Entry level it project manager Jobs in Kitchener, ON

This role is responsible for executing IT and Software sourcing and contracting initiatives end-to-end - from intake and strategy through negotiations, award, and contract execution - while partnering with Technology stakeholders, Legal, Risk, and Finance to deliver strong commercial outcomes and manage risk. In addition, this role contributes to continuous improvement across the Technology sourcing portfolio by providing benchmarking, analytics, and executive-ready materials that improve decision quality, cycle time, and consistency.

Primary Responsibilities (Sourcing & Deals – core focus):

Lead IT/Software sourcing and contracting

• Collaborate and lead cross-functional teams to execute low-to-medium value/complexity sourcing projects and contracting efforts for IT and Software (including SaaS and technology services as applicable).
• Plan and execute renewals/amendments, including tracking key expirations and developing renewal workplans with stakeholders.
• Develop PxQ baselines and contract analysis, determine sourcing strategy (competitive vs. single source), lead negotiations, and drive supplier selection recommendations.
• Influence and shape business requirements needed to evaluate suppliers and enable timely, unified decisions.

Commercial execution & contract negotiation

• Read, understand, and negotiate commercial terms in current contracts and proposals; coordinate with Legal/Risk/Finance SMEs to close key gaps and finalize contract documents.
• Ensure initiatives are logged and progressed through Ivalua intake-to-contract workflow; coordinate required SMEs (e.g., VGM/VISM/Legal) to support risk and contracting steps.
• Maintain clean deal documentation and workflow progression through procurement systems and CLM processes (including contract review/redlining practices in Sirion where applicable).

Stakeholder management

• Manage relationships with key business partners and project owners to maintain momentum, surface blockers early, and ensure alignment on tradeoffs and approvals.

Governance for software/technology procurement

• Support required governance inputs for technology purchases (e.g., architectural reviews/ARB thresholds and required pre-requisites where applicable) to ensure the deal can proceed through internal approvals and onboarding.

Benchmarking, analytics, and business cases

• Conduct benchmarking and opportunity assessments to strengthen sourcing strategies and negotiation positions (e.g., rate/price benchmarking, deal structure options, value levers).
• Provide business intelligence and insights to improve data-driven sourcing decisions and portfolio prioritization.

Metrics, dashboards, and executive communications

• Define and track key performance metrics (pipeline, cycle time, sourcing outcomes) and develop dashboards or reporting views to support tower priorities.
• Create executive-ready presentations that synthesize deal status, risks, tradeoffs, and opportunities for improvement.

AI

• Contribute to AI-enabled procurement improvements that directly support sourcing execution - e.g., AI-assisted contract review/redlining, faster RFx drafting, improved spend/market intelligence, and workflow efficiency - by helping shape requirements, pilots, and adoption.

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of progressive experience in IT/software sourcing, procurement, vendor management, and/or consulting with direct responsibility for negotiations and contracting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional sourcing initiatives and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong commercial and analytical skills (baseline and market analysis; building negotiation strategy and options).
• Strong written/verbal communication skills and ability to produce executive-ready materials.
• Working knowledge of procurement tools and workflows (intake-to-contract and contract lifecycle processes).
• Advanced MS Excel / PowerPoint skills; familiarity with Power BI or similar analytics tools is an asset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in sourcing, strategy/management, consulting (or equivalent internal consulting/PMO experience).
• Experience supporting AI-related procurement work (e.g., AI tooling evaluations, AI contract addenda workflows, AI-assisted sourcing enablement).
• Experience sourcing and negotiating AI, machine learning, and generative AI solutions, including software, platforms, data services, and related professional services, is considered an asset.
• Post‑secondary degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, IT, or a related field or equivalent experience.

When You Join Our Team:

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.
• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.
• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit .

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact .

Referenced Salary Location

Toronto, Ontario

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$92,900.00 CAD - $142,900.00 CAD

Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact for the salary range for your location.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process. For more information, please refer to our .