Associate Director, Strategic Procurement, Supply Chain …, Northwest Calgary

Description Procurement Services within Supply Chain Management is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Associate Director, Strategic Procurement. The University of Calgary (the University) is a comprehensive research university, ranked one of Canada's top five research universities, combining the best of long-established university traditions with the City of Calgary's vibrant energy and diversity. The Associate Director, Strategic Procurement is a key member of the Supply Chain Management leadership team, accountable for leading strategic sourcing and category management functions, driving competitive procurement practices, and delivering value through supplier management, market intelligence, and alignment with institutional priorities. The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do. The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary. Reporting to the Senior Director, Supply Chain Management, the Associate Director, Strategic Procurement is responsible for establishing and leading the University's strategic sourcing and category management function. This role is accountable for developing and executing category strategies, sourcing plans, and supplier management approaches that enable effective, compliant, and value-driven procurement across the institution. The Associate Director provides leadership and oversight for a portfolio of categories, applying market intelligence, demand planning, and stakeholder engagement to drive competitive procurement outcomes and optimize total cost of ownership. The role ensures alignment with public sector procurement requirements, trade agreements, and institutional priorities, while embedding standardized sourcing practices and category governance frameworks across the organization. The Associate Director leads strategic supplier relationships and performance management, identifying opportunities for innovation, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement. Working closely with procurement operations, legal, finance, and academic and administrative units, the role strengthens cross-functional collaboration, enhances procurement maturity, and advances a proactive, data-informed, and strategically focused supply chain function. Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to): Strategic Sourcing & Category Management: - Lead the development and execution of category strategies and sourcing plans aligned with institutional priorities and business needs. - Oversee and support complex, high-value, and high-risk sourcing initiatives, ensuring competitive, compliant, and value-driven outcomes. - Apply market intelligence, spend analysis, and demand planning to inform sourcing strategies and optimize total cost of ownership. - Standardize and embed strategic sourcing and category management practices across the team to drive consistency and maturity. - Identify and prioritize sourcing opportunities that deliver cost optimization, risk mitigation, service improvements, and innovation. - Develop and implement category-level performance frameworks, including defining and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs), tracking outcomes against sourcing strategies, and leveraging insights to drive continuous improvement and inform strategic decision-making. Supplier & Commercial Management: - Lead strategic supplier relationships, including performance management, contract optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives. - Develop and execute negotiation strategies to achieve favourable commercial, operational, and risk outcomes. - Monitor supplier performance and market conditions to proactively address risks and identify opportunities for value creation. - Partner with stakeholders to resolve supplier issues, drive accountability, and strengthen vendor performance. Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement: - Provide leadership, direction, coaching, up to and including discipline and termination to sourcing and category management teams, fostering a high-performing and accountable culture. - Build and maintain strong relationships with academic, research, and administrative stakeholders to align procurement strategies with business objectives. - Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing insights on market trends, sourcing strategies, and procurement risks. - Influence and challenge stakeholders to adopt strategic sourcing approaches and optimize demand and specifications. Compliance, Risk & Continuous Improvement: - Ensure sourcing activities comply with institutional policies, delegated authorities, and applicable public sector trade agreements (e.g., CFTA, CETA, NWPTA). - Identify and mitigate supply, commercial, and operational risks through proactive category and supplier strategies. - Drive continuous improvement in sourcing practices, tools, and methodologies to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and value delivery. Collaborate with procurement operations, legal, and finance to ensure alignment between strategic sourcing activities and downstream contract and procurement processes. Qualifications / Requirements: Education: - University degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Commerce, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline is required. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) or other relevant graduate degree is strongly preferred. - A professional designation such as SCMP, PMP, or Lean Six Sigma is considered an asset, particularly where it supports strategic sourcing, category management, or operational excellence. - An equivalent combination of advanced education and directly related senior-level experience in strategic procurement, sourcing, or category management within a complex organization may be considered. Experience: - Minimum ten (10) years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, or supply chain management within a large, complex organization, including leadership experience. - Demonstrated experience developing and executing category strategies, leading complex sourcing initiatives, and delivering measurable value (e.g., cost optimization, risk reduction, service improvement). - Experience leading or supporting competitive procurement processes in compliance with public sector requirements and trade agreements (e.g., CFTA, CETA, NWPTA) is required. - Strong experience managing supplier relationships, including performance management, negotiations, and contract optimization is required. - Experience applying market intelligence, spend analysis, and demand planning to inform sourcing strategies and decision-making is required. - Demonstrated ability to influence and partner with stakeholders across an organization, including senior leadership, to align procurement strategies with business needs is required. - Experience building, leading, or mentoring high-performing teams in a sourcing or category management environment is considered a strong asset. - Experience driving procurement transformation, including the adoption of strategic sourcing and category management practices, is considered an asset. - Experience working in a diverse and inclusive environment is required. - Experience within a public sector or broader public sector environment (e.g., post-secondary, healthcare, government) is strongly preferred. Skills: - Strategic thinking and analytical skills to assess markets, interpret spend, and develop value-driven sourcing strategies. - Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to advise and engage stakeholders, including senior leadership. - Advanced negotiation and supplier management capabilities to deliver strong commercial outcomes. - Effective stakeholder relationship management, building alignment between business needs and procurement strategies. - Proven leadership and team development skills, fostering accountability and continuous improvement. - Strong business acumen, balancing cost, risk, service, and innovation. - Proficient in ERP/eProcurement systems and Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint/Teams). Experience with data analysis or visualization tools is an asset; ability to operate effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced, service-oriented environment. Application Deadline: June 12, 2026 We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted. This position is classified in the Management Career Band, Level M3 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework. For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website. About the University of Calgary UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca. …