Category Specialist

This position requires in-person collaboration up to five days a week. This arrangement is subject to change based on business requirements.

Since our story took off in 1996, West Jet has strived to enrich the lives of everyone in our world; a career with us is no exception. We’re proud to be one of Canada’s most admired and respected corporate cultures and continuously aim for the highest standards of service and success.

The ideal candidate will bring procurement experience as it relates to strategic sourcing, negotiations, contracting, category management and vendor relationship management. The successful candidate will be responsible for independently managing category areas, supplier performance management, cost savings, ensuring adherence to policies and processes, relationship development and providing business unit support.

• Conduct strategic sourcing activities (scoping, spend analysis, market research, leading RFx events, and negotiating and contracting including the completion of contracts/service level agreements)
• Act as a Subject Matter Lead in assigned category areas such as Information Technology, Contingent Workforce, including guiding internal stakeholders on the development of solid business requirements and scopes of work, including documentation of specific deliverables and acceptance criteria
• Lead pricing and contract negotiations (including contract drafting for master service agreements, product/service agreements, service level agreements and amendments)
• Establish, maintain and foster internal customer relationships: collaborate category and supplier strategies, ensure organizational requirements are being met and facilitate resolution of vendor issues
• Work collaboratively with business units to identify additional areas of opportunity for cost improvement, supplier optimization, spend consolidation, contract renegotiation and strategic sourcing initiatives through research and data analysis (e.g. supplier/market intelligence, industry trends, best practices)
• Consult with Legal, Finance, Insurance and other internal partners, to ensure the mitigation of risk to West Jet through solid contractual terms and conditions, and identify/communicate potential impacts where risk is contemplated
• Foster partnerships and conduct business reviews with key suppliers to create differentiation and accountability for ongoing improvements and value‑add in quality and delivery of services, support of Strategic Procurement governance and adherence to performance requirements
• Effectively use available procurement tools and systems to manage RFx initiatives (including e‑Sourcing and reverse auctions), drive accuracy of reporting and perform end‑to‑end contract lifecycle management (including contract administration and maintenance)
• Support the timely and accurate reporting of Procurement Key Performance Indicators e.g. cost improvement, spend under management, contract cycle times, etc.
• Participate in the implementation of best practices, continuous improvement processes and the generation of cost improvement opportunities
• Responsible for the communication and clarification of standard procurement processes and providing status reports and updates to business unit stakeholders, suppliers and Procurement leadership, as required
• Ensure compliance to all regulatory, procurement and corporate policies and procedures
• Other Procurement‑related administrative and functional duties as required

• Recognized Diploma at a College/Technical School, Business degree or equivalent
• SCMP designation or equivalent desirable
• Three (3) years strategic procurement and contract management experience or six (6) years relevant business experience
• Understanding of procurement, supply chain levers and category management as it pertains to the sourcing, negotiation and contracting of assigned categories
• Knowledge of negotiation and contracting knowledge, including contract law, reviewing/writing contracts and developing service level agreements
• Knowledge of e‑Sourcing and spend analysis programs an asset
• Solid interpersonal, change management, organizational and…