Assistant Manager, Vendor Management

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Date: Sep 2, 2025

Location: North York - Toronto, ON (Hybr, CA Lethbridge, AB (Hybrid), CA Edmonton, AB (Hybrid), CA Ottawa, ON (Hybrid), CA Vancouver, BC (Hybrid), CA Lloydminster, AB (Hybrid), CA Kitchener, ON (Hybrid), CA Montreal, QC (Hybrid), CA Calgary, AB (Hybrid), CA Dartmouth, NS (Hybrid), CA Thunder Bay, ON (Hybrid), CA Moncton, NB (Hybrid), CA

Company: Wawanesa Insurance

Job ID: 9425 


Working Business Language: English (This role requires regular interaction with internal and external stakeholders across Canada, who communicate primarily in English.  As such, the successful candidate must be fully proficient in English.)

 


Salary: At Wawanesa, salary is only one component of a holistic, comprehensive and competitive offering that we provide to our employees. In addition to salary, full-time and part-time permanent employees are eligible for an annual bonus plan, leave of absence top-up programs and provided with generous vacation time, personal days, premium free benefits and pension plan. 
 

The salary offered for this role is determined with consideration to various factors, including but not limited to: your work location, local labour market conditions, external market salary data, internal pay equity and the knowledge, skills, experience and anticipated proficiency in the role. The salary offered is estimated to be within the following range: $112,000 - $137,000. Candidates with salary expectations outside of the range are still encouraged to apply. 

 


About Us
At Wawanesa, we’re proud to offer a hybrid work environment that offers flexibility to our employees in balancing in-office (2 days per week OR 15 hours per week in a Wawanesa office) and remote work. You may work from any of the following locations: Winnipeg, MB; Wawanesa, MB; Vancouver, BC; Calgary, AB; Edmonton, AB; Lethbridge, AB; Toronto, ON; Kitchener, ON; Thunder Bay, ON; Ottawa, ON; Montreal, QC; Moncton, NB; Dartmouth; NS 
 

The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company (“Wawanesa Mutual”), founded in 1896, is one of Canada’s largest mutual insurers, with over $3.5 billion in annual revenue and assets of $10 billion (CAD). Wawanesa Mutual, with its National Headquarters in Winnipeg, is the parent company of Wawanesa Life, which provides life insurance products and services throughout Canada, and Western Financial Group, which distributes personal and business insurance across Canada. Wawanesa proudly serves more than 1.7 million members in Canada, and we are home to more than 3,600 employees distributed across the Canadian regions and communities where we operate. We give back to organizations that strengthen communities, donating more than $3.5 million annually to charitable organizations, including over $2 million annually in support of people on the front lines of climate change. To learn more visit wawanesa.com. 


We are currently looking for dedicated, driven, and enthusiastic individuals who thrive in an environment that welcomes change and are looking for an opportunity for diverse experience and advancement on a growing team.
 

Job Overview

Reporting to the Manager, Vendor Management the Assistant Manager, Vendor Management will be a pivotal role in supporting the Vendor Management team and Claims Operation to develop, coach and performance manage the Preferred Provider Network (PPN) working towards our goals to achieve best in class results driving a high-performance culture. The Assistant Manager, Vendor Management is an agent of change and continuous improvement, challenging the status quo and thinking creatively to identify issues and resolve challenges. The Assistant Manager, Vendor Management position is aligned and governed by Wawanesa’s values of Service, Openness, Fairness, Collaboration and Community. 


Job Responsibilities

  • Directly or indirectly manages contracted spend of $200+ Million.
  • Supports the direction of Vendor Management and provides oversight and coaching to Vendor Management Specialist team while striving to meet or exceed performance targets.
  • Coordinate and supervise daily activities of Vendor Management Specialist team, monitoring workflow, setting priorities to ensure maximum efficiency and productivity. 
  • Collaborates with others to identify trends in vendor or program service delivery. 
  • Prepares reports for Vendor Management regarding the performance of PPN to support business objectives.
  • Conduct periodic review of claims files and coach the team to strive for continuous improvement and development by setting and tracking individual and team performance objectives
  • Conduct employee performance reviews
  • Collaborates with internal stakeholders to help resolve vendor related matters, identify workflow improvements and best practices.
  • Participates or leads monthly operational performance reviews with PPN vendors.
  • Oversees performance of PPN program and vendors, based on business objectives and making recommendations where necessary.
  • Ensure compliance with corporate reporting standards
  • In conjunction with the direction of Vendor Management, participates in and supports PPN vendor related events (meetings, presentations, calibration sessions)
  • Build positive business Managements with internal and external parties.
  • Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years Auto, Property and Casualty industry experience, people management experience would be an asset
  • Effective customer service skills including empathy and concern for our customers and employees
  • Ability to quickly adopt and facilitate change in a positive environment.
  • Demonstrates accountability, reliability, transparency and alignment with Wawanesa values
  • Effective contributor provides alternative solutions and positive mindset during adversity
  • Effective negotiation skills
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills with ability to articulate ideas and concepts to positively impact circle of influence.  
  • Agile and flexible to organize and/or shift priorities as needed in a fast-paced, changing and ambiguous environment.
  • Strong knowledge of policy wordings for auto and/or property lines of business, corporate guidelines, policies and procedures.
  • Excellent investigative and analytical skills.
  • Ability to coach, guide, performance manage and positively motivate employees.
  • Ability to shift priorities or line of business within Vendor Management to support departmental objectives.
  • Effective public speaking/presentation skills
  • Commitment to continuous/continuing education
  • Adherence to Wawanesa Gift & Gratuities policy and Vendor Governance Model
  • Proficiency in French (written, spoken) is an asset

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Wawanesa is proud to be one of Manitoba’s Top Employers, a Kincentric Best Employer in Canada and a Forbes Best Employer in Canada recognizing an exceptional place to work!


Diversity Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
At Wawanesa, we are committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) and believe that our strength lies in the diversity of our people – this is supported by having a representative workforce.

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including racialized persons, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, gender-diverse and neurodiverse individuals, and anyone who can contribute to the further diversification of thought and ideas. 
 

We aim to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all candidates. If you require accommodations during any stage of the recruitment process, please reach out in confidence to jobs@wawanesa.com.
 

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