Early Careers Specialist

The Supply Management Specialist will develop and execute a strategic sourcing roadmap focused on optimizing tail spend across diverse categories, with a significant emphasis on Information Technology (IT). This role will lead targeted sourcing initiatives within tail spend categories, drive supplier negotiations, and ensure robust contract management to mitigate risks and uphold compliance standards.
In close partnership with internal stakeholders—including IT, Operations, Legal, and Finance—the Specialist will proactively plan and coordinate sourcing activities to align with business needs and strategic objectives. This includes identifying opportunities to consolidate similar goods and services under fewer suppliers, enhancing procurement efficiency, and leveraging market intelligence to benchmark costs and ensure value for money.
The successful candidate will play a key role in transforming legacy vendor relationships and ad-hoc purchases into structured, cost-effective agreements that support long-term organizational goals.
Director, Supply Management and is based in Montréal, QC, with potential for hybrid work arrangements. Occasional travel to supplier and company sites may be required.
Lead targeted sourcing initiatives to drive value, improve supplier performance, and reduce fragmentation in the supply base.
Identify opportunities to consolidate similar goods and services under fewer suppliers to enhance efficiency, leverage economies of scale and transition tail spend into strategic supplier relationships or preferred vendor programs.
Monitor market trends and supplier capabilities to proactively identify sourcing opportunities and ensure alignment with business needs.
Contract Management
Negotiate supplier contracts to secure optimal outcomes for Kruger by applying the company’s standard contractual positions across key terms.
Collaborate efficiently and transparently with the Legal team by preparing clear redline edits and ensuring contracts are accurate, timely, and fully aligned with internal policies, such as cybersecurity, legal, and commercial requirements.
Maintain oversight of contract lifecycle activities, including renewals, amendments, and compliance with corporate policies.
Risk Management & Compliance
Mitigate supplier and contractual risks through tight negotiation and adherence to supply management governance frameworks.
Monitor contract milestones, renewal cycles, and risk indicators across strategic categories.
Support the development and enforcement of procurement policies and procedures to uphold ethical and sustainable sourcing practices.
Facilitate cross-functional planning sessions to anticipate sourcing needs and develop proactive procurement strategies.
Conduct spend and contract analyses to uncover cost optimization and rationalization opportunities.
Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying process gaps and recommending enhancements to sourcing practices.
Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business Administration, or related field.
5-7 years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or contract management, ideally within manufacturing or industrial sectors.
Proven experience managing tail spend, supplier negotiations, and contract lifecycle activities.
Exposure to sourcing categories such as IT, Corporate Services, Logistics and operational supplies—particularly within a manufacturing environment—is a strong asset
Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management capabilities.
Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
Understanding of compliance requirements related to cybersecurity, trade, and data governance.
Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on process efficiency and automation.
Ability to analyze spend data and identify strategic sourcing opportunities.
Proficient in MS Office, especially Excel and Power Point;
Knowledge of SAP, JD Edwards, K2GEN or in any ERP system (an asset)
Familiarity with procurement systems (e.g., SAP, Coupa, Ariba) and contract lifecycle tools. (an asset)
Reduction in tail-end supplier count and spend rationalization across strategic categories.
Timely execution of targeted sourcing events with minimized risk.
Improved contract lifecycle efficiency and data accuracy.
LANGUAGES
~ Bilingual - French / English (advanced level)

Knowledge of English is required for this specific position as Kruger deals with partners across North America and the successful candidate will be required to communicate frequently with them. Kruger has taken all reasonable steps to avoid imposing English language requirements, including assessing the actual language needs associated with the duties to be performed, ensuring that the language skills already required of other employees were insufficient for the performance of those duties, and limiting as much as possible the number of positions with duties requiring English language skills.