Senior Manager - Strategic Procurement - IT, Data and Digital Solutions - Temporary

Belonging to Air Canada means belonging to a Canadian icon, Air Canada recently elected the best airline carrier in North America. Launch your career by joining our innovative and diverse team at the forefront of passenger air transportation.

Air Canada, recognized among Canada's most diversity-friendly employers and among Montreal's Top Employers, is seeking a Senior Manager - Strategic Procurement - IT, Data and Digital Solutions for its Montreal headquarters.

Strategic Procurement includes several category management teams and an Excellence Center team. The selected person will play a key role as a Product Category Lead for IT initiatives. Given the interfunctional nature of IT procurement at Air Canada, this person will have the opportunity to interact with key stakeholders across many areas of the Company.

The selected person will make a significant contribution to important Air Canada procurement projects and play a key role in the development and management of procurement and resource management best practices. The selected person will rely on their passion for leadership and collaboration to achieve the best value for the Company, promote the development of team members and peers, and build mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers.

Responsibilities

In the course of their duties, this person will be responsible for leading a procurement team, establishing partnerships with internal business units and the IT service to understand and articulate the needs related to IT services, systems, and infrastructure, conducting procurement market studies, developing supplier selection strategies, obtaining proposals, conducting commercial and contractual negotiations, and ensuring the overall improvement of procurement practices at Air Canada.

Here are the main responsibilities in detail:

• Establish category management strategies for IT:

+ Develop and maintain an understanding of emerging trends in the industry and procurement markets to strengthen Air Canada's negotiating power.

+ Analyze and monitor category spending to identify opportunities for strategic supplier selection and potential consolidation.

+ Adopt rigorous planning regarding expiring contracts and upcoming projects.

+ Collaborate with the Excellence Center team to conduct research and analysis.

+ Stay up-to-date with Air Canada's IT strategy by collaborating with the IT service and other business units.

• Lead and manage procurement activities:

+ Conduct procurement market studies and base spending analysis.

+ Collaborate with interfunctional teams to determine business requirements and establish supplier selection strategies.

+ Prepare and deliver requests for proposals and evaluate responses.

+ Manage communications with suppliers throughout the procurement process.

+ Conduct contract negotiations and oversee the drafting and signing of contracts.

+ Collaborate with the Supplier Relationship Management team and ensure that contract transfer and appropriate governance are in place at the end of an activity.

+ Ensure that procurement activities and contractual negotiations are conducted in accordance with Air Canada's procurement policy and the Company's Code of Ethics, to minimize unacceptable risks for the Company.

• Contribute to the improvement of internal procurement practices:

+ Participate in the definition of the sector's best procurement methods.

+ Design models to evaluate supplier proposals using quantitative and qualitative criteria.

+ Contribute to the development of standardized and reusable communication models and methods.

+ Continuously find innovative ways to address challenges faced by peers.

+ Contribute to the simplification and automation of low-risk and tactical purchases in favor of strategic commitments.

• Act as an ambassador or ambassador for Strategic Procurement and Air Canada:

+ Strengthen the relationship between Strategic Procurement and internal customers.

+ Communicate and effectively promote the successes of Strategic Procurement.

+ Actively engage in learning Air Canada's business processes.

• Train and manage a procurement professional team:

+ Recruit and develop resources to make them seasoned professionals who add depth to the team and contribute to its success.

+ Actively monitor performance; identify areas for improvement and opportunities for development.

+ Mentor and train direct subordinates and peers if possible to pass on experience and expertise.

+ Promote professionalism, collegiality, and respect in all relationships with peers, internal customers, and suppliers.

Qualifications

In addition to holding a university degree in a relevant field of study (business, law, information technology, engineering), the selected person must demonstrate excellent skills in analysis, communication, negotiation, and project management, and the ability to perform multiple tasks, work under pressure, and adapt to changing priorities. They must also have experience in supervising several direct subordinates and training high-performing teams. A strong entrepreneurial spirit and a genuine desire to learn are also essential. A Master's degree in Business Administration or a professional designation is desirable.

Due to the confidential nature of the work, a keen sense of professionalism and discretion is required. Flexibility in working hours and occasional mobility may be necessary.

Proven punctuality and reliability to support the overall success of the team in a fast-paced environment.

Employment Conditions:

Candidates must be admissible to work in the country at the time an employment offer is presented and are responsible for obtaining the necessary work permits, visas, or other authorizations. Proof of admissibility must be provided before the start date.

Language Requirements

With equal qualifications, preference will be given to bilingual candidates.

Diversity and Inclusion

Air Canada is committed to diversity and inclusion and aims to create a healthy, accessible, and rewarding work environment that values the unique contributions of our employees to the success of our business.

As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage the most diverse applications to be able to staff our diverse and representative workforce to serve our customers and the communities where we live and operate.

Air Canada thanks all candidates for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.