John Watson Email & Phone Number

Toronto, Canada Area

Working with a staff of thirty to provide support to the Client Services area at HOOPP. The Operations Support team is responsible for the operational/calculation portion of pension payroll, complex data investigation and changes, complex calculation support, imaging and print functionality.

Edmonton, Canada Area

Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives, January 2017 - May 2018 Executive Director, Client Operations, March 2015 - December 2016Program Director, August 2014 - March 2015Executive Director, Plan Operations, February 2012 - August 2014The newly created Executive Director, Plan Operations position was responsible for the 68-member strong pension plan administration area, as well as the Education and Training department at APS. The position itself is meant to bring clarity to roles as well as change management, strategic alignment and system strengthening to the area. Was seconded to the leadership position on the Next Generation project, APS' system and organizational redevelopment program, in order to bring focus and realignment with corporate culture to this project. A change in Executive leadership brought a return to the renamed Client Operations area, where past experience in change management, project implementation and business process re-engineering were needed. Plans administered include the Public Service Pension Plan and the Management Employee Pension Plan of the Government of Alberta, the Special Forces Pension Plan and the Local Authorities Pension Plan as well as three smaller plans covering public sector employees in the province of Alberta. Starting in 2017, began in the newly created position of Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives/Planning, focusing efforts of APS to build a strong strategic plan for the period 2018 to 2022. This was done using an Appreciative Inquiry methodology and applying the SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results) framework and ensuring that all stakeholders and employees were consulted during this planning. I was also tasked with renewing the Mission and Vision statements for the organization and building the three year business plan and the scorecard APS used to measure success.

Thornhill

The Multi-Sector Non Profit Benefit Plan Administrator administers the Nursing Homes and Related Industries Pension Plan (NHRIPP) and the Multi-Sector Pension Plan (MSPP), two national target benefit multi-employer plans organized by the Service Employees International Union and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, with additional participation from the Ontario Nurses Association and the Canadian Automobile Workers in the case of the NHRIPP. The Benefit Manager has a staff of seven and is responsible for ensuring that the over 60,000 active, retired and deferred members of the plans get serviced in accordance with the standards set by the Board and the pension benefit rules across different jurisdictions. The Benefit Manager is also responsible for making presentations to member groups across Canada as required by the different employers and union locals.

Toronto, Canada Area

Worked on contract to represent the pension administration area on a computer system implementation project.

Toronto, Canada Area

Director, Training, Practices and Quality Assurance, October 2006 - March 2008Director, Client Services, March 2008 - June 2010Acting Vice President, February 2009 - June 2010The newly created Training, Practices and Quality Assurance Director position was responsible for developing programs to support the Client Services area. Began by changing expectations around training so that peer to peer information sharing became the norm, lessening dependency on training for all types of questions. Within eighteen months, the position was promoted to direct the full Client Services and Support operations, with five direct report managers and a total of seventy three staff. All pension calculation and client services staff were under this position.Within a year, the position was changed once more and was responsible for bringing change to the culture and the work processes of the client services branch of the organization. I led the 73 person Client Services and Support group through a change from administer and comply servicing to a more client-centric advise and protect model. The position oversaw all of the Client Services and Training, Procedures and Quality Assurance areas, reporting directly to the President and then a Senior Vice President.

Toronto, Canada Area

Hired to manage the calculations team for this start up operation, which supported the administration of the defined benefit pension plan of a large American industrial firm and a number of subsidiaries. Using an existing computer system, the operation had to build to fit the programming model and then begin administering the plan within an eight month window. The position became responsible for staff working in two remote locations at Marlborough, Massachusetts and Bangalore, India. In time, the number of direct reports increased to thirty-three across the three locations.

Toronto, Canada Area

Acting Manager, Quality Assurance & Float Team Department, 2003 – 2004Acting Manager, Retired Member and Central Services Department, 2002 – 2003Team Leader, Termination Claims, 2001 – 2002Team Leader, Retirement Claims/Quotes, 1999 – 2001Acting Manager, Pension Department, 1999 – 2001Supervisor, Pensioner Services/Survivor Benefits, 1997 – 1999At three different times, was asked to take on an acting manager role to cover for managers on assignment or on maternity leave. Was responsible for staff of between ten and forty three in the administration of a defined benefit pension plan. Took lead on the business redevelopment process in Pensions and worked through the process with staff groups.

Toronto, Canada Area

Started as the evening shift supervisor in the Health Records Department, responsible for staff of ten to fifteen who were tasked with returning files to the records department, adding reports to the records and delivering charts to the emergency department and for individual doctors. Moved to day shift, responsible for additional staff who were Health record Professionals, coding the files based on procedures done, et cetera. using ICD-9 coding. Continued responsibility for evening staff for a total of 25 direct reports.

Emba, Global Leadership

Completed the Executive MBA program at this on-line university using some credits transferred from two other institutions. This on-line.

Ppac, Pension Administration

Received Pension Plan Administration Certificate from Humber College's Centre for Employee Benefits through three one week seminars.

B.A., Psychology

Wrote honours thesis on industrial/organizational psychology theme - working in non-profit organizations.