Senior Buyer

Cooke Aquaculture Inc.; Saint John; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Life and disability insurance

RRSP matching

Paid vacation and holidays

On-site parking

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Job summary

Cooke Aquaculture Inc. is seeking a Senior Buyer in Saint John, NB to lead strategic sourcing, supplier evaluations, and complex procurement activities for capital projects.

You will collaborate with Operations, Finance, Legal, and other leaders to ensure delivery on time and within budget. You will manage key supplier relationships, negotiate terms, and provide expediting support when needed, with occasional travel across Canada and the US.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related field required.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive procurement, sourcing, or contract management experience.
• Experience with capital asset procurement and supplier negotiations in technical environments.
• Knowledge of INCOTERMS, logistics, and supplier contracts.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives and supplier negotiations for capital projects.
• Manage supplier relationships and ensure compliance with contracts and schedules.
• Monitor market conditions and key cost drivers affecting supply.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier negotiations

RFI/RFP/RFQ processes

Stakeholder collaboration

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain or related

Tools

D365

Power BI

Excel

MS Office

Job description

Cooke is a global seafood company with operations in North America, Europe, South America and Australia. Our company’s success is driven by our dynamic, highly skilled, and innovative management team, supported by dedicated employees who live in coastal communities and contribute to the local area’s economy and sense of community.

The Role:

As a result of our robust growth, we are adding a Senior Buyer to our team of professionals. This position will report to the Senior Manager, Procurement and work directly with Operations, Corporate Services, Maintenance, Engineering, Processing, Farming, Finance, Legal, Real Estate/Assets, and other functional leaders across Cooke’s operations to provide procurement support for all assigned purchasing activities and reporting for the department.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier evaluations, commercial negotiations, and procurement support for capital projects, including the execution of purchase orders, contracts, and supplier deliverables..
• Manage critical supplier relationships and supplier performance to ensure compliance with contractual agreements, terms, conditions, schedules, quality, safety, deliverables, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement expectations.
• Monitor market conditions and maintain an understanding of cost drivers that affect our critical source of supply.
• Provide expediting support as needed to maintain operational goals.
• Lead RFI/RFP/RFQ processes, analyze supplier proposals, negotiate commercial terms and conditions, and support drafting, negotiation, and administration of commercial agreements in collaboration with Operations, Finance, Legal, and suppliers.
• Provide occasional after-hours and on-call procurement support for critical operational needs, emergency purchases, supply disruptions, and urgent business requirements.
• Support D365 implementation and use D365, Power BI, Excel, and other analytical tools for spend analysis, supplier evaluations, procurement reporting, supplier scorecards, and process improvement initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable Technical, Business, Supply Chain, or related area and a minimum of 5 years of progressive procurement, sourcing, supply chain, or contract or project management experience.
• Knowledge of technical purchasing/procurement processes and practices, and the ethics of the supplier/purchaser relationship.
• Experience with capital asset acquisition programs in a fast-paced, highly technical industry/environment, including supplier selection, equipment sourcing, commercial evaluations, and project implementation support.
• Clear understanding and experience working with INCOTERMS, international logistics, supplier contracts, and commercial risk management.
• Working knowledge with MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) is required.
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally within Canada, the United States, and other international locations as required for supplier visits, project implementation, factory acceptance testing (FAT), negotiations, audits, and operational initiatives.
• Experience in manufacturing, food processing, aquaculture, industrial operations, or related industries is considered an asset. Professional procurement certifications such as SCMP, CPSM, CPPB, CPM, or equivalent are also considered assets.
• Business thinking: Able to connect business needs with external capabilities.
• Organizational Leadership: Able to lead the organization and supply base to maximize results.
• Collaboration: Regarded as a constructive team player and have a strong sense of partnership behavior
• Analytical thinking: Disciplined and data oriented to gain competitive advantage.
• Strategic thinking: Able to think strategically and plan for the long term.
• Communication: Ability to communicate objectives clearly both in writing and orally
• Creative & Flexible: Able to evaluate opportunities and respond to changing requirements.
• Ability to work independently when needed, to make sound business decisions, and can accurately balance risks with business needs.
• Adaptability to work in developing environments.

Join our team and enjoy the benefits of full-time year-round employment with competitive rates and a comprehensive benefits package tailored to support your well-being and career growth.

Benefits Package:

• Health Benefits: Includes coverage for dental, vision, and extended medical care.
• Insurance: Life and disability insurance provided for financial security.
• Support Services: Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Financial Planning: Opportunity for RRSP matching to support your retirement savings.
• Time Off: Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave for work-life balance.
• Wellness: Wellness programs and access to on-site gym facilities (available in some locations).
• Career Development: Professional growth opportunities and avenues for advancement.
• Perks: Employee discounts on company products or services.
• Convenience: On-site parking or parking allowance.

If you're looking to join a supportive team environment with opportunities for personal and professional development,

The Why

Why Cooke? Simple - because we are a company that rewards initiative, resourcefulness, and work ethic. We will champion your growth and provide you with the platform to create your path, your career, and your future.