Procurement Manager

Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation. Part of our parent company Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life UK has operated in the United Kingdom since 1903. We have hundreds of respected and supported employees committed to doing the right thing for our customers and colleagues. Canada Life UK is transforming to create a more customer‑focused business by providing our customers with expertise on financial and tax planning, offering home finance and annuities propositions, and providing collective fund solutions to third party customers.

The Procurement Manager will proactively engage with the business to understand and support their strategy through the sourcing and management of third‑party suppliers to extract maximum value, bring innovation and mitigate supplier risk for new and existing contracts and relationships including Intragroup Agreements (IGAs). The Procurement Manager will need to be able to identify and then lead commercial discussions for the IGAs with other contracting parties and drive a culture of competitiveness and effective risk management becoming a trusted advisor to the business.

The role will support Canada Life Business Leaders, Contract business owners for key IGAs. They will support key stakeholders in leading and executing deals according to business policy and agreed timelines and create a proactive pipeline that brings savings and value to the business. Ensuring that we receive the products and services that we have contracted for and that key suppliers are effectively managed, and contractual obligations and internal governance and risk processes are met.

The successful candidate/s must be able to use competitor and industry knowledge to drive innovation and commercial value to Canada Life.

What You’ll Do

• Lead on specific IGA knowledge in the creation and continual review of robust and forward‑looking roadmap that uses the full range of demand, specification and supply levers.
• Plans to provide forward‑looking data driven opportunities based on business needs, supply market dynamics, and technological changes in the marketplace to achieve or exceed agreed annual savings targets.
• Collaborate with the global Procurement teams on Global / European agreements to ensure that the requirements of the UK business are captured in IGAs.
• Support the assessment of supplier associated risks inherent to the business at the point of contract such as taking account of changing economic or market conditions, legal and regulatory requirements, operating procedures and practices, management restructurings, and the impact of new technology.
• Always ensuring an appropriate balance of risk with cost of control.
• Ensure robust data integrity in our systems and ensure appropriate procurement methodology for each initiative and track all Pipeline activity and savings as required by procedures.
• Manage any out of governance contract actions ensuring a timely closure ensuring all SRM activities are effectively delivered and reported.
• Work with the business to deliver a clear handover between market sourcing to contract handover.

Who You Are

• Strong evidence of leading category planning development, sourcing and contract management.
• Excellent strategic agility, critical thinking, communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to think strategically as well as tactically.
• Strong written and verbal communication including presentation skills for engaging stakeholders and making a robust business case for change.
• Strong business planning skills, able to drive change.
• Strong team player.
• Good knowledge of contract law.
• Advanced user of MS Word / Excel / Powerpoint / Visio – especially Excel and Powerpoint.
• Financial Services experience – knowledge of the regulatory environment.
• MCIPS qualified (or studying towards).
• Strong presentation skills for engaging stakeholders and making a robust business case for change.

Qualifications

• Educated to a degree level or equivalent.
• Procurement experience in a similar role.

Benefits of working at Canada Life

We believe in recognising and rewarding our people, so we offer a competitive salary and benefits package that’s regularly reviewed. As a Canada Life UK colleague, you’ll receive a competitive salary and comprehensive reward package including a generous pension and bonus scheme, along with income protection, private medical insurance and life assurance. We have a fantastic number of other benefits and support services as well as regular personal and professional development.

How we work at Canada Life

Our culture is unique and incredibly important to us. We care about doing the right thing for our people, customers and community and helping others to build better futures. Our blueprint behaviours shape and influence how we work, and are central to the relationships we have with others. Every day we are encouraged to be more curious, own the outcome, face into things together and find a way forward.

We want colleagues to have rewarding careers with us so we invest in the development of our people, technology and workplaces. That’s why we offer a range of training, flexible working and opportunities to grow and develop.

Diversity and inclusion

Building an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce where everyone can feel they belong and achieve their potential regardless of gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic is a key commitment for us. We are proud of the progress we’re making in DEI, and we continue for it to be a significant focus.

“At Canada Life we believe in the power of great people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives coming together to build better futures. Emerging talent is crucial to our growth and creating an environment that continues to inspire us all.” Nick Harding, Chief People Officer, Canada Life UK.

We appreciate that everyone has different work and life responsibilities. We’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part time, for any of our roles should this be a requirement for you.