IT Procurement Specialist

IESO; Toronto; On-site; CAD 111,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

A provincial electricity system operator in Ontario is seeking a Procurement Specialist. In this role, you will provide strategic procurement advice and manage contracts and competitive procurement processes. The ideal candidate will have a university degree in a business-related field and at least six years of progressive experience in public procurement. Strong skills in negotiation and contract management are essential. Join a dedicated team committed to fostering a fair and inclusive working environment.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension plan

Comprehensive benefits

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Understanding of public sector procurement practices and procurement-related contract law.
• Professional designation or certification through SCMA is preferred.
• Minimum of six years of progressive experience in public procurement.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic procurement advice to stakeholders.
• Lead and facilitate procurement planning across Business Units.
• Manage competitive procurement processes and contracts.

Skills

Purchasing

Sourcing

Procurement

Negotiation

Contract Management

SAP

Education

University Degree in a business-related discipline

Tools

Procurement software

Job description

The IESO is committed to ensuring Ontario's electricity system meets the province's needs today and into the future. We are charged with purpose, delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity for homes, businesses, and communities across the province. We are energized to grow, embracing opportunities to shape the future of a dynamic and evolving energy sector while advancing our careers. We are powered by teamwork, supported by diverse and passionate colleagues who foster respect, celebrate successes, and thrive on shared achievements. At the IESO, it’s not just what we do; it’s who we are!

Our central role includes managing the provincial power grid in real-time, overseeing and evolving Ontario's electricity market, engaging with government, municipalities, and Indigenous communities, and planning for Ontario's future electricity needs. Our employees play a key role in driving grid innovation, protecting the system from threats, advancing the province's energy conservation programs, and forecasting and procuring the electricity resources we will need in the decades to come. This role is a unionized role within Corporate Services business unit.

What you'll do

• Provide strategic procurement advice, guidance and assistance, including the interpretation and explanation of procurement practice standards, policies and procedures to a broad client base including internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure that best practices are utilized encompassing due diligence and cost-effectiveness.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with government procurement directives, IESO standards, regulations and policies.
• Lead and facilitate procurement planning, collaborating across Business Units to successfully implement procurement strategies and foster alignment of similar needs.
• Provide strategic advice and solutions to Business Units where issues extend past the general scope of procurement practice and require alternative solutions, including identifying areas of opportunity and risk.
• Act as a fairness monitor during the procurement process from initial planning through to the execution of an agreement.
• Manage the IESO's competitive procurement process, including developing RFx and other solicitation documents, securing approvals, posting procurement on appropriate e-tendering sites, coordinating questions and responses, preparing and issuing clarifying addenda and managing the receipt of submissions—all in accordance with procurement policies and standards and ensuring an open, fair and transparent process is adhered to throughout.
• Develop and recommend robust evaluation criteria to ensure integrity and fairness of the procurement process.
• Facilitate all evaluation meetings, providing guidance, conflict resolution, clarifying ambiguities and resolving issues while communicating with tact and diplomacy and maintaining a fair and transparent process.
• Lead the selection, negotiation and execution of contracts. Administer the approval of purchase orders and other agreements, ensuring that contract terms and conditions—including any statement of work—incorporate deliverables, scope, schedule, quality and cost.
• Negotiate favorable prices and terms for the delivery of goods and services.
• Investigate and verify rationale for non‑competitive single or sole source requests, advising on compliance with applicable standards and policies and other areas of risk to the organization.
• Consult with legal services where required on complex procurement document preparation, negotiations and risk mitigation strategies, exercising sound judgment in the incorporation of recommendations in accordance with procurement policies and standards.
• Manage the preparation and issuance of contract amendments, ensuring compliance with applicable standards and policies and ensuring that references to terms, conditions, appendices and other relevant documentation is accurately and consistently referenced.
• Manage all correspondence throughout the procurement process with internal and external stakeholders.
• Facilitate the vendor debriefing process in a controlled and structured manner, providing guidance to Business Units on appropriate communication and messaging, providing constructive feedback to vendors for future relationships and managing conflict resolution as necessary.
• Investigate vendor complaints on process, escalating and coordinating with Senior Management and Vice Presidents and others as required to respond.
• Administer records retention of procurement documents, including contractual agreements and all documentation as required by applicable standards and policies.
• Support external and internal audit requests, providing required documentation.
• Manage the review and approval of purchase requisitions, ensuring accuracy, completeness, compliance with policies and standards, appropriateness of the approving authorities and the submission of supporting documentation.
• Provide training as necessary and when requested by all levels of staff on procurement processes, policies, standards and systems.
• Participate in special projects as requested.
• Consolidate information and prepare reports on procurement performance as required by Manager, Executives, Board of Directors and Audit Committee.
• Provide guidance, direction, training and mentorship to junior members of the Procurement team. Assign procurement work under general supervision and monitor in respect to quality and accuracy.
• Maintain an awareness of the latest developments in the areas of sourcing strategies and innovations, procurement law and contract administration to contribute to strategic discussions with Business Units, Directors and Managers.
• Maintain market intelligence for robust vendor screening and monitoring.
• And other duties or responsibilities as may be assigned.

Role Requirements

• University Degree in a business‑related discipline from a recognized university.
• Understanding of public sector procurement practices and procurement‑related contract law.
• Professional designation or certification through SCMA and/or a demonstrated commitment to obtaining certification strongly preferred.
• Minimum of six (6) years progressively responsible experience in public procurement of a diverse variety of services in an organization of similar size, complexity and diversity, including RFx development, competitive sourcing, negotiating and contract drafting.
• Experience in organizing and managing large volumes of work.
• Experience with procurement software.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, remain objective and communicate using a strong degree of diplomacy and tact.
• Ability to analyze and manage complex problems considering cost and risk implications and the ability to resolve problems identifying underlying trends, strengths, weaknesses and opportunities even when the information is complex and involves multiple stakeholders.
• Expert procurement and contracting knowledge with sufficient familiarity of legal terminology to interpret and understand a variety of contractual terms and conditions.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills with proven experience in creating solicitation documents, contracts, statement of work, formal reports and other relevant correspondence.
• Ability to perform all duties with minimal direction or instruction by the Manager.
• High degree of accuracy required for prevention and detection of any errors. Procurement errors could have serious and long‑lasting effects for the IESO with public procurement financial loss and reputational risk.
• Ability to manage and organize a high level and volume of information with competing priorities.
• Exceptional approach to client service and interpersonal skills with an ability to work within a variety of team environments.
• Exceptional leadership and project management skills.

How We Support You

• Best‑in‑class benefits and long‑term support in the form of a defined benefit pension plan.
• Work in a dynamic and evolving sector that offers exciting opportunities and the chance to explore new career paths.
• Leadership that values meaningful discussions, welcomes feedback and prioritizes career development.
• A strong inclusive culture and a collaborative team environment with a shared passion for impactful work.
• Compensation packages that are regularly reviewed to remain competitive and to best accommodate the diverse needs of our employees.

Key Skills: Purchasing, Sourcing, Procurement, Employee Evaluation, HR Sourcing, SAP, Supply Chain Experience, Federal Aviation Regulations, Contract Management, Supplier Management, negotiation, Contracts.

Employment Type : Full Time

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1

Monthly Salary Salary: 111072 - 158704

Deadline

January 16, 2026. For future reference please save a copy of the job posting as it will no longer be available once the posting closes.

Thank you for your interest in a career at the IESO. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please note that the successful candidate must be legally eligible to work in Canada and will be subject to applicable background checks.

IESO will not conduct interviews or offer positions via online text chat or social media platforms. We will not gather personal information directly from candidates or potential candidates. Selected candidates will work with our Talent Acquisition team to ensure their application is processed.

The IESO will be transitioning to a 3‑day in‑office work week effective January 2026. Over the course of 2026 the IESO will advance plans to acquire additional office space to accommodate more in‑office time. While the timeline for moving to a full 5‑day in‑office model has not yet been established, we are committed to keeping employees and candidates informed as plans progress and give them as much advance notice as possible to prepare for any changes.

We believe in opportunities for everyone. At the IESO we know that achieving great results depends on embracing diversity by attracting, developing and retaining people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We do this by ensuring our recruitment and advancement policies are fair and equitable and by creating an accessible and inclusive environment that values every team member’s unique skills and experiences and ensures they have the support they need to achieve their potential. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process please let us know.

We’re proud to say we’ve been recognized as a supportive inclusive employer.

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