Senior Buyer - Financial Services (26-186)

Job Title: Senior Buyer – Financial Services
Bargaining Unit: CUPE 3251
Language Requirement: English Essential
Vacancy Status: Temporary vacancy – fixed term

Cornwall is a beautiful community with a population of 47,000 situated on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Eastern Ontario. The city offers a wide array of urban amenities, making it an excellent place for a career and raising a family. With a growing economy, expanding population and fantastic quality of life, there has never been a better time to start the next phase of your career with the City of Cornwall! Cornwall is a diverse and progressive community where residents and partners feel safe, welcomed, and enjoy a high quality of life supported by access to financially responsible and sustainable municipal services and infrastructure. 

Position Summary 

The Senior Buyer is responsible for the full scope of procurement activities, ensuring the effective and efficient acquisition of goods, services, and contracts that support municipal operations. This role involves managing the end-to-end procurement process, including competitive bidding, contract negotiation, and supplier management. The Senior Buyer ensures compliance with municipal policies, legislation and relevant government regulations, trade treaty agreements and, industry best practices while identifying opportunities for cost savings and process improvements.

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead the complete procurement lifecycle, including preparing and issuing Tenders, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Request for Quotation (RFQ), Request for Supplier Qualifications, Request for Information, Request for Expressions of Interest and purchase orders.
• Conduct competitive bidding processes to secure the best value while ensuring compliance with procurement policies, regulations and trade requirements.
• Negotiate contracts, terms, and conditions with suppliers to achieve optimal pricing and service levels.
• Collaborate with internal departments to understand procurement needs and provide guidance on procurement strategies.
• Maintain working supplier relationships by monitoring vendor performance, addressing issues that arise, and providing support to other departments in managing supplier non-compliance or performance issues in accordance with municipal policies.
• Review and analyze procurement data to identify trends, collaborative procurement and cost-saving opportunities, and areas for improvement.
• Ensure compliance with municipal policies, trade agreements, and legislation and relevant government regulations in all procurement activities.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to procurement staff, as required.
• Prepare purchasing reports for senior management, including budget impact analyses and contract summaries.
• Stay informed of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to enhance procurement efficiency and effectiveness.
• Facilitate evaluation committee meetings to ensure fairness, transparency, and adherence to applicable legislation, policies and procedures.

  Leadership of Others

• N/A

Position Requirements 

Education & Certifications:

• Diploma in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• Certificate from Ontario Public Buyers Association Principles or Purchasing Management Association of Canada, or designation as a Supply Chain Management Professional or National Institute of Governmental Purchasing Public Procurement Associate.

Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain management, or a related field.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Strategic Procurement : In-depth knowledge of procurement strategies, contract management, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Supplier Management : Proven ability to develop and maintain working relationships with suppliers, ensuring reliable and high-quality service.
• Negotiation : Advanced negotiation skills with experience securing favorable terms and mitigating financial and operational risks.
• Technical Expertise : Proficiency in procurement systems, data analysis tools, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook). As part of the interview process, selected applicants will be tested in Excel and must achieve a score of 70% or higher to move to the next stage of the recruitment process. 
• Analytical Skills : Ability to evaluate complex procurement data, supplier performance, and market trends to drive purchasing strategies.
• Communication : Strong verbal and written communication skills, with experience preparing reports and presenting procurement recommendations to senior leadership.
• Problem-Solving : Ability to identify challenges in procurement processes and implement effective solutions that align with organizational goals.
• Mentorship : Ability to guide and mentor junior buyers, ensuring consistency and efficiency in procurement practices.
• Project Management : Experience managing procurement projects, tracking budgets, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies and regulations.
• Collaboration : Ability to develop effective and cooperative working relationships with internal departments, peers and vendors.

Working Conditions 

• Work is performed primarily in an office, with minimal travel for meetings or site visits.
• Standard business hours, Monday to Friday, with occasional flexibility to meet deadlines or manage urgent procurement needs.
• Cognitive demands include reviewing detailed contracts, identifying risks, and ensuring clarity in terms and conditions.
• Physical demands include extended periods of sitting and looking at a computer screen.

If selected for this role, you will need to provide:

• Successful reference check (two work-related references, with a minimum of one being a direct supervisor)
• Satisfactory Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check
• Proof of certifications

Additional Information:
The Corporation of The City of Cornwall strives to promote and demonstrate the values of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. We are committed to reflecting the diversity of the community we serve and encourage qualified candidates of all backgrounds and abilities to apply. Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted. Information collected will be handled in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The City of Cornwall is an equal-opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. At the City, we respect, encourage and celebrate our diversity. The City of Cornwall is committed to providing accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Please save a copy of this posting for your records. Please ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how you meet each of the required qualifications. Please note, selection for further consideration will be based on the information you provide in your application. Interviews may be conducted virtually through Microsoft Teams or in-person.

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