Senior Procurement Specialist

Vaco Recruiter Services; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonuses

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Vaco Recruiter Services is seeking a procurement leader in the Greater Toronto Area to develop and execute procurement strategies across business units. The role focuses on delivering compliant, cost-effective supplier engagements while guiding teams through complex RFx processes.

You will lead annual procurement planning, mentor staff, and partner with senior management to optimize spend and risk. The position requires a five-year procurement track record in a regulated environment and strong

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Supply Chain Management, Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, or related discipline.
• Minimum of five years of progressive procurement experience within a public-sector or regulated procurement environment, or equivalent relevant experience in project management, including the development and drafting of RFx documents for complex information technology, professional, and consulting services.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with internal and external stakeholders, suppliers, and customers at all organizational levels.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with business partners while understanding mandate, priorities, and procurement plans.
• Provide strategic procurement expertise throughout the lifecycle, including risk guidance and compliance with policies and laws.
• Lead development, implementation, and execution of annual Procurement Plan and major initiatives.
• Negotiate terms, coordinate contract awards, and resolve contractual issues with suppliers.
• Educate partners on procurement policies, procedures, and sourcing strategies.
• Mentor and coach Procurement Specialists and Contract Coordinators.
• Support vendor relationship management, communications, and cost analysis.
• Prepare spending and financial reports and track budgets for operating needs.
• Maintain contracts, leases, renewals, and procurement metrics for reporting and improvement.

Skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Self-motivation

MS Office proficiency

Education

Post-secondary degree in Business Administration / related field

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

About the Opportunity

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with business partners while maintaining a thorough understanding of the mandate, strategic priorities, and short- and long-term plans as they relate to the procurement of goods and services. Collaborate with business partners to develop annual and long-term procurement strategies.
• Provide strategic procurement expertise, consultation, and advice throughout the procurement lifecycle, including:
  • Assess procurement requests from business areas and provide guidance to effectively identify and manage procurement-related risks.
  • Execute procurement requests on behalf of organizational stakeholders while ensuring all procurement activities comply with the ’s Procurement Policy, applicable legislation, trade agreements, and government directives.
  • Develop and draft procurement documentation, including RFx documents, evaluation criteria, response templates, evaluation guides, and related materials.
  • Lead business partners in defining procurement requirements, scopes, deliverables, and specifications, and provide ongoing guidance throughout the procurement process.
• Lead the development, implementation, and execution of the annual Procurement Plan.
• Lead complex, non-routine, high-profile, and other significant procurement initiatives, including facilitating evaluation processes, negotiating terms and conditions, coordinating contract awards, and investigating and resolving contractual issues with suppliers. Act as a second-level resource for the resolution of complex supplier and contractual matters.
• Educate business partners, including senior management, on procurement policies, procedures, and requirements. Provide ongoing guidance and direction on sourcing strategies, specification development, bid evaluation, contract management, bidder meetings, and other procurement-related activities.
• Mentor and coach Procurement Specialists and Contract Coordinators by providing guidance, supporting work prioritization, delivering training, and responding to operational and procurement-related inquiries.
• Assist the Manager with vendor relationship management and communications, including maintaining vendor contact information and analyzing supplier costs and expenditures.
• Support procurement research and analysis that informs the development of the annual corporate operating and expense budget.
• Prepare spending and financial reports, including analysis of historical actual expenditures against budget for various operating requirements.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date information related to leases, contracts, renewals, and other contractual commitments.
• Support the development, tracking, and reporting of key Procurement performance metrics and measures.
• Provide recommendations and contribute to the optimization and continuous improvement of procurement and contract management processes. Perform quality assurance and control activities as required.
• Support change management initiatives and promote the adoption and effective use of procurement processes, systems, and tools.

About You

• Post-secondary degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Supply Chain Management, Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of five years of progressive procurement experience within a public-sector or regulated procurement environment, or equivalent relevant experience in project management, including the development and drafting of RFx documents for complex information technology, professional, and consulting services.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with internal and external stakeholders, suppliers, and customers at all organizational levels.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and quality, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work within established deadlines.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and complex procurement activities.
• Self-motivated and results-oriented, with the ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Salary Range

$80,000.00 - $120,000.00 /year

• The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company’s 401(k) retirement plan.

This position for employment is for a current vacancy with Vaco/Highspring’s client. You must currently reside within the Greater Toronto Area and be permitted to work in Canada to be considered for this opportunity.