Purchasing Manager - Contract

The Opportunity:

In Procurement, we deliver solutions enabling Maple Leaf’s profitable growth. Our team embraces change to create insight-based value for our stakeholders, customers and suppliers. We are empowered to continuously improve everything we do.

As the Purchasing Manager, you will collaborate with stakeholders across the network, including product development, sustainability, technology, marketing, operations, food safety, legal, engineering, asset reliability and others, to create and implement strategic source plans and identify and implement new value-add initiatives. You will provide procurement leadership, support and expertise in the areas of people leadership, supplier development selection and issue resolution, category management, negotiations and contract development, demand management and issuance for company-wide sourcing initiatives. You will be part of the Maple Leaf Foods Direct Procurement team which manages significant spend in excess of $400 Million in annual expenditures across a variety of categories in a fast pace and inspiring environment. The team is focused on maximizing value, lowering organizational risk, and providing excellent stakeholder support. This is an exciting opportunity to join our dynamic and evolving team as we expand sourcing support to increase company spend under management and deliver a value-driven, results-oriented service to our internal and external stakeholders. The Procurement team uses industry leading sourcing processes and mature e-procurement tools to deliver significant value for the company. The successful candidate can expect to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment with immediate opportunities to lead challenging procurement initiatives.

Any MLF team member interested in being considered for this role are encouraged to apply online by May 06. Applications received beyond that date are not guaranteed consideration.

Snapshot of a Day-in-the-Life:

Sourcing and Category Management

• Leads, collaborates and supports internal and external stakeholders to develop, implement and measure the success of strategic plans to achieve Maple Leaf Foods Organizational and Functional objectives.
• Lead and support the Procurement Operations team responsible for creating and maintaining SAP supply contracts, ensuring accurate material coverage and alignment with supplier capabilities. Oversee the day-to-day tactical execution including new material setups, quote requests, and issue resolution related to contract and order management and expediting.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams to support the management of day-to-day activities within the scope of Procurement Operations. This will extend to working in partnership with Commercial and Plant teams to facilitate new product launches, minimize risks and ensure new launch critical timelines are met and working closely with the Procurement sourcing team on the execution of cost savings projects.
• Ensuring the team is meeting service level expectations on quotes with suppliers, having new materials correctly set-up for ordering and extended to all relevant locations, and ensure that Suppliers are meeting expectations to enable business continuity.
• Delivers market leading cost savings and continuous improvement contributions to Maple Leaf Foods.
• Evaluates, develops and implements plans to ensure a smooth flow of materials to support production and customer demand.
• Leverages market intelligence, trends and internal or external conditions to proactively seize on opportunities, driving alignment between supplier innovation and Maple Leaf needs.
• Coordinates with legal and business stakeholders to develop and negotiate key contract terms.
• Liaises with suppliers to set targets, manage performance, negotiate to gain new opportunities, discover new solutions and factually resolve disputes so that all parties are clear with and accept the outcomes.
• Manages the contract renewal process for assigned categories including making management and stakeholder recommendations.
• Solicits feedback from diverse perspectives to identify and initiate process improvements, cost saving opportunities and value add supplier programs, capably leading teams though any changes, managing resistance, motivating, recognizing and rewarding efforts and success.

Business Support and Commercial Projects

• Forges partnerships with other functional and business areas to drive commercial and project priorities across the organization.
• Provide direction to stakeholders on supplier capabilities and costing in support of improvement projects to reduce cost or increase operational efficiencies.
• Works across multi-disciplinary teams within Maple Leaf Foods and with our extended supply base to our innovation agenda.
• Manages timelines and deliveries of packaging and ingredients to ensure the successful production of products.

Leadership and Development

• Responsible for hiring, leading and developing the direct materials supply specialist team.
• Pursues relevant learning and development opportunities for on-going skills improvement for self and for team.
• Leads formal intra-company knowledge sharing activities and proactively identifies when and where insight and learning should be replicated within MLF, creating avenues to do so.
• Collaborates on direction setting, performance management and strategy with Procurement Governance supporting team members enabling overall vision for team.
• Coaches, motivates and develops a diverse team by soliciting and offering feedback to help individuals work most effectively together, focusing on business context, demonstrating sound business ethics and modeling strong drive and commitment to plan and to quality.

What You’ll Bring:

• Post-secondary education, preferably in Business (specialization in Engineering, Supply Chain and/or MBA is an asset).
• 5+ years of Procurement and Supply Chain Management experience, with practice in sourcing across multiple categories.
• Understanding of end-to-end Supply Chain Management.
• Proven ability to lead (either direct or indirect people leadership), influence and gain followership.
• Superior Negotiation Skills.
• Project management, facilitation/training, and change management skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in market analysis, contract development and negotiation.
• Excellent ability to perform insightful analysis.
• High level of energy and urgency.
• Superb interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational skills with an ability to prioritize multiple projects and tasks.
• Proven ability to work effectively with all levels and develop positive working relationships and stakeholder management.
• Highly consistent demonstration of Maple Leaf Foods Leadership Values.
• Strong user of Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Experience working in an SAP environment.

What We Offer at Maple Leaf Foods:

• Being part of a high-performance, people-focused company that has an inspiring and unique vision to become the most sustainable protein company on earth, and a deep commitment to sustainable protein across North America.
• An inclusive company culture and a work environment that keeps our people safe, rewards excellence, and empowers everyone to learn and contribute their best.
• A hybrid work model that embraces remote work for eligible roles, helping team members achieve work-life balance—combining the best of both spending time working remotely, benefitting from focus time, and purposeful collaboration in the office setting.
• Competitive Health and Wellness benefits that offer flexibility to meet your individual or family needs, including programs focused on improving mental health and wellbeing. These benefits start on your first day of employment.

About Us:

We’re a carbon neutral food company on a purposeful journey to Raise the Good in Food through better nutrition, safer food and workplaces, more humane animal care, and environmental sustainability efforts that protect our planet. We care about our communities and commit to reducing food insecurity in Canada. Join us on the journey. Let’s build a better future, together.

We’re passionate about food. For more than 100 years, we’ve made delicious, healthy protein that Canadians love under iconic national and regional brands, like Maple Leaf, Schneiders, and Greenfield Natural Meat Co. We’re on a journey to become the most sustainable protein company – not just in Canada – but on earth.

• We are carbon neutral.
• We are one of the only food companies in Canada to set science-based targets.

A diverse and inclusive work environment

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision and living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values. We believe in building, investing in, recognizing, and rewarding remarkable people who value an inclusive workplace, embrace all forms of diversity, and commit to including every voice in our collaborative environment. We’re so much stronger when we know we’re accepted and valued for who we are and what we each bring to the workplace.

We embrace a strong, values-based culture

Our eight Leadership Values are our north star. They guide the decisions we make for all our stakeholders: our consumers, our customers, our people, our communities, our shareholders, and the environment.

• Doing What’s Right
• Shared Value
• High Performance
• Diverse and Inclusive Teams
• Disciplined Decision Making
• Our Accountability
• Intense Curiosity
• Transparency and Humility

We thank all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with Maple Leaf Foods; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may be subject to a background check and must meet the security criteria designated for the position.

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision, living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values, and delivering winning results. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired; please contact our Talent Attraction Team at accommodations@mapleleaf.com.

Disclaimer: Please note that salaries posted on sites other than the MLF Careers Page are not a reflection of Maple Leaf Foods and are an estimated salary range provided by that particular job board. Maple Leaf Foods offers competitive wages and an attractive total rewards package, which will be discussed during an interview with our Talent Team.

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