Senior Procurement Specialist, Procurement and Supply Management - Canadian National Railway Company

Job Summary

The Senior Procurement Specialist, Procurement and Supply Management is responsible to support the Category Fuel & Transportation team by delivering value through category management sourcing strategies, managing supplier accounts and performance, and supporting CN’s decarbonization roadmap. The role touches upon the entire Fuel Lifecycle Management process from the timely procurement of fuel to dispensing into CN assets, as well as ensuring accuracy of data transmission for processing payment through Electronic Receipt Settlement (ERS) with suppliers.

The Senior Procurement Specialist will work closely with the Category Manager to analyze and present data throughout the category management process, develop sourcing project plans, prepare procurement process documentation, and manage sourcing events through to evaluation and final recommendation. The Senior Procurement Specialist is also responsible to ensure that processes follow the CN Procurement Policy and obtain the appropriate approvals, as required. 

Main Responsibilities

Procurement Management

·       Integrate Sustainable Procurement and Supplier Risk Management strategies within our day-to-day procurement processes to uphold CN’s commitment to safety and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance

·       Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather business requirements for development and execution of category management sourcing (RFx) strategies, in addition to evaluating proposals, analyzing total cost of ownership (TCO), and formalizing a final recommendation

·       Understand market drivers, trends, and changes to governmental policies that may impact CN’s fuel supply and logistics strategy

·       Prepare and conduct direct-negotiations with existing and/or new potential suppliers

·       Onboard new suppliers and manage outline agreements and price formulas within SAP in accordance with supplier contracts to enable procure-to-pay process

·       Manage supplier contracts and relationships such as monitoring supplier performance, contractual obligations, invoice/payment management, and identifying continuous improvement opportunities

·       Draft new and/or amend existing supplier contracts in collaboration with internal stakeholders to ensure CN’s business requirements are met

·       Ensure adherence to CN’s Procurement Policy throughout all stages of the procurement process

·       Execute internal approval processes and supporting documentation, as required

·       Participate and support department-wide projects, as required

Fuel Management

·       Manage day-to-day operations and facilitate resolution of financial/operational issues with suppliers

·       Monitor fuel inventory levels at bulk storage and tank car supplied locations

·       Ensure continuous operations and maintain fuel supply resiliency across the CN network

·       Establish monthly / quarterly fuel demand forecast to complement suppliers volume allocation planning activities

·       Coordinate the supply of cost competitive biofuels in accordance with supplier blend schedules and OEM-approved blend limitations

Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and Other Reporting

·       Develop, monitor, and track monthly supply of biofuel volume network-wide in collaboration with suppliers to support CN’s decarbonization and sustainability roadmap

·       Prepare costing reports enabling internal stakeholders to make important decisions based on financial and operational facts and trends

·       Support periodic supplier audits such as fuel deliveries to validate accuracy of volume, pricing, and extra charges (i.e. driver wait time)

·       Ensure all reporting deadlines are adhered to including scheduled, ad hoc, internal and external reporting

·       Contribute to internal and external audits throughout the year and provide supporting documentation

·       Conduct data analytics to identify potentially missing or incorrect fuel data

·       Compute and track contractual benefits monthly (cost savings and cost avoidance) against annual objectives

·       Ensure SOX compliance of all automated and manual controls

Working Conditions

·       The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular work week from Monday to Friday. We are currently working under a hybrid work model, working from the office every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday and working from home every Wednesday and Friday.

·       Minimal travel (infrequent and short trips) across North America may be required.

·       As the team directly supports CN’s operations, the role requires being available to respond to occasional inquiries outside of normal working hours and weekends.

Requirements

Experience

·       Between 2 to 3 years of experience in an Analyst or Senior Analyst role

·       Between 2 to 3 years of experience in preparing and analyzing large datasets and financial reports

·       Relevant work experience in Data Analytics *

·       Relevant work experience in Railroad Operations *

·       Relevant work experience in Oil and Gas / Petroleum market *

*Any experience for these above would be considered an asset

Education/Certification/Designation

·       Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Engineering, or equivalent

·       Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation *

·       Master of Business Administration (MBA) designation *

 *Any designation for these above would be considered an asset

General Skills and Attributes

·       Demonstrate financial acumen and strong data analytics skills

·       Knows the business and stays current on industry trends

·       Customer service, project management, and negotiations

·       Embrace a collaborative mindset and share information

·       Communicate effectively and engage with internal and external stakeholders

·       Apply analytical thinking and problem solving

·       Self starter able to work on the entire project life-cycle 

·       Ability to manage multiple, diverse category, projects at the same time

Technical Skills/Knowledge

·       Strong Microsoft Office skills (Excel, PowerPoint) and other data analytics tools (Tableau, PowerBI)

·       Ability to drive innovative analysis to understand market trends/factors/governmental policies, cost drivers, suppliers and best practices

·       Understand Category Management and Strategic Sourcing principles

·       Understand CN’s Procurement Policies and Procedures

·       Understand contract structure, terms and conditions, and supplier performance principles

·       Basic understanding of commercial aspects of product/service categories

·       Experience with SAP Ariba or similar procurement systems is preferred

·       Understanding of the rail transportation or logistics industry is preferred

·       Understanding of the Oil and Gas / Petroleum market is preferred

About CN

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the Southern tip of the U.S. through a 19,500 mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. At CN, we work as ONE TEAM, focused on safety, sustainability and our customers, providing operational and supply chain excellence to deliver results.