Senior Specialist Procurement Category
- Quebec, QC, Canada
Full-time
Applications open in a new tab.
Job details
- Job type
- Full-time
- Apply by
- Experience
- Minimum 4 years of progressive experience in procurement, supply chain operations, or a related field
- Posting language
- English
- Posted
Original job description
Job Summary
The incumbent is responsible for leading end-to-end category procurement activities that deliver measurable commercial value, support safe and reliable rail operations, and strengthen supplier performance across CN. Working within the category management framework, the role independently develops sourcing strategies, leads complex RFx events, negotiates supplier agreements, manages supplier relationships, and supports business partners across Engineering, Mechanical, Operations, Finance, and corporate functions. The role also coaches Procurement Specialists, promotes procurement compliance and best practices, and contributes to process, digital, and AI-enabled improvements across the sourcing lifecycle.
Main Responsibilities
The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday and is eligible to participate in CN's hybrid work model. The role requires travel up to 10% within North America.
Experience
Strategic Procurement or Supply Chain Operations
The incumbent is responsible for leading end-to-end category procurement activities that deliver measurable commercial value, support safe and reliable rail operations, and strengthen supplier performance across CN. Working within the category management framework, the role independently develops sourcing strategies, leads complex RFx events, negotiates supplier agreements, manages supplier relationships, and supports business partners across Engineering, Mechanical, Operations, Finance, and corporate functions. The role also coaches Procurement Specialists, promotes procurement compliance and best practices, and contributes to process, digital, and AI-enabled improvements across the sourcing lifecycle.
Main Responsibilities
- Lead the development and execution of category procurement strategies aligned with business objectives
- Drive end-to-end RFx processes from strategy formulation through supplier selection and award
- Perform advanced spend analytics, market intelligence, and total cost modelling to identify opportunities and support sourcing decisions
- Develop business cases with quantified value propositions for management approval
- Negotiate contracts with suppliers covering commercial, legal, financial, operational, and risk-related terms
- Structure agreements that balance risk, value, service levels, quality, and operational requirements
- Manage supplier performance against contractual obligations and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including supplier business reviews and improvement action plans
- Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, partnership development, sustainability improvement, and total cost of ownership reduction
- Coach and support Procurement Specialists while promoting procurement best practices, policy compliance, and knowledge sharing within the team
- Analyze complex data to determine risks and exposures and recommend holistic mitigation measures to protect CN's interests
- Use procurement technologies, data, and AI-enabled opportunities to generate insights, improve outcomes, and increase sourcing lifecycle efficiency
- Develop project plans with defined timelines, prioritize tasks, monitor progress against milestones, address issues proactively, and escalate when required
The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday and is eligible to participate in CN's hybrid work model. The role requires travel up to 10% within North America.
Experience
Strategic Procurement or Supply Chain Operations
- Minimum 4 years of progressive experience in procurement, supply chain operations, or a related field
- Demonstrated experience leading complex sourcing events and contract negotiations*
- Track record of delivering measurable savings, value improvements, supplier performance outcomes, and total cost of ownership benefits*
- Candidates with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered
- Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory)
- Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Finance, or related field
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master's degree, professional procurement certification (SCMP, CPSM, CIPS), or professional designation (CPA, CFA)*
- Candidates with equivalent practical experience, education, or training will be considered
- Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory)
- We Care About Each Other
- We Strive for Excellence
- We Succeed Together
- We Lead Responsibly
- Compliance
- Business acumen
- Process optimization
- High
- Negotiation
- Advanced proficiency in procurement analytics and spend management tools
- Experience with ERP and source-to-contract platforms, including SAP, Ariba, and Fieldglass
- Strong financial acumen and ability to develop compelling business cases using cost-benefit analysis and quantified value propositions
- Advanced knowledge of category management, sourcing, contracting, pricing models, contract terms, and supplier performance management
- Knowledge of CN's procurement policies, compliance standards, risk management practices, and applicable regulatory requirements
- Ability to use data, digital tools, and AI-enabled opportunities to improve sourcing outcomes and process efficiency
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence stakeholders and support negotiations with clear rationale
- Bilingualism in English and French*
- Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory)
More about this job
Responsibilities
Lead category procurement strategies and end-to-end sourcing events, including spend analysis, supplier selection, contract negotiation, and award. Manage supplier performance and risk, coach procurement specialists, and use data, technology, and AI-enabled improvements to deliver commercial value and improve sourcing efficiency.
Requirements
Requires a bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business administration, engineering, finance, or a related field, and at least four years of progressive procurement, supply chain, or related experience. Candidates should bring strong sourcing, negotiation, analytics, financial, contract, and supplier-management capabilities; a master's degree, professional certification, and English-French bilingualism are assets.
Skills
- Category Management
- Strategic Procurement
- Sourcing Strategy
- RFx Management
- Contract Negotiation
- Spend Analytics
- Market Intelligence
- Total Cost Modelling
- Financial Analysis
- Risk Management
- Procurement Compliance
- Stakeholder Management
- Project Planning
- Procurement Analytics
Visa sponsorship
Not detected in the job text
Categories
- Logistics
- Transportation
- Management & Leadership
- Finance & Accounting
- Data & Analytics
Keywords
- Category Management
- Strategic Procurement
- Supply Chain Operations
- RFx
- Sourcing Strategy
- Spend Analytics
- Market Intelligence
- Total Cost Of Ownership
- Contract Negotiation
- Supplier Agreements
- Supplier Performance
- Key Performance Indicators
- Business Cases
- Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Risk Management
- Procurement Compliance
- ERP
- SAP
- Ariba
- Fieldglass
- Source-To-Contract Platforms
- AI-Enabled Procurement
- Sustainability
- SCMP
- CPSM
- CIPS
- CPA
- CFA
- Rail Transportation