Senior Procurement Navigator

Organization: Anishnawbe Business Professional Association (ABPA)

Job Title: Senior Procurement Navigator & Project Director

Reports To: President of the Board of Directors

Position Type: Full-Time (1.0 FTE), Three-Year Fixed-Term Contract

Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario —with required travel across Northern Ontario (including Timmins, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Greenstone, Kenora, and remote First Nation communities)

Geographic Coverage Area: Treaty #3, Treaty #5, Treaty #9, Robinson Superior 1850 Treaty, and Robinson Huron Treaty territories

Salary & Budget: Base Salary: $88,000 starting annual salary, with a 2.5% annual growth adjustment.

Position Summary

The Senior Procurement Navigator & Project Director is a single, high-level role responsible for directing and executing a new procurement initiative. This three-year strategic initiative aims to systematically build the capacity of Anishnawbe-owned businesses in Northern Ontario to compete for and secure federal government contracts, directly supporting the Government of Canada’s 5% mandatory Indigenous procurement mandate.

Reporting directly to the President of the Board, the Senior Procurement Navigator & Project Director combines executive-level project leadership with hands-on bid mentorship. The incumbent will guide a dedicated cohort of Anishnawbe-owned businesses through the

entire procurement lifecycle, dismantle systemic barriers, facilitate joint ventures, and establish relationships with federal buyers and major prime contractors.

Key Responsibilities1. Overarching Governance & Advocacy

· Reporting & Leadership: Report directly to the President of the Board of Directors and work in close alignment with the ABPA Executive Team.

· Advisory Committee Leadership: Coordinate and present project milestones to the Project Advisory Committee, industry leaders, and successful Anishnawbe entrepreneurs.

· KPI Tracking & Performance: Monitor and track project Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in real-time, including RFP bidding volume, bid success rates, and the total dollar value of federal contracts awarded.

· Data-Driven Advocacy: Gather granular, on-the-ground intelligence on systemic procurement barriers to support ABPA’s policy roundtables and advocacy work with federal entities.

· Marketing & Communications: Direct digital marketing initiatives to recruit participating businesses, build program awareness, and promote networking events.

2. Direct Business Navigation & Bid Mentorship (Pillar 1)

· Readiness Assessments: Perform diagnostic evaluations on 40–50 unique Anishnawbe-owned SMEs to produce customized readiness action plans.

· Registration & Compliance: Provide direct assistance to register businesses on the federal Indigenous Business Directory (IBD) and navigate portals such as CanadaBuys and MERX.

· Opportunity Scanning: Actively scan federal tender notices across departments operating in Northern Ontario and match tailored opportunities to member businesses.

· Hands-on Bid Mentorship: Assist businesses with deconstructing complex RFP/tender documents, creating compliance matrices, writing competitive proposal narratives, preparing project budgets, and submitting compliant bids.

· Partnership & Joint Venture Building: Facilitate formal joint ventures (JVs), teaming agreements, and sub-contracting arrangements to meet requirements like the 33% Indigenous subcontracting threshold.

· Articulating 'Best Value': Help Indigenous firms articulate their extended socio-economic benefits to shift evaluation focus beyond 'lowest bid' criteria.

3. Capacity Building & Ecosystem Development (Pillars 2 & 3)

· Education & Masterclasses: Deliver 18–24 virtual and regional training sessions, including 'Procurement 101' workshops and specialized financial literacy sessions in partnership with other Indigenous organizations.

· 'Meet the Buyer' Events: Host 12–15 virtual networking sessions connecting Anishnawbe business owners with procurement officials.

· Annual Procurement Summit: Coordinate the flagship Annual Northern Ontario Indigenous Procurement Summit, connecting ABPA members, federal procurement teams, and major regional prime contractors.

· Supplier Database Management: Build and maintain a searchable, pre-vetted database of procurement-ready Anishnawbe suppliers.

· Community Engagement Travel: Utilize the dedicated travel budget to conduct in-person outreach and trust-building visits in remote, rural First Nation communities and regional economic hubs.

Required Qualifications & Competencies

· Indigenous Preference: In accordance with our mandate and human rights frameworks, preference will be given to qualified Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) candidates.

· Education & Professional Background: Degree or diploma in Business Administration, Finance, Commerce, Public Policy, Supply Chain Management, or an equivalent combination of education and extensive practical experience.

· Procurement Expertise: Demonstrable, senior-level expertise in public sector procurement processes, federal bidding practices, CanadaBuys portal mechanics, and contract structure analysis.

· Cultural Competency & Lived Context: Deep understanding of the socio-economic context, geography, and systemic barriers faced by First Nation entrepreneurs in Northern Ontario.

· Mission Alignment: Passionate commitment to economic reconciliation, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Call to Action #92, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP Articles 3 & 32).

· Executive Capabilities: Proven track record in project management, budget control, performance tracking, board reporting, and working collaboratively with advisory bodies.

· Communication & Facilitation: Outstanding public speaking, workshop delivery, writing, and interpersonal negotiation skills.

· Travel Requirements: Valid Driver’s License and willingness to travel periodically across Northern Ontario for essential in-person outreach.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and alignment with ABPA's mission.

Email: ***email_hidden***

Addressed To: Hiring Committee

Application Deadline: September 15, 2026