Director Purchasing

Summary Description Of The Position

Plan, direct and control the purchasing management activities so as to ensure that the organization has the goods and services it needs to carry on its activities, in the right place and at the required time, that the acquisition process is open, equitable, transparent, flexible and rigorous, that it conforms to ethical standards, legislation and regulations, and that the quality-price ratio is optimized, all within the concept of sound management of public funds. Also ensure that the Purchasing Department can keep pace with the organization, within the context of the organization’s strategic orientations and the best practices applicable in the field.

The key responsibilities for this position will include:

Purchasing policy

• Ensure compliance with the purchasing policy.
• Propose changes to this policy so that it meets the organization’s changing needs and conforms to best practices.
  
  

Supervision and coordination of purchasing, partnership agreements and contract management:

• Continue reengineering of the purchasing process.
• Ensure the establishment and use of contact documentation in order to protect the Authority’s interests in acquisition of goods and services.
• Prepare and sign the official contracts, when required.
• Ensure compliance with the deadlines of the purchasing and service contracts and updating of the records.
• Intervene with suppliers in cases of non-fulfillment of their contractual obligations with a view to resolving conflict situations.
  
  

Estimating:

• Upgrade the estimating function according to the organization’s evolving needs;
• Ensure selection and implementation of an estimating system.
• Establish an estimating procedure to be integrated into the purchasing and project management process.
  
  

Internal and external relations:

• Ensure that the internal customers’ needs are satisfied in terms of purchasing of goods and services.
• Work closely with the managers with the aim of analyzing the needs, constraints and opportunities and proposing innovative solutions in terms of purchasing and estimating.
• Maintain regular contact with the Authority’s suppliers and users.
• Plan and participate in the pre-award meetings for goods and services acquisition contracts.
  
  

Administration specific to the purchasing function:

• Draft and implement the internal procedures and policies specific to procurement and disposition of the Authority’s surpluses, and measure their application.
• Interpret and enforce these procedures and policies and delegation of authority.
• Prepare the documentation necessary for approval of contract awards by senior management, and more specifically by the President and Chief Executive Officer.
• Check and approve the purchase orders.
• Develop a long term purchasing management strategy.
• Keep informed of the strategic orientations of the leading suppliers.
• Monitor the purchasing field and establish the industry’s best processes and practices.
• Ensure optimum utilization of human and technological resources.
• Take advantage of the Authority’s purchasing power, particularly by combining the needs with a view to achieving economies of scale and reducing administration costs.
• Manage the relationships with the key suppliers, particularly by participating in or supervising the negotiations, evaluating their performance and verifying that they honour their agreements.
• Under the policies in force and the existing legislation, negotiate any agreement with the suppliers of goods and services in order to obtain the most advantageous offers for the organization.
• Offer advice, support and encourage recourse to practices that seek to ensure the equitable, open and transparent character of the purchasing process at a reduced cost.
• Ensure flexible and rigorous management of purchasing activities.
• Account for purchasing activities.
  
  

Purchasing information system:

• Collaborate in the establishment and conceptual and functional maintenance of the purchasing information system.
• Ensure training of the internal users with a view to use of the system by the other sectors.
  
  

Management of the Authority’s surpluses:

• Draft, implement and upgrade the Authority’s internal surplus management procedures.
• Enforce these procedures.
  
  

Management of the Department:

• Establish the purchasing objectives according to the Vice-Presidency’s objectives.
• Plan, prioritize and coordinate the activities according to the established objectives.
• Control and monitor these activities, particularly according to the established budget.
• Involve its employees as partners in the achievement of the objectives.
• Develop a positive work climate.
• See to the health, safety and wellness of its employees on the job.
• Prioritize and evaluate individual and team performance.
• Identify and ensure the progress of talent.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, law or engineering or any other related fields and certificate in purchasing and at least ten (10) years’ experience in management of a purchasing department;
• Solid competencies in purchasing management, supported by vast business experience, particularly concerning the rules for requests for proposals in a public and parapublic environment and a solid knowledge of the industry’s strategic orientations;
• Confirmed capacity to ensure leadership and give directions concerning the development, implementation and evolution of strategies, processes and systems;
• Show great creativity in the implementation of key purchasing management practices and new initiatives with or between internal and external customers;
• Be able to challenge conventional wisdom, be open-minded and innovative and have confidence in his/her ability to overcome obstacles;
• Have a great capacity for work, great professional probity and a willingness to take initiatives;
• Have sound judgment regarding issues and individuals;
• Good presence combined with solid communication skills;
• Above-average interpersonal skills: tact, diplomacy and persuasiveness necessary to deal with internal management and representatives of external organizations;
• Excellent skills in oral and written communication and negotiation, in French and English, and ability to represent the Authority in externally organized meetings and events;
• Developed leadership skills and ability to work effectively with management at every level;
• Ability to establish internal and external relationships, and to motivate and persuade the suppliers in the negotiation of contracts and agreements.
  
  

If you are interested in this position, send your application to:

Maude Campagna

Director, Talents & Culture

[email protected]

We thank the candidates for their interest. However, we will only contact those selected for an interview.