance against established standards, performance targets and/or service level agreements.

The individual would also provide advice, direction, recommendations and consultation to staff and management relating to contracted services, including performance gaps and mitigations, and make recommendations on changes in business methods or processes related to contracted services to support service delivery functions and improve their efficiency and effectiveness.

The role requires working with both internal partners and external vendors to recognize and keep abreast of emerging trends, and foster and reinforce the need for continued collaboration on innovative technology and business solutions.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

1. Develop and manage vendor relationships for services, products and licenses within assigned portfolio to ensure positive working relationships and effective delivery of contracted products and services by (50%)

• Working in tandem with various subject matter experts within the Line of Business and across the WSIB to ensure services delivered according to the contract terms and conditions. Includes the monitoring of day-to-day operations/deliverables for key vendors and ensuring that customer expectations are met;
• Addressing quality/complaints/issues with the vendor/service providers in order to obtain a mediated and acceptable resolution. Develops strategies to address poor performance and compliance failures, including application of contract terms
• Managing disputes regarding contract interpretation, conditions or compliance with legal requirements and working on the effective resolution of the dispute.
• Maintaining the executed contract as well as the change order process. This includes ensuring internal partners are involved and aware of any planned and executed changes/amendments to the contract
• Ensuring established meeting and reporting requirements are met, including frequency, appropriate stakeholder involvement, inputs and outputs and follow-ups/escalations
• Ensuring that billings/payments, milestones, are accurate, timely and reflect the goods or services rendered; this may include spot checks or regular risk-based reviews/audits as well as reviewing and analyzing data to identify any trends or anomalies in billing, service timelines, utilization and qualitative and quantitative measures
• Responding and managing any issues identified in spot checks and/or regular based audit reviews to resolution
• Identifying all risks, mitigation strategies and/or corrective action (includes service and delivery risk from vendor)
• Ensure continuity and alignment of business requirements across related contracts to optimize business outcomes for the WSIB
• Ensure a successful operationalization of contracts and a seamless transition from current to new service providers for both internal and external stakeholders

2. Manage the delivery of performance metrics associated with the assigned portfolio of contracts; support quantitative and qualitative analysis of value provided by WSIB’s vendors by (20%):

• Developing contract terms and conditions to form the framework around which a good vendor relationship grows; This includes among others developing performance standards, contract compliance and Service Level Agreements (SLAs), Key performance indicators (KPIs), and performance reporting (scorecards)
• Evaluate and report on vendor performance, including quality, cost, capacities, and responsiveness. Ensure that vendors comply with contractual terms and conditions and meet assigned performance metrics for all services. Identify quality improvement opportunities, develop recommendations as appropriate and execute strategies to improve vendor performance.
• Preparing metrics and reports on the effectiveness and key measurements of vendor performance.
• Perform regular analysis of vendor contracts and addenda to provide financial information for budget management in order to support appropriate fiscal management of the contracts and WSIB budgets
• Developing templates and ensuring regular and accurate operational reporting by the vendor.
• Ensuring action items and responses are recorded, and contentious issues are investigated and resolved

3. Define with key business leads and subject matter experts and Strategic Procurement, the vendor selection process for new contracts and assist in defining the RFI/RFQ/RFP requirements and subsequent negotiations by (15%):

• Leading the contract development process for contract renewals and amendments
• Developing strategies for negotiation in alignment with WSIB/Ops objectives and providing expert advice in negotiations for complex contracts;
• Preparing descriptions of services, scope and requirements
• Reviewing and evaluating submissions including collaborating with Strategic Procurement, Operations Quality, Legal and other key LOBs if required

4. Continuous Improvement Activities by (15%):

• Working in consultation with other Operations teams and internal partners (e.g. Strategic Procurement) to research, monitor, track, analyze leverage strategically/tactically helpful trends, information, and best practices;
• Leading regular account management meetings with key internal/external groups/vendors to discuss common issues and to drive continuous improvement;
• Influencing and acting as a catalyst for change within a multi-vendor/vendor environment, identifying innovative processes and partnerships and creating strategic plans to improve system alignment and efficiency; convincing vendors to adopt new concepts and approaches to deliver services
• Providing input, support and feedback into all Service Level Agreements within other Operations initiatives to help continuously improve portfolio
• Staying abreast of vendor markets (peers, periodicals, vendor events &, industry trends, benchmarking services) to ensure proper benchmarking of costs and quality of products, leases, licenses and services provided by the vendors of the WSIB.
• Mentoring new staff regarding procedures, organizational policies and best practice,
• Mentoring existing team members by sharing specific experience and educational material.
• Develop training materials as required
• Leading contract/project reviews and the balanced scorecard process; ensure active participation; share results with internal/external stakeholders, including vendor action plan for improvements;
• Advocating business/technology process improvements and innovation to improve current working practices

Job Requirements

• University completion at undergraduate level with a certification in one of the following: IACCM (International Association of Contract and Commercial Management), SCMP (Supply Chain Management Professional), CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional), PMP (Project Management Professional), CPP (Certified Procurement Professional).
• Total of eight years experience. Four years prior experience in contract and vendor management in a business, health care, or engineering field as well as procurement, purchasing and strategic sourcing processes . Four years on the job to reach full working level.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We respect and value the diversity of our people. We strive to create an environment where employees can be themselves and where our differences are celebrated.

The WSIB is committed to being accessible and inclusive, and following barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know when we contact you and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Disclosing conflicts of interest

As public servants, employees at the WSIB have a responsibility to act in an ethical way at all times to create a respectful workplace and maintain public trust. Job applicants are required to disclose any circumstance that could result in a real, potential or perceived conflict of interest. A conflict of interest is any situation where your private interests may impair or be perceived to impair the decisions you make in your official capacity. This may include: political activity, directorship, other outside employment and certain personal relationships (e.g. with current WSIB employees, customers and/or stakeholders). If you have any questions about conflict of interest obligations and/or how to make a disclosure, please contact the Talent Acquisition Centre at talentacquisitioncentre@wsib.on.ca.

Privacy information

We collect personal information from your resume, application, cover letter and references under the authority of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. The Talent Acquisition Centre and WSIB hiring parties will used this information to assess/validate your qualifications, determine if you meet the requirements of vacant positions and/or gather information relevant for recruitment purposes. If you have questions or concerns regarding the collection and use of your personal information, please contact the WSIB’s Privacy Office at privacy_office@wsib.on.ca. The Privacy Office cannot provide information about the status of your application.

As a precondition of employment, the WSIB requires that prospective candidates undergo a criminal records name check any time before or after they are hired.

To apply for this position, please submit your application by the closing date.

---