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Job Requisition ID:

2025-00692

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Group:

Staff

Job Category:

Financial Planning and Reporting

Employment Type:

Permanent

Department:

Finance

Hiring Range:

$120,527.28 - $150,659.10

Posting Information:

Internal posting closes Thursday October 23rd at 11:59AM.

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

The Director, Strategic Procurement is responsible for developing and implementing University-wide procurement strategies, managing complex sourcing projects and overseeing the procurement process to ensure value and efficiency. This role adds meaningful value to the University by identifying and delivering cost savings, enhancing process efficiency with technology, and mitigating third-party risk.

The role oversees service and quality assurance, with responsibility for developing, implementing, monitoring and addressing performance metrics for Procurement operations. Key responsibilities also include supplier relationship management and addressing evolving regulatory and reporting requirements.

The role works closely with the senior management team in Finance (Finance Senior Team) to ensure that Finance functions are well integrated. As a member of the Finance Senior Team, the role has responsibility for Finance business operations, administrative infrastructure, and the advancement of Finance and University strategic initiatives.

Key Accountabilities

Provides executive leadership and support across the Finance portfolio including strategic planning and resource allocation

• As a member of the Finance Senior team, is responsible for developing and implementing the strategic direction of Finance

• In collaboration with the Finance Senior team, aligns priorities and resources (short-term and long-term) and contributes to multi-year planning of Finance projects and advancement of University-level projects and strategic initiatives

• Works closely with the Finance Senior team to ensure that Finance functions are well-integrated, with a focus on the end-to-end procure-to-pay cycle

• Provides expert financial analysis and recommendations to University senior management on business decisions related to general Finance, financial controls, and the strategic, reasonable and efficient use of University resources, based on a strong understanding of the University’s diverse business activities

Provides oversight, support and direction for the strategy and operations of the Procurement team)

• Oversees appropriate procurement strategies and efficient business processes, adding value through cost savings and risk mitigation

• Determines and applies relevant KPI’s to monitor and improve operations

• Leads the team to be professional, responsive, effective and efficient

· Effectively manages relationships with business functions and key stakeholders, leading two-way communication and collaboration

• Leads complex sourcing projects, ensuring the best value and supplier selection for the university.

• Provides high level, expert negotiation and dispute resolution skills

• Supports contract administration activities and acts as a contract signing authority within an established framework

• Supports supplier consolidation, rationalization and collaborative procurement as appropriate

• Focuses team time on highest value-add activities

Provides forward-thinking and strategic supply chain direction

• Updates procurement strategies based on changing market conditions

• Develops, implements and maintains a supplier relationship and evaluation process to measure effective supplier performance and compliance

• Maintains strong working relationships with strategic suppliers to enable meeting cost, quality, and delivery targets

• Progresses work to digitalize and automate processes through leveraging the P2P technology solution to create capacity while improving efficiency, quality and controls

• Provides best practice service delivery and actionable business insights through data and analytics

• Identifies, interprets, and reports trends in KPI’s and recommends analytical or operational changes to maximize financial and operational effectiveness and efficiency

• Provides direction and functional expertise for the relevant modules within the financial systems

• Undertakes strategic planning to establish core outcomes and to develop timetables for various projects

• Supports University risk management within Procurement processes

• Leveraging technology, develops processes for and manages the collection and categorization of spend data to deliver consistent and reliable analysis to inform Procurement strategies

• Liaises with senior management and stakeholders across the organization to provide strategic advice and support

Ensures compliance with University policies and guidelines and external legislation and requirements related to Procurement activities

• Ensures the acquisition of goods and services in a professional, ethical, efficient and transparent manner

• Maintains process integrity and internal controls

• Execution and management of contracts that fall under Procurement responsibility

• Adherence to the external regulatory framework, including but not limited to the Broader Public Sector Procurement Directive, International trade agreements, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), safety regulations, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA), and the Building Ontario Businesses Initiative Act (BOBIA) etc.

• Ensures support of internal procedures, including but not limited to research compliance, signing authority requirements, asset protection, insurance requirements, acquisition of hazardous substances and controlled goods, etc.

· Advises senior management and stakeholders across the organization on appropriate protocols and requirements

· Sets relevant guidelines and thresholds, oversees and ensures policy compliance

Provides leadership and direction to team members

• Works to enable an engaged, dedicated and high performance team

• Manages the hiring and performance of team members

• Provides team members with direction and support

• Performs ongoing review and annual performance appraisal of team members

• Promotes opportunities for training and professional development through goal setting and support

• Ensures appropriate cross-training is in place for all critical functions

• Contributes to a work environment that fosters, recognizes, and rewards supportive mentorship, professional quality, respectful communication, continuous improvement, and positive energy

• Works with the teams to promote consistency of services across team members

Additional responsibilities

• As required, serves on or acts as a resource to University-level committees and working groups

• Collaborates effectively with other functions to achieve University objectives

• Resolves complex operational issues

• Represents the University in organizations in the University administrative community such as OUPPMA (Ontario University Professional Procurement Management Association)

• Leads financial and administrative special projects

Required Qualifications

Education

• Undergraduate degree related to Business, Commerce and/or Supply Chain Operations

• A professional procurement designation is an asset

• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation (Canada) is an asset

Experience

• A minimum of 8 years of senior Procurement experience in complex environments

• A minimum of 5 years of experience managing people; experience managing a minimum of 5 – 10 employees is preferred

• Extensive experience in strategic sourcing, contracting, supplier program management, and internal controls

• Substantial experience with a significant financial system/ERP system and/or P2P technology solutions

· Exposure to a not-for-profit or public sector environment is an asset

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals at all levels in the organization

• Strong analytical, technical and problem-solving skills

• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects within established deadlines

• Conceptual thinker with strategic planning skills and initiative

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including verbal, listening, written and presentation skills

• High degree of discretion, judgement, sensitivity, tact and diplomacy

• Works independently with a strong work ethic

• Exceptional attention to detail and time management skills

• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring skills

• Expertise and ability to provide advisory services

• Strong relationship building skills

• Demonstrated ability to work in cross functional teams

• Ability to plan and lead discussions

• Team player who works collaboratively with colleagues

• Strong computer skills including advanced MS Excel

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.