CATEGORY MANAGEMENT LEAD

• Job ID: 55283
• Job Category: Finance, Accounting & Purchasing
• Division & Section: Purchasing & Materials Management, Purchasing Client Services
• Work Location: 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5G 1P5
• Job Type & Duration: Full-Time, 2 Permanent Vacancies
• Salary: $94,905.00- $128,386.00
• Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
• Affiliation: Non-Union
• Number of Positions Open: 2
• Posting Period: 30-May-2025 to 13-June-2025 

The Purchasing & Materials Management Division is a critical function within the City of Toronto's complex multi-site, multi-division, and multi-stakeholder environment, partnering with all City divisions, designated agencies, and corporations in order to procure goods and services at the best value. As part of its commitment to ensuring open, fair, equitable and accessible business processes and practices, the Division utilizes a fair and transparent procurement process, provides leadership and quality customer service, and implements the highest standards of business ethics across the organization.

Job Description:

This posting is to fill up to two (2) roles within the Construction, Operations & Maintenance & and/or Information Technology & Cyber Security categories.

The Category Management Lead will be a procurement and supply chain professional with a track record of strategically sourcing reliable vendors, negotiating and managing contracts and achieving savings and best value for the clients. Manager, Category Management and Strategic Sourcing, you will manage various strategic sourcing solicitations and contracts in your respective category. Your role includes but is not limited to the development and execution of sourcing strategies and delivery of assigned solicitation RFx packages with 100% compliance to City's By-laws and policies.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develops and implements category-specific procurement plans in alignment with divisional priorities, project pipelines, and City-wide financial and operational goals.
• Leads end-to-end strategic sourcing initiatives, including market research and analysis, spend analytics, cost modeling, sourcing strategy development, RFx creation and management, supplier negotiations, and contracting.
• Recommends and applies appropriate solicitation and evaluation methodologies based on project complexity, risk, and timelines to ensure compliance and best value outcomes.
• Executes the development of competitive RFx documents and complex negotiation strategies in collaboration with internal stakeholders and subject matter experts.
• Provides strategic guidance to client divisions, supporting their procurement planning, benchmarking, supplier engagement, and performance reporting needs.
• Manages a portfolio of contracts and sourcing initiatives across one or more assigned categories, including Roster and Vendor of Record (VOR) arrangements, and reports on category performance to leadership.
• Supports the development and execution of category strategies that consider market conditions, innovation opportunities, and supplier capabilities.
• Oversees contract implementation in partnership with divisional clients, providing project and change management support to ensure operational readiness and adoption.
• Develops professional reports, presentations, and briefing materials to support procurement recommendations, including Council and Committee reports related to contract awards.
• Leads supplier briefings, debriefings, and information sessions throughout the procurement lifecycle.
• Ensures documentation is accurate, complete, and audit-ready, in compliance with City's procurement policies and record-keeping standards.
• Supports procurement-related dispute resolution processes through preparation of relevant documentation and analysis.
• Provides coaching, mentorship, and guidance to assigned staff to foster continuous learning, innovation, and high performance.

Key Qualifications:

1. Must have post-secondary education in Business, Economics, Finance, Engineering, Information Technology, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
2. Must have extensive experience in strategic sourcing and procurement, with a proven track record of leading and delivering complex sourcing projects.
3. Preferred relevant category experience in one or more of the following areas: Construction, facilities maintenance, operations and/or Information Technology.
4. Strong knowledge of public procurement practices, policies, and applicable legislation, including the Construction Act of Ontario, CCDC documents, and relevant municipal or provincial procurement regulations.
5. Demonstrated experience in developing and executing sourcing strategies, including RFx development, contract negotiation, supplier performance management, and cost optimization.
6. Familiarity with broad-based sourcing strategies, including demand management, total cost of ownership reduction, and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM).
7. Experience using eProcurement and enterprise systems (e.g., SAP, Ariba, Oracle, Maximo, JD Edwards, Bravo Solutions, Merx, Zycus).
8. Must have extensive experience and proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, with advanced skills in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
9. Strong project management skills, including the ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple, high-impact initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
10. Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision while exercising sound judgment.
11. Experience leading, mentoring, and motivating staff, fostering teamwork and knowledge sharing.
12. Exceptional stakeholder management, interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships.
13. Ability to conduct work in a professional, ethical, confidential, and transparent manner, aligned with corporate values and the City's code of conduct.
14. Knowledge of Ontario employment-related legislation (e.g., OHSA, Human Rights Code, Employment Standards Act) is considered an asset.
15. Designations such as SCMP (Supply Chain Management Professional) or PMP (Project Management Professional) are considered assets.

Note To Current City of Toronto Employees

City of Toronto employees are eligible to apply for the posted job opportunity, but cannot hold two different jobs. To be considered for this job posting, you must indicate that you are a "Current City of Toronto employee" on the on-line application form, and provide your "Employee Number".

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.