About Us
The Ontario Cannabis Store provides safe, responsible access to recreational cannabis for adults 19 and older. We operate the sole legal online store for recreational cannabis in Ontario and are the provincial wholesaler of cannabis for private retail stores.

Working at the OCS is a unique opportunity to be part of an agile start-up in a ground-breaking new industry. We’re a diverse team passionate about delivering a great customer experience, working together with mutual respect and building value out of our differences. We’re an inclusive organization that understands that delivering great results comes out of ensuring every voice is heard.

About the Role
We are seeking a Procurement Category Lead to join our team. In this role, you will lead and manage the full procurement lifecycle for projects of varying sizes, typically focusing on medium to large initiatives that are high in cost, complexity, innovation, and risk.

Acting as a trusted advisor, you will build strong client relationships and leverage your expertise to develop and execute strategic sourcing strategies. You will work with senior leadership, manage cross-functional procurement projects, and represent the organization in collaborative initiatives.

As a strategic leader, you will drive innovative solutions while ensuring compliance with policies, directives, and legislation. Additionally, you may mentor team members, lead enterprise-level programs, and champion continuous improvement within the Strategic Procurement function.

About Your Day

Lead the end-to-end procurement process for high-value and complex projects, ensuring compliance with OCS procurement policies, public procurement laws, and regulations.
Responsible for planning, market research, developing RFx documents, selecting vendors, and negotiating contracts.
Build and manage procurement strategies tailored to specific project needs, guiding internal stakeholders through planning, execution, and evaluation stages.
Analyze data, propose options, and align projects with OCS objectives for optimal quality and value outcomes.
Develop strong partnerships with internal business leaders to ensure procurement goals meet broader business objectives, facilitating project kick-offs and leading training sessions to build organizational procurement capabilities.
Prepare and manage complex RFx documents, overseeing vendor selection and ensuring evaluation criteria are transparent and fair.
Manage contract negotiations to secure terms aligned with OCS’s needs.
Monitor vendor performance by managing contracts and service level agreements (SLAs), working with the Enterprise Vendor Relationship Management team to drive continuous improvements in vendor relationships.
Conduct ongoing market research to identify potential vendors, new technologies, and innovative solutions to enhance OCS’s service delivery.
Drive continuous process improvements to ensure procurement practices remain cost-effective and efficient while meeting the evolving needs of the business.
Manage multiple RFx processes for enterprise-wide projects, addressing project dependencies, ensuring timely delivery, and maintaining strong vendor relationships.
Promote compliance and transparency throughout the procurement lifecycle, ensuring adherence to OCS standards and policies at all levels.

About You

Post-Secondary education in business/commerce or related field, and/or supporting courses in business/commerce, finance, procurement, supply chain, or other related areas, or a relevant combination of education and experience.
3-4 years in a strategic sourcing and/or vendor management role
Knowledge of strategic sourcing and advanced procurement and strategic sourcing concepts
Public sector procurement knowledge and experience including appropriate provincial and federal requirements is preferred
Sound knowledge of or certification in procurement / Supply Chain Management including, but not limited to: SCMAO, CPPB, CPPO, PSPP or equivalent is an asset
Intermediate MS Office skills
Conflict resolution, negotiation, facilitation, problem solving, and interpersonal skills
Proficient in the use of applicable software including Microsoft Suite of programs, collaboration tools (SharePoint), electronic bidding systems (Merx, Biddingo Bids & Tenders, Jaggear, and others), B2B applications, ERP programs such as D365, Oracle, SAP and others is an asset
Experience with ServiceNow or other Procurement/Contract Management software is preferred
Expert level knowledge of Procurement and Strategic Sourcing processes within a public sector environment, including innovation and value-based procurement initiatives is an asset

About the Job

This position currently offers a hybrid work schedule. The current in office requirement is a minimum of 3 days/week (may be more depending on business needs). The OCS office is located near York Mills and Yonge Street. However, OCS reserves the right to change this policy and its office location at any time.
City: Toronto, ON
Employment Type: Permanent, Full- Time
Required Travel: Rare, usually within the GTA

Compensation
The target hiring range for this position is $95,000- $105,000. This is a pay grade 6 role, with a salary range of $ 71,066.63- $ 106,316.64. Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.
We are committed to providing an accessible, equitable and inclusive candidate and employee experience. We provide reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process and in employment. If you require an accommodation please let us know, we will work with you to meet your needs.

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Procurement Category Lead