Director, Indirect Sourcing

at  The North West Company

In your role as Director, Indirect sourcing you will responsible to develop and support the implementation of the strategic sourcing plan, and manage relationships with internal stakeholders and vendors. Leading the Indirect Sourcing team and supporting the indirect spend across a range of categories that support key business units across the enterprise (e.g., Supplies; Travel & Events; Fleet; Construction, Equipment, Maintenance; and Utilities).
As a Director of the Indirect Sourcing, you should have an enterprise mindset, possess an entrepreneurial self-starting mentality, and be a strong communicator who can establish lasting relationships with business leaders as well as internal / external stakeholders.
Joining NWC gives you a competitive salary and benefits package, and to be part of a dynamic and diverse culture.
NWC is a leading retailer to under-served rural communities and urban neighborhood markets in the following regions: Northern Canada, Western Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific islands, and the Caribbean. Our stores offer a broad range of products and services with an emphasis on food. Our value offer is to be the best local shopping choice for everyday household and local lifestyle needs. Check out northwest.ca for more information.

Your Role:

• Work with suppliers and cross-functional teams during product / service testing; coordinate and communicate company recommendations and revisions for the product or service
• Collaborate with suppliers and stakeholders to determine specifications and requirements
• Negotiate contracts and agreements with suppliers to ensure optimal pricing and favorable terms (e.g., expiring contract review, pipeline development)
• Interview potential suppliers and evaluate supplier qualifications(e.g., review supplier capabilities, ability to meet deadlines, maintain quality standards, and financial background)
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of products and issue resolution
• Develop and implement strategies to mitigate risk and improve cost-effectiveness
• Prepare reports and presentations to communicate findings and recommendations to stakeholders
• Stay up to date with industry developments and advancements in technology related to the procurement of products.
• Understand and recommend high impact projects that drive meaningful results (e.g., reducing cost, mitigating risk and improving quality).
• Provide general product and services management support to internal business stakeholders.
• Implement authorization process to ensure compliance with purchasing guidelines (e.g., change mgmt. / adherence to chosen vendors, control of budget, auditing of indirect spend, etc.).

Desired Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required (major related to Management, Business, Economics, Supply-Chain, Finance, Accounting).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in roles related to Category Management, Finance, Supply Chain, Procurement, Analytics, and/or Management Consulting.
• Management and leadership experience is required
• Demonstrated successful contract and agreement negotiation experience, managing the entire RFQ/RFP process, including development of negotiating plans and strategies, and analytical approach to decision-making.
• Proven organizational, planning and prioritizing skills with the ability to adhere to strict timelines;
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills to interact with a wide range of individuals in a wide range of situations
• Must be willing and able to travel for supplier presentations, site visits, and key department meetings at Headquarters when required
• Demonstrated team builder with strong conflict resolution skills

Location: Gibraltar House, 77 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB
Reports to: Chief Financial Officer
We create a collaborative and constructive culture by:
Being Enterprising • Committing to our Customer • Working with Passion • Leading and Developing Others • Demonstrating Respect and Inclusivity • Building Trust
The North West Company is committed to inclusion and diversity and encourages applications from all candidates including but not limited to: all religions and ethnicities, LGBTQ2s+, BIPOC, and persons with disabilities.

• Work with suppliers and cross-functional teams during product / service testing; coordinate and communicate company recommendations and revisions for the product or service
• Collaborate with suppliers and stakeholders to determine specifications and requirements
• Negotiate contracts and agreements with suppliers to ensure optimal pricing and favorable terms (e.g., expiring contract review, pipeline development)
• Interview potential suppliers and evaluate supplier qualifications(e.g., review supplier capabilities, ability to meet deadlines, maintain quality standards, and financial background)
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of products and issue resolution
• Develop and implement strategies to mitigate risk and improve cost-effectiveness
• Prepare reports and presentations to communicate findings and recommendations to stakeholders
• Stay up to date with industry developments and advancements in technology related to the procurement of products.
• Understand and recommend high impact projects that drive meaningful results (e.g., reducing cost, mitigating risk and improving quality).
• Provide general product and services management support to internal business stakeholders.
• Implement authorization process to ensure compliance with purchasing guidelines (e.g., change mgmt. / adherence to chosen vendors, control of budget, auditing of indirect spend, etc.)