Description
Being part of Air Canada is to become part of an iconic Canadian symbol, recently ranked the best Airline in North America. Let your career take flight by joining our diverse and vibrant team at the leading edge of passenger aviation.
Air Canada, recognized as one of Montreal’s top employers and also proudly ranked as one of Canada’s top diversity employers, is seeking a Lead Strategic Procurement Manager (IT), who will be based at our Montreal Headquarters.
Strategic Procurement (SP) is comprised of several Category Management teams and a Knowledge Management (KM) team. The successful candidate will play a key role as a category manager for Information Technology (IT). Given the cross-functional nature of IT procurement at Air Canada, this opportunity will provide interaction with key stakeholders in many parts of the organization.
This role requires someone who will be a key contributor to important sourcing projects for Air Canada. The successful candidate will apply a passion for leadership and collaboration in order to obtain the best value for the airline and to develop mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers.
Responsibilities
The Lead Strategic Procurement Manager (IT) will acquire essential IT services, systems, and infrastructure.
In this role, responsibilities will include activities such as partnering with the manager overseeing a specific IT procurement category as well as the internal business units and the IT department in order to establish sourcing strategies, seek proposals from suppliers, conduct commercial and contractual negotiations, and contribute to the overall improvement of procurement practices at Air Canada.
In greater detail, key areas of responsibility include the following:
- Support and lead the establishment of IT category management strategies
- Lead a subset of the assigned category with full category management tasks and accountability (spend report, supplier analysis, expiring contracts, etc.)
- Develop and maintain an understanding of emerging industry and supply market trends to strengthen Air Canada’s negotiating positions
- Analyse and monitor category spend in order to uncover strategic sourcing and potential supplier consolidation opportunities
- Participates to strategy calls with the internal customers and picks up on sourcing opportunities, provides strategies for existing projects, etc.
- Work with the KM team to conduct research and analysis
- Stay abreast of the Air Canada IT strategy through collaboration with the IT department and other business units
- Provide functional direction over peers
- Leading trainings for onboarding of all new employees.
- Leveraging Procurement experience to coach peers less familiar with sourcing process.
- Being a point of reference for peers when coaching or guidance is necessary.
- Coordinate and manage procurement events
- Conduct supply market research and baseline spend analysis
- Work independently with cross functional teams to determine business requirements and establish sourcing strategies
- Interact/interface directly with Senior Management level customers without supervision
- Prepare and issue RFPs, evaluate responses and conduct negotiations
- Manage medium to complex sourcing activities and contract negotiations
- Negotiate and coordinate the execution of contracts
- Ensure that Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) is in place at the conclusion of an event
- Lead large and complex projects that involve operationally critical solutions, long term agreements, large spend, Personal Identifiable Information (PII)
- Contribute to the improvement of internal procurement practices
- Lead initiatives in the establishment of best-in-class procurement methods
- Devise models to evaluate supplier proposals using quantitative and qualitative criteria
- Provide input for the development of standard templates and reusable methods of clear communication
- Act as an ambassador for Strategic Procurement and Air Canada
- Further develop SP relationships with internal customers
- Effectively communicate and promote the successes of SP
- Actively engage in learning Air Canada’s business processes
- Continually seek areas for improvement
Qualifications
Minimum 5+ years of experience in Procurement leading sourcing activities, category management, or equivalent experience. In addition to a University degree in a relevant field of study (commerce, law, information technology, engineering), the successful candidate will demonstrate excellent analytical, communication, negotiation, and project management skills plus the ability to multi-task, work under pressure, and accommodate changing priorities. A strong entrepreneurial spirit and desire to learn will also be essential. Strong organizational skills are essential and an MBA or procurement designation is desirable.
Due to the confidential nature of the work, a high degree of professionalism and discretion is required. Flexibility with work hours and occasional travel may also be necessary.
Conditions of Employment:
- Candidates must be eligible to work in the country of interest, at the time any offer of employment is made and seeking any required work permits/visas or other authorizations which may be required is the sole responsibility of the candidates applying for this position.
Linguistic Requirements
Based on equal qualifications, preference will be given to bilingual candidates.
Diversity and Inclusion
Air Canada is strongly committed to Diversity and Inclusion and aims to create a healthy, accessible and rewarding work environment which highlights employees’ unique contributions to our company’s success.
As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all to help us build a diverse workforce which reflects the diversity of our customers, and communities, in which we live and serve.
Air Canada thanks all candidates for their interest; however only those selected to continue in the process will be contacted.