Director, Strategic Procurement

Conestoga College School of Business; Kitchener; Hybrid; CAD 130,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

Conestoga College is seeking a Director, Strategic Procurement to lead procurement strategy, governance, and supplier relationships across the college. Reporting to the CFO, the role oversees strategic sourcing, contract governance, risk management, and compliance with public-sector requirements.

This on-site/hybrid position requires Ontario work and a flexible, collaborative leader capable of delivering value, transparency, and governance in a complex, regulated environment.

Qualifications

• Three-year diploma or bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management, commerce, public administration, finance, law, or related field.
• Professional procurement designation such as CSCMP, SCMP, or CPPO preferred.
• Experience in public-sector procurement principles and governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead competitive procurement processes and negotiate contractual agreements.
• Direct or oversee RFx preparation, evaluation, award, and reporting.
• Manage supplier relationships, onboarding, performance, risk, and renewals.
• Oversee procurement systems and asset disposal processes.
• Provide strategic advice to college leadership on procurement governance and risk.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Analytical skills

Project management

Public procurement knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree or diploma in business administration / supply chain / commerce / public administration / finance / law

Procurement designation (CSCMP/SCMP/CPPO)

Job description

Job Title: Director, Strategic Procurement

Requisition #: 26-0228

Department: Procurement & Contract Services

Payband: 14

Payband Range: $129,743.00 - $172,991.00

Hours/Week: 37.5

Posting Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026

Closing Date: Monday, October 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST

Vacancy Type: Administration - Full-time

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

• 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

Planning, governance and supply risk management

• 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

Executive advisory, analytics and stakeholder engagement

• 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

Leadership and staff management

• 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

Qualifications

• 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

Conestoga College is a leader in polytechnic education. Our career-focused education, training, and applied research programs prepare students for success, support industry, and workforce needs and promote economic prosperity throughout our region and across Ontario.

We thank all applicants but only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Conestoga College is committed to workplace diversity and provides accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If you require accommodation, please contact Human Resources via the Contact page.