Senior Category Specialist - MRO

Established in 1882, J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) is a proudly Canadian, privately held organization with operations across Canada and the United States. With more than 20,000 employees, JDI is committed to operational excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth across its diverse portfolio of businesses.



Irving Business Services , a vital support function within JDI, delivers expertise in Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Health and Safety, Communications, and Legal, driving strategic success across the broader organization.



Meridia Recruitment is proud to partner with JDI in their search for a Senior Category Specialist - MRO to join the Irving Business Services Supply Chain team based in Saint John, New Brunswick.



This is an exciting opportunity for a procurement professional looking to grow their career within a large, complex organization. The Senior Category Specialist - MRO will support the development and execution of category strategies focused on Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) materials and services. This role will contribute to strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier relationship management, contract activities, and continuous improvement opportunities that create value across JDI’s operations.



Working closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers, the successful candidate will support competitive sourcing processes, analyze spend and market opportunities, identify cost and risk reduction opportunities, and help ensure procurement activities align with business objectives and supply management standards.



The ideal candidate will bring experience in procurement or supply chain, strong analytical capabilities, and the ability to build relationships across operational teams and supplier networks.



Your responsibilities will include:

• Support the development and execution of category strategies for assigned MRO materials and service categories.
• Execute competitive sourcing activities including RFx development, supplier engagement, proposal evaluation, and commercial analysis.
• Support contract negotiations, renewals, amendments, and ongoing contract administration activities.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers to support operational requirements and business objectives.
• Conduct spend analysis and market research to identify sourcing opportunities, cost savings, and process improvements.
• Support supplier performance management activities, including KPI tracking, issue resolution, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to consolidate spend, standardize products and services, and improve supplier performance.
• Maintain accurate procurement documentation, supplier records, contracts, and master data.
• Support value creation initiatives that improve operational efficiency and reliability.
• Manage multiple priorities while responding effectively to changing business needs.

Your Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Supply Chain Management, Business, Commerce, Engineering, or a related discipline is preferred; a combination of education and experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category or contract management, or supplier relationship management.
• Experience leading sourcing initiatives, supplier negotiations, and procurement processes.
• Strong understanding of supplier relationship management and contract administration activities.
• Analytical skills with experience reviewing spend data, market information, and cost drivers.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience supporting industrial, manufacturing, maintenance, or operations environments is considered an asset.
• Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) designation or progress toward designation is considered an asset.

At J.D. Irving, Limited, employees are part of a team that values integrity, collaboration, innovation, and delivering results. The company is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees are supported in developing their skills and building meaningful careers.



We appreciate your interest in this opportunity. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

To express interest in this opportunity please apply online by clicking “Apply Now” below.

For more information contact Thomas Pugh, Partner, at View phone number on meridiarecruitment.ca and View email address on meridiarecruitment.ca or Heather Simmons, Consultant at View phone number on meridiarecruitment.ca and View email address on meridiarecruitment.ca . If you require accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.

Meridia Recruitment Solutions connects leading organizations with top talent by building strong relationships and creating ideal matches with candidates because we are only successful when you are. We appreciate your interest in this opportunity.

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