Commodity Specialist

**_If you’re an analytically minded procurement and sourcing professional whose areas of expertise include customer service, purchasing, strategic sourcing, competitive bidding and tendering, commodity management, contract negotiation and contract management, this contract opportunity with the Peel District School Board (PDSB) is for you._**

Reporting to the Manager of Purchasing, you’ll be responsible for the procurement of goods and services from an assigned commodity portfolio. This will include leading strategic sourcing initiatives to establish short
- and long-term contracts, leading competitive bidding projects, providing outstanding customer services and professional sourcing expertise to internal business units, and managing supplier relationships and performance. As a Commodity Specialist, you’ll be expected to execute purchasing documents within established approval authority and corporate policies and procedures, while ensuring compliance with the Broader Public Sector (BPS) Procurement Directive, the Board’s policies and procedures, contracting and competitive bidding and tendering laws.

With direct accountability for the effective, efficient procuring of goods and services by the entire Board business units, you’ll strive to seek a balance between meeting the procurement needs and requirements of the Board’s business units in a cost-efficient way and maintaining the high standards of business ethics and legislative compliance of the Board’s procurement process.

Some of your specific responsibilities as a Commodity Specialist will include:

- Analyzing business requirements, and developing appropriate procurement strategies and plans to support Board business units to advance their short
- and long-term goals and objectives
- Monitoring procurement activities and commodity acquisitions to identify opportunities and develop strategies to improve the performance of the Board supply chain and related buying experience
- Analyzing user specifications and requirements to establish the appropriate souring methodology to acquire goods and services effectively and efficiently
- Guiding and facilitating the project team to make sound decisions on sourcing and evaluation process with the goal to minimize risks and achieve the best possible result
- Developing sound bid award recommendations and preparing all documentation for bid award and contract execution
- Managing the contract life cycle by monitoring contract terms, leading contract extension initiatives and negotiating terms and conditions of contract renewal
- Developing and maintaining vendor relationships, creating value-added services, and driving for cost reductions and quality improvement in the best interest of the Board while minimizing risk exposure
- Providing effective client service, and establishing effective working relationships with internal clients, including school administrators and other business departments, vendors and the public
- Approving purchase orders and other procurement documentation for assigned commodities
- Providing directions and guidance to administrative assistants, and assisting with problem-solving in day-to-day purchasing operations
- Developing administrative assistant capacity to improve customer services and supply chain value

**EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS**

Along with holding a post-secondary degree in business, commerce, supply chain management or a related discipline, or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent, you either possess a Certified Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) designation or equivalent, or are working towards CSCMP with advanced progression, giving you the solid credentials this role demands. As a **Commodity Specialist,** you’ll also leverage the following experience, knowledge and skill set:

- A minimum of 3 years’ experience in procurement and sourcing, including leadership in successful execution of high-dollar-value projects as well as governance, process, systems, data functions, and vendor relationship management.
- Excellent oral communication, presentation, and consultation skills to provide expertise/advice to colleagues and management.
- Superior written communication skills to provide internal and external reports, briefings, and memoranda.
- Experience identifying client needs, and initiating, coordinating, and implementing solutions.
- Experience with commercially focused sourcing.
- Ability to influence, with strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
- Active listening skills to understand the full extent of issues.
- Agility and demonstrated flexibility to multitask and deal with interruptions.
- Analytical and problem-solving skills to analyze problems, detect root causes, and resolve issues.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and anti-oppression, and to working in a diverse school community and/or work environment.

**Salary range**: $76,284 - $95,358 per annum

**_Th