Lead Purchasing Officer

uOttawa | Carrières - Careers; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 69,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated procurement professional to support purchasing requests for essential goods and services. In this role, you will oversee the procurement process, ensuring compliance with policies while managing supplier relations. Your expertise in supply chain management and customer service will be crucial in facilitating efficient operations. Join a vibrant community that values diversity and inclusion, where your contributions will help shape the future of academic and research activities. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic team committed to excellence and innovation.

Benefits

Health and Wellness Programs

Mental Health Workshops

Counseling Resources

Fitness Resources

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in customer service and procurement.
• Knowledge of procurement legislation and university policies.

Responsibilities

• Manage procurement processes for goods and services up to $100K.
• Engage with clients to develop strategic procurement plans.

Skills

Customer Service

Procurement Principles

Communication Skills

Bilingualism (English and French)

Ability to Work Under Pressure

Education

Supply Chain Management Diploma or Certification

3+ years of experience in a similar role

Tools

Computer Systems and Software

Job description

time left to apply End Date: March 31, 2025 (8 days left to apply)

Duration in Months (for fixed-term jobs): 12

Job Type: Employee

Job Family: Procurement

# of Open Positions: 1

Faculty/Service - Department: Supply Chain, Financial Resources

Campus: Main Campus

Union Affiliation: SSUO

Date Posted: March 20, 2025

Applications must be received BEFORE: March 31, 2025

Hours per week: 35

Salary Grade: SSUO Grade 09

Salary Range: $69,478.00 - $87,764.00

Position Purpose

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Procurement, support all purchasing requests of goods and services for business units, in compliance with all relevant policies to support academic and research activities. Act as a resource person for members of the faculty or service regarding procurement processes. Responsible for the timely purchasing of goods and services of the business unit, up to $100K. Oversee cost effectiveness, quality, expenses eligibility, and compliance with policies and procedures. Facilitate all contracts and supplier relations management in collaboration with Finance and Procurement Services.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Administer and manage all the steps to approve requisitions and purchase orders up to $100K for their unit, validating the sourcing process, the financial information, the shipping, and payment terms, determining the best use of public funds. Make final recommendations on the vendor, pricing, conditions, warranties, deliveries in compliance with Policy 36 approval authority schedule and granting agencies rules and regulations.
• Control, analyze and approve derogations up to $100K for their unit to proactively ensure a fair, responsible, and transparent procurement process. Accountable to monitor, review and approve requests for transgressions up to $100K. Collaborate with Procurement and Finance as required to develop proactive processes to prevent deviations from the procurement process.
• Engage with clients to plan and understand business requirements. Develop, recommend and implement strategic procurement plans in collaboration with Supply Chain and Procurement sectors, offering consistent and optimal service level.
• Participate in the acquisition process for large projects involving planning, coordination, capital investments in collaboration with Procurement Services, Facilities and Financial Resources, as appropriate.
• Manage the logistics for the delivery of large equipment with the supplier and all other relevant parties such as directors, professors, or researchers, receiving and facilities sectors.
• Verify, reconcile, and approve supplier invoices in accordance with established policies and procedures. Follow up with purchasing irregularities, such as items or deliverables missing when products are received upon delivery, damaged merchandise, and incorrectly applied taxes.

What you will bring:

• Supply Chain Management Diploma, Certification, or minimum of three (3) years of demonstrated experience in a similar role.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in customer service.
• Knowledge of procurement principles and practices.
• Knowledge of University procurement policies and procedures, and of procurement legislation.
• Knowledge of tax and customs legislation and regulations.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to shifting priorities.
• Experience purchasing supplies and scientific equipment is an asset.
• Knowledge of rules and practices in the safe transportation and handling of dangerous goods is an asset.
• Knowledge of federal and provincial legislation on occupational health and safety, environmental protection, and the transportation of dangerous goods is an asset.
• Experience interpreting, explaining, and applying policies and regulations.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills.
• Experience using computer systems and software.
• Bilingualism – English and French (oral and written).

Key Competencies at uOttawa:
Here are the required competencies for all our employees at uOttawa:

Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.
Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever possible.
Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.
Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.

The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork, and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment, and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact [e-mail] to communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Note: if this is a union position: The hiring process will be governed by the current collective agreement related to the union affiliation noted above; you can click here to find out more.

If this is a front-line position with responsibilities to interact with students, selected candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.

About us

The University of Ottawa—A crossroads of cultures and ideas

The University of Ottawa is home to a dynamic community of over 50,000 students, faculty, and staff, who live, work, and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroad of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We believe in the power of representation, and that increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff supports this objective. Our goal is to provide students with the best possible learning experience, in an environment that reflects the diversity of its people, their ideas, and their identities.

We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. Our employees come together around the shared purpose of constant improvement, personal development, service excellence, teamwork, and a passion for learning with a desire to make uOttawa and the world a better place. Everyone's contributions are valued; we all play a part in making uOttawa a world-class institution. Most importantly, we make it possible for you to achieve your full potential. Because at uOttawa, you belong!

The University of Ottawa is a dynamic community of students, professionals, and academics pursuing great things. Our vision for the university of tomorrow is one that reflects the diversity of our people, their ideas, and their lived experiences. We believe in the power of representation and in increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff to support this objective.

We’re committed to an inclusive workplace that acknowledges and celebrates all voices, fosters personal and professional development, and challenges you to reach new heights.

Health and Wellness

Join a vibrant community that puts your health and wellness first. With mental health workshops, counselling resources, meetings on the move, and countless fitness resources, you'll have everything you need to find balance in your life. Programs and resources designed with you in mind.

Introduce yourself

Didn’t find a job but still interested in exploring a future career with us? Share your information with us so that we can keep you in mind!