VP & Chief of Procurement

at  Nutrien

Nutrien is a leading provider of crop inputs and services, and our business results make a positive impact on the world. Our purpose, Feeding the Future, is the reason we come to work each day. We’re guided by our culture of care and our core values: safety, inclusion, integrity, and results. When we say we care, we mean it. We’re creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels safe, has a sense of belonging, trusts one another, and acts with integrity.
Through the collective expertise of our nearly 26,000 employees, we operate a world-class network of production, distribution, and ag retail facilities. We efficiently serve growers’ needs and strive to provide a more profitable, sustainable, and secure future for all stakeholders. Help us raise the expectation of what an agriculture company can be and grow your career with Nutrien.
Location: Calgary, AB or Saskatoon, SK
Reporting to the EVP & Chief Commercial Officer, Nutrien’s Vice President & Chief of Procurement is accountable for oversight and leadership of the development and implementation of a comprehensive, center-led procurement strategy for the enterprise. This will be supported through leadership of Nutrien’s dedicated procurement professionals, architecting an optimal organizational structure and the establishment of best practices related to governance, business processes efficiency, business and operational enablement, and value capture across key, in-scope supply chain management and procurement activities.
In alignment with Nutrien’s broader strategic priorities and vision, the Vice President & Chief of Procurement will have the unique and rewarding opportunity to lead a critical change effort for Nutrien, which will see the organization adopt and transition to a center-led procurement approach that optimizes value delivered across Nutrien’s businesses and functions, with a focus on consolidation of those activities that commonly span the company’s Business and Corporate footprint. Within this model, the Vice President & Chief of Procurement will collaborate closely with the enterprise on the establishment and alignment of in-scope activities and geographies for the center-led function, as well as associated accountability frameworks. They will have executive responsibility for strategy and planning, strategic sourcing, category management, governance, data and technology, and performance measurement/benchmarking - being a champion for collaborative change and results through direct and indirect leadership of approximately 200 FTEs and over $5-billion in annual spend.
Nutrien’s Vice President & Chief of Procurement will provide executive leadership, partnership and guidance that will be critical to its businesses, sites and corporate functions to effectively manage and execute on strategies related to procurement activities and our inbound supply chain management, achieving an optimal balance and alignment of accountabilities with these key stakeholders, which will be key to the success of our center-led model. The Vice President & Chief of Procurement willdrive strategies that support strategic alignment of our supplier base with an approach that takes a committed and clear approach to optimizing for the delivery of enterprise value and the total cost of ownership, while partnering closely with internal stakeholders and leaders (NPK/Retail sites and Corporate) to ensure a clear understanding and qualification of programs, opportunities, growth, and service-level objectives.
This senior executive is a team player who moves easily between the roles of team member and team leader. They are a forward thinker, with the creativity and maturity to effectively evaluate, challenge and evolve the status quo of existing business practices, while developing and maintaining strong partnerships and trusted relationships across Nutrien’s businesses and functions. This leader will have the skills, credentials and capabilities to build, motivate, lead and coach cross-functional teams and and team members, while fostering an environment of collaboration, talent development, professionalism and problem-solving in the pursuit of value creation through procurement and supply chain management activities.
Finally, this role is responsible for championing the culture of Nutrien – a culture founded in Purpose - and ensuring that the organization’s core values of Safety, Inclusion, Integrity, and Results are front and center across and throughout the organization at every level.
The following is an outline of the key activities, objectives and accountabilities of this role.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Strategy, Process & Performance - Responsible for the overall strategy, priority setting, governance, data/systems, performance measurement/management and reporting for procurement & supply chain management activities. This role will be a key interface with senior operational, business and corporate leaders across NPK/Retail, Finance, External Affairs, Sustainability, Legal, Corporate Development & Strategy, Audit, SH&E, and HR.

• Capital Projects Procurement – Ensures strategies and plans are in place to effectively support execution of supply chain management activities related to capital projects and develops forward-looking strategies to leverage Nutrien’s size and scale in optimizing total cost of ownership/value creation, while supporting business objectives.

• Category Management - Aligns the organizational structure and strategies to support pursuit of high-value, high-potential, enterprise-wide category management opportunities that span organizational procurement spend, with accountability for continuous assessment and evaluation of key supplier performance against strategic priorities and performance objectives.
• Material Management - Responsible for collaboratively aligning with business leaders on optimal organizational strategies for materials management, inventory, surplus, preservation and warehousing processes, with a lens of holistically optimizing for operational continuity, asset efficiency and overall performance/value capture.
• Supply Chain Operations/Execution – Provide leadership through a high-functioning, center-led organization that enables day-to-day execution of supply chain management activities across the businesses and functions, establishing clear direction, support and service that ensures consistency of approach with aligned strategies and realization of value capture across categories.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 15 years relevant global industry experience in supply chain management, including procurement spend and capability assessments, multi-phase strategic sourcing efforts, category/commodity management, and business process improvement initiatives
• Proven executive leadership success driving complex change programs across large organizations; must be service oriented, collaborative, adaptable, and able to accomplish results through teamwork
• Practical experience and formal training regarding significant sourcing or business process improvement practices preferred
• Sourcing expertise that is evidenced by a track record of success in roles and situations that support the development of superior skill at strategic sourcing
• Undergraduate degree from a recognized university required
• MBA/Master’s degree (or equivalent) from a recognized university preferred
• Certifications in disciplines such as Procurement, Inventory Management, Lean / Six Sigma, or Operational Planning preferred

ROLE SPECIFIC EXPERTISE/COMPETENCIES

To effectively execute the key activities, objectives and accountabilities of this role, Nutrien’s Vice President & Chief of Procurement will possess and/or demonstrate the following background/experiences, role specific expertise & personal attributes:

Strategy, Process & Performance - Responsible for the overall strategy, priority setting, governance, data/systems, performance measurement/management and reporting for procurement & supply chain management activities. This role will be a key interface with senior operational, business and corporate leaders across NPK/Retail, Finance, External Affairs, Sustainability, Legal, Corporate Development & Strategy, Audit, SH&E, and HR.

• Capital Projects Procurement – Ensures strategies and plans are in place to effectively support execution of supply chain management activities related to capital projects and develops forward-looking strategies to leverage Nutrien’s size and scale in optimizing total cost of ownership/value creation, while supporting business objectives.
• Category Management - Aligns the organizational structure and strategies to support pursuit of high-value, high-potential, enterprise-wide category management opportunities that span organizational procurement spend, with accountability for continuous assessment and evaluation of key supplier performance against strategic priorities and performance objectives.
• Material Management - Responsible for collaboratively aligning with business leaders on optimal organizational strategies for materials management, inventory, surplus, preservation and warehousing processes, with a lens of holistically optimizing for operational continuity, asset efficiency and overall performance/value capture.
• Supply Chain Operations/Execution – Provide leadership through a high-functioning, center-led organization that enables day-to-day execution of supply chain management activities across the businesses and functions, establishing clear direction, support and service that ensures consistency of approach with aligned strategies and realization of value capture across categories