Director, Strategic Procurement
- Kitchener, ON, Canada
Full-time
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Job details
- Job type
- Full-time
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- Posting language
- English
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Original job description
Position Summary
Full-time Administrative, reclassified replacement position
Reporting to the Vice President, Finance, CFO & Compliance Advisor, the Director, Procurement provides strategic leadership for the college’s Procurement & Contract Services function. The Director is responsible for developing and implementing procurement strategies, governance frameworks, policies, and practices that support institutional priorities, financial stewardship, operational effectiveness and risk management.
As the college’s senior procurement leader, the Director oversees strategic sourcing, contract governance, supplier relationship management, and procurement compliance, ensuring adherence to applicable legislation, trade agreements, and public-sector procurement requirements, and promoting transparency, fairness, value for money, and accountability. The role serves as a trusted advisor to college leadership on procurement strategy, risk, and governance matters.
Through collaborative leadership, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement, the Director advances procurement excellence across the college, strengthens organizational accountability, and ensures the effective acquisition of goods and services that deliver long-term value to the institution.
Successful candidates will be required to conduct work in Ontario and must be available to work on-site as required. This position is anticipated to operate within a hybrid work arrangement, with flexibility to work both remotely and on-site at Conestoga’s 3065 King St. E location or other Conestoga campuses, based on departmental and operational needs.
Responsibilities
Procurement
Full-time Administrative, reclassified replacement position
Reporting to the Vice President, Finance, CFO & Compliance Advisor, the Director, Procurement provides strategic leadership for the college’s Procurement & Contract Services function. The Director is responsible for developing and implementing procurement strategies, governance frameworks, policies, and practices that support institutional priorities, financial stewardship, operational effectiveness and risk management.
As the college’s senior procurement leader, the Director oversees strategic sourcing, contract governance, supplier relationship management, and procurement compliance, ensuring adherence to applicable legislation, trade agreements, and public-sector procurement requirements, and promoting transparency, fairness, value for money, and accountability. The role serves as a trusted advisor to college leadership on procurement strategy, risk, and governance matters.
Through collaborative leadership, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement, the Director advances procurement excellence across the college, strengthens organizational accountability, and ensures the effective acquisition of goods and services that deliver long-term value to the institution.
Successful candidates will be required to conduct work in Ontario and must be available to work on-site as required. This position is anticipated to operate within a hybrid work arrangement, with flexibility to work both remotely and on-site at Conestoga’s 3065 King St. E location or other Conestoga campuses, based on departmental and operational needs.
Responsibilities
Procurement
- Leads competitive procurement processes, negotiates contractual agreements, and provides leadership in the resolution of vendor and contract disputes
- Directly leads or provides oversight for the development and execution of competitive procurement processes, including RFx preparation, public posting, evaluation management, contract award recommendations, and procurement reporting
- Reviews and approves solicitation documents, evaluation methodologies, procurement strategies, and award recommendations to ensure compliance with legislative, trade agreement, and college requirements
- Leads supplier relationship and vendor performance management activities, including onboarding, performance monitoring, risk assessment, issue resolution, contract renewals, and strategic supplier engagement
- Oversees operational systems, including the purchase requisition system and bidding platform
- Oversees the process to dispose of College assets that may include redeployment, auction, donation, scrap, trade-in, or direct sale
- Leads strategic sourcing and category management programs, establishing sourcing strategies for major procurements, capital projects, technology investments, and enterprise service contracts
- Directs procurement policy, governance, internal controls, and compliance oversight to ensure adherence to Broader Public Sector Directive, college policies, and applicable trade agreements
- Leads procurement assurance activities, including audits, compliance reporting, corrective action planning, delegated signing authority controls, documentation governance, and defensible contract award practices
- In collaboration with Legal Counsel and Risk Management, identifies, assesses, and mitigates procurement, supplier, contractual, and compliance risks
- Develops procurement performance measures, reporting frameworks, and compliance monitoring mechanisms to support continuous improvement and governance oversight
- Serves as the principal advisor to college leadership on procurement governance, sourcing strategy, supplier risk, contract management, and public-sector procurement obligations
- Prepares procurement, sourcing, vendor performance and compliance reporting for senior leadership, committees, and governance bodies
- Represents the College in sector-wide procurement initiatives, collaborative purchasing groups, OECM activities, and professional procurement associations
- Provide leadership and direction to the Procurement team, establishing priorities, service standards, performance expectations, and operating procedures
- Directs procurement operations and establishes service standards, priorities, and performance expectations that ensure efficient, compliant, and customer-focused procurement services
- Respond to complex and escalated procurement, contractual, and vendor-related issues
- A three-year diploma or bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management, commerce, public administration, finance, law, or a related field
- Professional procurement designation such as CSCMP, SCMP, or CPPO is preferred
- Minimum seven years of progressive procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, or contract management experience is required; previous supervisory experience within a complex, regulated environment or public procurement industry is preferred
- Comprehensive knowledge of public-sector procurement principles, strategic sourcing, contract management, procurement governance, supplier relationship management, and competitive procurement processes
- Demonstrated knowledge of the Broader Public Sector Procurement Directive, applicable trade agreements, Supply Ontario requirements, contract law, and related legislative and regulatory requirements
- Experience developing procurement policies, governance frameworks, compliance programs, performance measures, and internal controls
- Proven ability to provide strategic advice and influence decision-making at the senior leadership level
- Demonstrated experience leading teams, managing organizational change, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
- Strong project management skills with experience leading complex, high-value procurement initiatives
- Exceptional analytical, negotiation, problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder relationship management skills
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and external partners while balancing operational, financial, legal, and reputational considerations
More about this job
Responsibilities
Leads the college’s procurement function, including strategic sourcing, competitive procurement, contract governance, supplier relationships, compliance, and risk management. Advises senior leadership, oversees procurement operations and reporting, and directs the procurement team to deliver accountable, efficient, and value-focused services.
Requirements
Requires a three-year diploma or bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and at least seven years of progressive procurement, sourcing, supply chain, or contract management experience; a professional procurement designation is preferred. Candidates should bring public-sector procurement expertise, leadership and strategic advisory experience, and strong project management, analytical, negotiation, communication, and stakeholder relationship skills.
Skills
- Strategic Sourcing
- Procurement Governance
- Contract Management
- Public-Sector Procurement Compliance
- Competitive Procurement
- Negotiation
- Risk Management
- Policy Development
- Internal Controls
- Team Leadership
- Project Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Analytical Skills
- Vendor Performance Management
- Change Management
Visa sponsorship
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Categories
- Management & Leadership
- Logistics
- Education
- Finance & Accounting
- Government & Public Sector
Keywords
- Strategic Procurement
- Strategic Sourcing
- Category Management
- Contract Governance
- Contract Management
- Competitive Procurement
- RFx
- Trade Agreements
- Supply Ontario
- OECM
- Public-Sector Procurement
- Procurement Compliance
- Procurement Policies
- Governance Frameworks
- Internal Controls
- Procurement Audits
- Risk Assessment
- Vendor Performance Management
- Contract Law
- Procurement Reporting
- Delegated Signing Authority
- Purchase Requisition System
- Bidding Platform
- Asset Disposal
- Negotiation
- Project Management
- Change Management
- Continuous Improvement