Position Summary

Full-time Administrative, reclassified replacement position

Reporting to the Vice President, Finance, CFO & Compliance Advisor, the Director, Procurement provides strategic leadership for the college’s Procurement & Contract Services function. The Director is responsible for developing and implementing procurement strategies, governance frameworks, policies, and practices that support institutional priorities, financial stewardship, operational effectiveness and risk management.

As the college’s senior procurement leader, the Director oversees strategic sourcing, contract governance, supplier relationship management, and procurement compliance, ensuring adherence to applicable legislation, trade agreements, and public-sector procurement requirements, and promoting transparency, fairness, value for money, and accountability. The role serves as a trusted advisor to college leadership on procurement strategy, risk, and governance matters.

Through collaborative leadership, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement, the Director advances procurement excellence across the college, strengthens organizational accountability, and ensures the effective acquisition of goods and services that deliver long-term value to the institution.

Successful candidates will be required to conduct work in Ontario and must be available to work on-site as required. This position is anticipated to operate within a hybrid work arrangement, with flexibility to work both remotely and on-site at Conestoga’s 3065 King St. E location or other Conestoga campuses, based on departmental and operational needs.

Responsibilities

Procurement

- Leads competitive procurement processes, negotiates contractual agreements, and provides leadership in the resolution of vendor and contract disputes
- Directly leads or provides oversight for the development and execution of competitive procurement processes, including RFx preparation, public posting, evaluation management, contract award recommendations, and procurement reporting
- Reviews and approves solicitation documents, evaluation methodologies, procurement strategies, and award recommendations to ensure compliance with legislative, trade agreement, and college requirements




- Leads supplier relationship and vendor performance management activities, including onboarding, performance monitoring, risk assessment, issue resolution, contract renewals, and strategic supplier engagement
- Oversees operational systems, including the purchase requisition system and bidding platform
- Oversees the process to dispose of College assets that may include redeployment, auction, donation, scrap, trade-in, or direct sale

Planning, governance and supply risk management

- Leads strategic sourcing and category management programs, establishing sourcing strategies for major procurements, capital projects, technology investments, and enterprise service contracts
- Directs procurement policy, governance, internal controls, and compliance oversight to ensure adherence to Broader Public Sector Directive, college policies, and applicable trade agreements
- Leads procurement assurance activities, including audits, compliance reporting, corrective action planning, delegated signing authority controls, documentation governance, and defensible contract award practices
- In collaboration with Legal Counsel and Risk Management, identifies, assesses, and mitigates procurement, supplier, contractual, and compliance risks
- Develops procurement performance measures, reporting frameworks, and compliance monitoring mechanisms to support continuous improvement and governance oversight

Executive advisory, analytics and stakeholder engagement

- Serves as the principal advisor to college leadership on procurement governance, sourcing strategy, supplier risk, contract management, and public-sector procurement obligations
- Prepares procurement, sourcing, vendor performance and compliance reporting for senior leadership, committees, and governance bodies
- Represents the College in sector-wide procurement initiatives, team-oriented purchasing groups, OECM activities, and professional procurement associations





Leadership and staff management

- Provide leadership and direction to the Procurement team, establishing priorities, service standards, performance expectations, and operating procedures
- Directs procurement operations and establishes service standards, priorities, and performance expectations that ensure efficient, compliant, and customer-focused procurement services
- Respond to complex and escalated procurement, contractual, and vendor-related issues

Qualifications

- A three-year diploma or bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management, commerce, public administration, finance, law, or a related field
- Professional procurement designation such as CSCMP, SCMP, or CPPO is preferred
- Minimum seven years of progressive procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, or contract management experience is required; previous supervisory experience within a complex, regulated environment or public procurement industry is preferred
- Comprehensive knowledge of public-sector procurement principles, strategic sourcing, contract management, procurement governance, supplier relationship management, and competitive procurement processes
- Demonstrated knowledge of the Broader Public Sector Procurement Directive, applicable trade agreements, Supply Ontario requirements, contract law, and related legislative and regulatory requirements
- Experience developing procurement policies, governance frameworks, compliance programs, performance measures, and internal controls
- Proven ability to provide strategic advice and influence decision-making at the senior leadership level
- Demonstrated experience leading teams, managing organizational change, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
- Strong project management skills with experience leading complex, high-value procurement initiatives
- Exceptional analytical, negotiation, problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder relationship management skills
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and external partners while balancing operational, financial, legal, and reputational considerations

📌 Director, Strategic Procurement (Kitchener)
🏢 Conestoga College
📍 Kitchener