Reporting to the Manager of Procurement, the Strategic Procurement Consultant is responsible for strategic sourcing and cost reduction to drive value and efficiency across the procurement functions. The Strategic Procurement Consultant is responsible for developing and implementing procurement strategies, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring cost-effective procurement processes. This position has the critical responsibility of leading the development, implementation and direction of the 5 - 10 year procurement department strategic plan. This position will also be responsible for supporting the 30-year business plan to guide the long-term strategic direction of our procurement activities. This position requires strong analytical skills, excellent negotiation abilities, and a thorough understanding of market dynamics.
Deadline: May 27, 2025
Strategic Planning
- Develop and implement comprehensive procurement strategies aligned with the Halifax Water's long-term goals.
- Support Halifax Water's 30-year Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), ensuring alignment with overall corporate strategy and objectives.
- Develop and implement the 5 - 10 year procurement department strategic plan.
- Conduct market analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and risks in the procurement landscape.
Strategic Sourcing
- Lead and/or participate in project teams and working groups with senior management and technical specialists on highly complex and strategic procurements to determine procurement strategies that meet user department requirements. Identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements through strategic sourcing initiatives.
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure quality, reliability, and competitiveness.
- Develop and maintain supply chain mapping for critical goods and services identified by user departments.
Contract and Supplier Performance Management
- Negotiate terms and conditions with suppliers to secure the best possible agreements in terms of cost, quality, and delivery.
- Provide contract management, ensuring the contract agreements with vendors are properly executed and accurate records are maintained.
- Ensure the contract agreements are managed efficiently and effectively, minimizing risks and maximizing value.
- Provide contract compliance monitoring ensuring both parties adhere to the terms and conditions of the contract.
- Develop and lead the Supplier Performance Management protocol, ensuring that suppliers meet the obligations of the agreement and the organization's standards and expectations.
Risk Management
- Identify and analyze potential risks associated with contract agreements, supply chain and develop strategies to mitigate these risks and ensure continuity and resilience.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant policies, legislation, trade agreements, regulations and standards.
- Conduct regular audits of procurement processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness and provide feedback, training and performance management of the Procurement staff.
- Procurement Analysis and Reporting
- Analyze procurement data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement.
- Prepare and present detailed reports on procurement performance, highlighting key metrics and achievements.
- Provide input to the Manager of Procurement to determine and update KPIs to reflect departmental and organizational strategic objectives.
- Recommend and implement Procurement SLA's and process improvements based on data-driven insights.
Innovation and Improvement
- Foster a culture of innovation.
- Stay updated on industry trends and emerging technologies in procurement.
- Recommend and implement innovative solutions to improve procurement processes.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance procurement efficiency and effectiveness and performance of Procurement staff.
Training and Leadership
- Develop and lead change management and training strategies within the procurement team and business units that result in the effective execution of HW's strategic procurement vision and roadmap.
- Provide guidance, mentorship and performance support to procurement officers and team.
- Foster a collaborative and high-performance team environment.
- Develop and conduct training sessions on procurement best practices and new technologies, stakeholder training and general required training for all procurement team members.
- Ensures follow-up and success metrics are in place to determine the effectiveness of training programs.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Education:
- Post-secondary degree in Commerce, Business Administration, or related field.
- Recognized purchasing designation/accreditation such as Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) or Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP). Other relevant equivalent certifications may be accepted.
Experience:
- A minimum of 5 years of related progressive experience in procurement or supply chain management, or a related area with a proven track record of success in leading strategic sourcing and supplier management.
- Proven experience in strategic planning and long-term business plan development.Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
- Experience using automated sourcing solutions and/or ERP to procurement processes.
- Experience in the public sector or related industry is preferred. An equivalent combination of education and related experience may be considered.