Project Manager Senior Business

VARTAN KASBARIAN

Project Based Consulting Services - 8361991 Canada Inc.

(416) 720 - 3737 Cellular

E-Mail: ****************@******.***

www.pbcs-consulting.com

PROFILE

Strategic and accomplished Senior Business & IT Professional with 25+ years of success leading end-to-end vendor lifecycle management, procurement, project governance, and strategic sourcing initiatives. Adept at establishing and maturing vendor relationships through onboarding, renewals, governance, and performance oversight aligned with enterprise objectives and compliance standards. Skilled in managing vendor scorecards, facilitating contract negotiations, and collaborating across risk, sourcing, and executive teams. Proven ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder environments across Financial Institutions, Public Sector, Healthcare, and Technology.

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

Toronto Public Library Jan 2025 – Present

Sr. Project Manager – Contractor

- Oversaw contract negotiations, onboarding, and ongoing performance tracking of vendors delivering AI training platforms.

- Developed and enforced project governance protocols in collaboration with internal foundation teams and external providers.

- Implemented SOPs and Smartsheet workflows, ensuring service alignment with AODA compliance and organizational goals.

Key Highlights: Vendor Onboarding, Contract Negotiation, Stakeholder Alignment, Risk Mitigation, SOP Design, Accessibility Compliance

Ontario Center of Innovation (OCI) Feb 2024 – Jan 2025

Sr. Project Manager – Contractor

- Directed end-to-end vendor lifecycle processes including onboarding, contract development, and performance governance.

- Coordinated risk assessments and implemented scorecards to track SLA compliance and business impact.

- Led contract negotiations and risk planning for digital transformation and ERP implementations across 5+ verticals.

Key Highlights: Risk Management, Contract Governance, Strategic Sourcing, RFI/RFP Development, ERP/CRM Procurement, KPI Design

Royal Bank of Canada Apr 2023 – Feb 2024

Sr. Project Manager, Front Office – Contractor

- Managed critical vendor partnerships during the GAM/HSBC AMCA merger project.

- Developed target operating models and transition roadmaps, ensuring risk-aware integration of strategic vendors.

- Led performance issue resolution, internal reporting, and governance alignment with enterprise frameworks.

Key Highlights: Merger & Acquisition Vendor Planning, TOM Development, Executive Stakeholder Coordination, Performance Governance

Fidelity Investment Services Aug 2018 – Dec 2022

Sr. Program Manager, Vendor Optimization – Contractor

- Spearheaded global Telecom and ERP vendor management strategy as part of a $650M+ cost optimization effort.

- Established and maintained vendor scorecards; coordinated audits and SLA evaluations across regions.

- Collaborated with executive leadership and sourcing teams to oversee performance, risk, and contract renewals.

Key Highlights: Global Vendor Governance, Contract Lifecycle, SLA Management, Risk Scorecarding, Telecom Procurement

Ample Organics July 2018 – May 2019

Sr. Consultant – Contractor

- Led vendor selection, onboarding, and roadmap development for clients in the cannabis sector.

- Facilitated integration of ERP/CRM platforms, ensuring vendor service models supported evolving regulatory frameworks.

- Advised on transitioning architecture to modular, multi-tenant platforms using vendor performance insights.

Key Highlights: Vendor Evaluation, ERP Integration, Architecture Strategy, Regulatory Compliance

BDC - Business Development Bank of Canada Multiple Engagements 2013 – 2018

Sr. Consultant – Contractor

- Directed vendor management strategy for 40+ clients as part of national digital modernization and cloud migration programs.

- Led procurement model development, risk assessments, and SLA negotiations for hardware, applications, and infrastructure.

- Supported Workday and Microsoft implementations with contract and risk oversight frameworks.

Key Highlights: Vendor Governance, Risk & Compliance, Public Sector Procurement, Workday Implementation

Tridel Corporation Feb 2015 – Sept 2017

Sr. Program Manager / Change Manager – Contractor

- Developed MSAs, SOWs, and performance management models for ERP system integrators.

- Managed ERP re-implementation and oversaw SLA adherence, vendor transitions, and contract compliance.

Key Highlights: ERP Vendor Negotiation, PMO Design, SLA Metrics, Cloud Transition

Purolator Feb 2017 – Sept 2017

Sr. Program Manager / Change Manager – Contractor

- Re-kicked failed SAP TMS project by developing a refreshed vendor governance structure.

- Facilitated daily performance reviews with 4 vendors across business units and led contract restructuring efforts.

Key Highlights: TMS Vendor Realignment, Agile PMO Setup, Performance Dashboarding, Strategic Governance

TTC – Toronto Transit Commission Nov 2014 – May 2016

Sr. Project Manager – Contractor

- Directed procurement planning and vendor evaluation for SAP S/4 HANA and SuccessFactors.

- Authored RFI/RFP templates, built vendor evaluation frameworks, and advised on contract scoring methodologies.

Key Highlights: Public Sector Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Vendor Evaluation, RFP Design

CAA – South Central Ontario Apr 2013 – Dec 2014

Sr. Program Manager / Change Manager – Contractor

- Designed and executed ERP/CRM vendor strategy impacting over 1,200 users.

- Led Guidewire and SAP integration strategy including contract compliance and risk mitigation.

Key Highlights: ERP Governance, Systems Integration, Risk Planning, Vendor Engagement

Empire Communities Feb 2013 – Oct 2013

Sr. Project Manager – Contractor

- Led vendor RFI/RFP lifecycle for ERP implementations in the real estate sector.

- Oversaw partner onboarding and alignment with strategic business operations.

Key Highlights: Strategic Vendor Sourcing, Real Estate ERP, Project Governance

IESO Feb 2018 – Mar 2018

HR LMS Administrator / Change Manager – Contractor

- Reviewed and advised on vendor alignment with SuccessFactors LMS workflows.

- Delivered stakeholder-facing performance assessments and roadmaps.

Key Highlights: HR Vendor Management, LMS Optimization, Performance Reporting

Shoppers Drug Mart, ESRI, Sun Media, Canadian Tire, Tibbett & Britten, Cantel, Confederation Treasury Services (1991–2012)

- Successfully negotiated vendor contracts, implemented governance models, and led vendor transitions across large-scale ERP, supply chain, and infrastructure programs.

- Designed vendor scorecards, SLA frameworks, and supported strategic sourcing across public and private sectors.

QUALIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS

- BA in Economics – York & Ryerson University

- 25+ Years in Vendor, Program, and Project Leadership

- PROSCI Certified, PMP-Equivalent

- Recognized Thought Leader: IT World Cover Story, EMC Keynote Speaker

SKILL SUMMARY

- Vendor Lifecycle Management (Onboarding, Governance, Renewals)

- Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Risk Oversight

- SLA/Scorecard Creation, Contract & Change Management

- Agile & Waterfall Delivery, PMO Leadership

- Regulatory Compliance (SOC2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 19600)

- Tools: MS Project, Excel, Visio, SharePoint, Workday, Salesforce, SAP, Figma, DevOps

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Contact this candidate