Senior Procurement Specialist

Description:

The Senior Procurement Specialist, Information Technology is responsible for the development and implementation of the procurement strategy for large complex corporate programs and complex multi-category Information and Technology (I&T) and Operational Technology (OT) projects. The role effectively handles the entire sourcing and contractual lifecycle from strategizing to drafting. Furthermore, the role prepares, reviews and negotiates various technologies commercial and contractual agreements in line with the CN Procurement Policy and standard terms and conditions. The Senior Procurement Specialist will also monitor the delivery of key contracts, capture of financial savings through negotiation of contract terms, conditions and monitoring of supplier performance .   Main Responsibilities   Contract Negotiations  

 Lead negotiations of complex contracts with a multitude of vendors for CN corporate strategic programs and operational technology projects
 Drive all activities leading to contract execution including drafting and redlining contracts as well as liaise with the suppliers, internal stakeholders and CN Legal
 Negotiate specific elements such as data ownership, derivative data, and intellectual property rights and ownership
 Negotiate Master Terms and Conditions with new suppliers (commercial and legal clauses)
 Negotiate cloud-based solution agreements and Software as a Service agreements
 Negotiate risk-sharing and benefit-sharing types of commercial frameworks
 Ensure contractual protections are put in place to protect CN’s interests and mitigate project risks
 Identify and negotiate commercial cost reduction opportunities based on a solid understanding of cost drivers and contracts
 Act as a single point of contact with the business units for gathering, understanding, and translating business requirements into contracts
 Ensure clear and frequent communication between peers and other departments ensuring updates on status and action plans to achieve requirements within project timing and constraints

 Sourcing 

 Propose and execute procurement strategy and sourcing efforts to secure the most optimal solution that supports the business while minimizing total cost of ownership
 Develop strong collaborative relationships with key stakeholders across the company to strategically handle spend and the supply base for the assigned categories
 Act as a procurement Subject Matter Expert (SME) in consulting with the business on procurement strategies, processes, policies, and best practices
 Resolve and handle risks to supply proactively and take preventative actions to mitigate risks
 Perform market analysis and provide business appropriate recommendations for category spend based on this analysis
 Ensure compliance with CN Procurement Policy and Delegation of Authority
 Complete sourcing processes comprised of initial exploratory sessions and discovery sessions for defining complex technology requirements

 Contract Lifecycle Management 

 Handle the contract management lifecycle process and day-to-day contract administration
 Use tools effectively in processes and methodologies linked to contract management
 Act as the SME for any contract-related matters pertaining to the assigned vendors
 Identify and report key performance metrics to measure success and drive continuous improvement of suppliers
 Lead complex governance frameworks with our internal stakeholders and suppliers on critical, large-scale, and complex technology projects

 Working Conditions 

The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday. Due to the nature of the role, the incumbent must be able to meet tight deadlines, handle pressure, and stress.

Requirements Experience

Contracts

 Minimum 4-5 years relevant work experience
 Experience in planning, sourcing, negotiating, contracting, and supplier management
 Experience in drafting and negotiating technology contracts for major projects including hardware, software licensing and professional services
 Experience or background in I&T or OT*
Any experience for these above would be considered as an asset

 Education/Certification/Designation 

 Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Information Technology, Law, a related field, or equivalent work experience

 Competencies 

 Demonstrates agility and drives change
 Knows the business and stays current on industry needs
 Collaborates with others and shares information
 Sets direction and inspires others
 Communicates with impact
 Demonstrates active listening
 Identifies needs and finds solutions to create value for all stakeholders
 Identifies potential safety and security risks
 Applies critical thinking

 Technical Skills/Knowledge 

 Proficient in Microsoft Office
 Strong understanding of legal frameworks and concepts
 Fluently bilingual, both written and verbal (English, French)
 * Exposure to I&T, software development and open-source industry*
Any knowledge for any of the above would be considered as an asset