Senior Specialist Procurement Operations-CA

Job Summary

The incumbent is a subject matter expert responsible for the day-to-day execution, optimization, and governance of Procure-to-Pay (P2P) and asset monetization processes across CN's network. Operating within CN's Procurement and Supply Management (PandSM) framework, the role translates category and investment recovery strategies into operational workflows, supports secondary market asset sales, including scrap rail, scrap metal, and decommissioned capital assets, manages key operational vendor and buyer relationships, and performs complex transactional and spend analyses. The incumbent serves as an operational escalation point, supports cross-functional process improvements, and provides mentorship and functional guidance to junior team members.

Main Responsibilities

Operational Execution and Category Alignment

Drive day-to-day execution of Procure-to-Pay (P2P) processes, catalog enablement, and system workflows across CN's network

Partner with Category Managers to translate category strategies, contracts, and supplier structures into streamlined operational purchasing execution

Resolve complex operational purchasing queries and system exceptions in a timely manner

Asset Monetization and Investment Recovery Execution

Lead operational execution for asset monetization initiatives, including surplus inventory disposition, scrap metal and rail sales, and retired capital equipment sales across network regions

Coordinate valuation, listing, bidding, and contract execution with external auction houses, liquidators, and secondary market buyers

Track and report on asset monetization revenues, cost avoidance, and cycle times for executive leadership

Process Optimization and Governance

Identify process bottlenecks and support automation and continuous improvement initiatives across business units

Ensure operational procurement and asset disposition activities strictly adhere to internal financial controls, SOX requirements, governance frameworks, and CN procurement policies

Assist in updating and maintaining standard operating procedures (SOPs) for operational procurement and surplus asset administration

Operational Sourcing and Contract Execution

Lead negotiations and execution for operational contracts, commercial agreements, asset disposition contracts, and transactional spot purchases within designated signing authority

Coordinate contract lifecycle activities, ensuring supplier and buyer compliance with agreed terms, pricing, and service levels

Assist in resolving operational supplier and buyer contract disputes

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Stakeholder Support

Act as a key operational liaison between Procurement, Capital Asset Management, Accounts Payable, Finance, Technology, and internal business partners

Work closely with cross-functional teams to resolve purchase order and invoice discrepancies, supply blockages, asset transfer friction, and system integration issues

Build strong working relationships with internal requestors and plant and field operations managers to support surplus identification and operational purchasing needs

Supplier and Buyer Performance Monitoring

Conduct root cause analysis on compliance failures, vendor and buyer performance issues, or process disruptions, proposing actionable corrective measures

Support supplier and buyer operational reviews for assigned procurement categories and recovery streams

Data Analytics and Reporting

Conduct detailed spend, transactional, revenue recovery, and compliance analyses to identify buying leakage, catalog utilization, and asset recovery potential

Utilize eProcurement and business intelligence tools to generate insights and operational dashboards that support procurement leadership decision-making

Mentorship and Functional Guidance

Provide technical guidance, coaching, and peer support to Procurement Specialists on purchasing and asset disposition procedures

Help onboard new team members and promote best practices in system usage, procurement compliance, and customer service

Responsibilities Weight (%) for Job Evaluation

Operational Execution and Category Alignment - 30%

Asset Monetization and Investment Recovery Execution - 20%

Process Optimization and Governance - 10%

Operational Sourcing and Contract Execution - 15%

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Stakeholder Support - 10%

Supplier and Buyer Performance Monitoring - 5%

Data Analytics and Reporting - 5%

Mentorship and Functional Guidance - 5%

Working Conditions

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 may require travel up to 10% within North America and must manage multiple priorities and tight operational deadlines.

Experience

ProcurementMinimum 4 years of progressive operational procurement, strategic sourcing, asset recovery and monetization, or supply chain experience within a complex enterprise environmentProven track record in P2P execution, surplus asset disposition, contract administration, and transactional problem-solvingExperience participating in process improvement, digital transformation, or investment recovery projects*Candidates with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered* Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory)

Education/Certification/Designation

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or Operations ManagementCandidates with equivalent practical experience, education, or training will be considered

Competencies

• We Care About Each Other
• We Strive for Excellence
• We Succeed Together
• We Lead Responsibly
• Compliance
• Business acumen
• Process optimization
• High
• Negotiation
  
  

Technical Skills/Knowledge

Deep operational understanding of Procure-to-Pay (P2P) cycles, asset recovery workflows, governance, and SOX complianceWorking knowledge of secondary industrial material markets, scrap metal valuation, and asset disposition channelsAdvanced hands-on proficiency with enterprise systems, specifically SAP, Ariba, and FieldglassStrong skills in spend data analysis, Excel, operational sourcing, and contract administrationExcellent communication, organization, and stakeholder service skillsBilingualism in English and French** Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory)