Manager Procurement Category-CA
Req Id: 977
Job Location: Montreal - QC
Business Unit: Finance
Highest Level Division: Procurement & Supply Management
Posting Start Date: 9/29/26
Posting End Date: 10-13-2026
French/English Bilingual Requirement: No
**Hiring Salary Range:** $ 110000 - 144000
This range represents the hiring range.

Salaries are determined individually depending on skills and experience.

You will also be eligible to an annual bonus, employee share investment program (ESIP), Pension, Benefits and other perks.

At CN, we are committed to our pursuit of excellence.

We take pride in delivering work of the highest standard, continually innovating to shape the railroad of the future.

As responsible railroaders, we make the right decisions every time, putting safety first, acting with unwavering integrity, and holding ourselves accountable for our actions.

We believe in succeeding together—by fostering inclusivity and collaboration, we sustainably deliver exceptional results for our customers.

Join us today and get your career moving!
**Job Summary**
The incumbent is responsible for owning the strategic direction of a defined category of goods and services that directly support CN's rail and logistics operations.

The role leads the development and execution of category management strategies that deliver sustainable value by balancing cost, quality, risk, innovation, and operational needs.

The incumbent leads cross-functional teams, manages key supplier relationships, and oversees a team of Procurement Specialists and Senior Specialists to drive category performance against business objectives.

The role has signing authority and direct accountability for category outcomes that impact CN's bottom line.
**Main Responsibilities**
Category Strategy and Execution
Establish category management objectives, strategies, and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets aligned with CN's business plan
Lead spend analysis, category segmentation, and opportunity identification
Oversee demand planning and forecasting for assigned categories
Lead cross-functional teams in the development and execution of category strategies
Adjust external market factors and integrate plans across related categories
Negotiation and Contract Management
Drive negotiations for medium- to high-complexity contracts within signing authority
Establish contract management principles, compliance practices, and governance frameworks
Ensure effective management of the contractual lifecycle from award to close-out
Develop business cases for executive commitment and investment decisions
Supplier Portfolio Management
Monitor supplier performance and manage key relationships within the category
Establish supplier performance frameworks and conduct regular business reviews
Identify and mitigate supply chain risks through proactive supplier management
Drive supplier development initiatives to improve quality, delivery, innovation, and sustainability performance
Stakeholder Engagement
Demonstrate thorough understanding of issues and their impacts; propose and evaluate solutions while highlighting implications of not reaching agreements
Explain interdependencies between procurement decisions and broader business outcomes




Influence others by communicating strong rationale and build trust with stakeholders to achieve maximum value in negotiations
Team Leadership and Development
Directly supervise and develop a team of Procurement Specialists and Senior Specialists
Support talent development and execute talent management plans
Provide coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to drive team growth
Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture aligned with CN values
Compliance and Risk Management
Evaluate and quantify risk impacts across the category portfolio and articulate and present risks to business partners with proposed mitigation measures
Ensure all procurement policies are followed within the team and provide consultation and guidance to team members and stakeholders
Perform root cause analysis on compliance failures and implement corrective actions
Data, Digital and AI Excellence
Define methods and guidelines for using procurement technologies within the team and conduct advanced analysis using all relevant data sources
Keep up with market developments in procurement technology, analytics, and AI applications and identify opportunities to deploy AI-enabled solutions
Strive for optimal organizational efficiency, improve business processes, and recommend holistic changes to ways of working
Project and Process Management
Integrate project plans across multiple concurrent projects and identify areas of synergy or dependency
Evaluate progress and adjust for external factors affecting timelines or scope
Demonstrate deep knowledge of interdependencies across functions, anticipate risks, and influence outcomes through effective stakeholder management
**Working Conditions**
The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday and is eligible to participate in CN's hybrid work model.

The role involves managing priorities and delivering work within established timelines, with support from the team to ensure sustainable and effective workload management.

The role requires travel up to 10% within North America.

Requirements
**Experience**
Strategic Procurement or Supply Chain Operations
Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in procurement, supply chain operations, or a related field
Proven experience leading cross-functional sourcing teams and managing category portfolios
Record of accomplishment in developing and executing procurement strategies with measurable results
People management experience, including coaching and team development
Candidates with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered
**Education/Certification/Designation**
Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Finance, or related degree
Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master's degree*
Professional certification or designation such as Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM),



Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), Chartered Qualified Accountant (CPA), or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)*
Candidates with equivalent practical experience, education, or training will be considered
* Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory)
**Competencies**
We Care About Each Other
We Strive for Excellence
We Succeed Together
We Lead Responsibly
Vision and strategic thinking
Impactful and inclusive leadership
Performance and value delivery
Empowerment and talent development
Strategic communication and influence
Managerial courage and decisiveness
Compliance
Business acumen
Process optimization
High-Impact Execution
Negotiation
**Technical Skills/Knowledge**
Strong command of category management methodologies and strategic sourcing frameworks
Advanced analytical capabilities, including spend analytics and financial modelling
Experience with enterprise procurement platforms including SAP, Ariba, and Fieldglass
Knowledge of Total Cost of Ownership and Net Present Value concepts
Complete understanding of category management, contracting, and pricing models
Advanced knowledge of contract terms and conditions
Knowledge of CN's procurement policies and procedures, affiliate rules, and regulatory compliance
Excellent leadership, communication, and presentation skills
Bilingualism, English and French
* Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory)
**Additional Information (If Any)**
About CN
CN is a premium railroad that sustainably generates value for our customers, shareholders, employees, and stakeholders with an unwavering commitment to safety and service.

Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. CN's network connects Canada's Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S.

South through an 18,800-mile rail network. CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN powers the North American economy and is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

At CN, we are dedicated to building North America's safest, most inclusive and sustainable railroad, which includes reflecting the communities in which we operate.

Research shows that candidates often don't apply unless they feel they fit the job posting at 100%.

To all potential applicants, even if you don't meet every job requirement listed in a posting, we still encourage you to apply.

If you require an accommodation for the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodations), please get in touch with our team at [email protected] .

As an equal opportunity employer, qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.

Please monitor your email on a regular basis as communication to applicants is done via email
Apply now

📌 Manager Procurement Category-CA (Montreal)
🏢 CN
📍 Montreal