Job Description
The incumbent is responsible for owning the strategic direction of a defined category of goods and services that directly support CN's rail and logistics operations. The role leads the development and execution of category management strategies that deliver sustainable value by balancing cost, quality, risk, innovation, and operational needs. The incumbent leads cross-functional teams, manages key supplier relationships, and oversees a team of Procurement Specialists and Senior Specialists to drive category performance against business objectives. The role has signing authority and direct accountability for category outcomes that impact CN's bottom line.
Category Strategy and Execution
Negotiation and Contract Management
Supplier Portfolio Management
Stakeholder Engagement
Team Leadership and Development
Compliance and Risk Management
Data, Digital and AI Excellence
Project and Process Management
The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday and is eligible to participate in CN's hybrid work model. The role involves managing priorities and delivering work within established timelines, with support from the team to ensure sustainable and effective workload management. The role requires travel up to 10% within North America.Requirements
Strategic Procurement or Supply Chain Operations
* Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory)
* Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory)
Manager Procurement Category-CA
Req Id:
977
Job Location:
Montreal - QC
Business Unit:
Finance
Highest Level Division:
Procurement & Supply Management
Posting Start Date:
9/29/26
Posting End Date:
10-13-2026
French/English Bilingual Requirement:
No
Hiring Salary Range: $ 110000 - 144000
This range represents the hiring range. Salaries are determined individually depending on skills and experience. You will also be eligible to an annual bonus, employee share investment program (ESIP), Pension, Benefits and other perks.
At CN, we are committed to our pursuit of excellence. We take pride in delivering work of the highest standard, continually innovating to shape the railroad of the future. As responsible railroaders, we make the right decisions every time, putting safety first, acting with unwavering integrity, and holding ourselves accountable for our actions. We believe in succeeding together—by fostering inclusivity and collaboration, we sustainably deliver exceptional results for our customers.
Join us today and get your career moving!
Job Summary
The incumbent is responsible for owning the strategic direction of a defined category of goods and services that directly support CN's rail and logistics operations. The role leads the development and execution of category management strategies that deliver sustainable value by balancing cost, quality, risk, innovation, and operational needs. The incumbent leads cross-functional teams, manages key supplier relationships, and oversees a team of Procurement Specialists and Senior Specialists to drive category performance against business objectives. The role has signing authority and direct accountability for category outcomes that impact CN's bottom line.
Main Responsibilities
Category Strategy and Execution
- Establish category management objectives, strategies, and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets aligned with CN's business plan
- Lead spend analysis, category segmentation, and opportunity identification
- Oversee demand planning and forecasting for assigned categories
- Lead cross-functional teams in the development and execution of category strategies
- Adjust external market factors and integrate plans across related categories
Negotiation and Contract Management
- Drive negotiations for medium- to high-complexity contracts within signing authority
- Establish contract management principles, compliance practices, and governance frameworks
- Ensure effective management of the contractual lifecycle from award to close-out
- Develop business cases for executive commitment and investment decisions
Supplier Portfolio Management
- Monitor supplier performance and manage key relationships within the category
- Establish supplier performance frameworks and conduct regular business reviews
- Identify and mitigate supply chain risks through proactive supplier management
- Drive supplier development initiatives to improve quality, delivery, innovation, and sustainability performance
Stakeholder Engagement
- Demonstrate thorough understanding of issues and their impacts; propose and evaluate solutions while highlighting implications of not reaching agreements
- Explain interdependencies between procurement decisions and broader business outcomes
- Influence others by communicating strong rationale and build trust with stakeholders to achieve maximum value in negotiations
Team Leadership and Development
- Directly supervise and develop a team of Procurement Specialists and Senior Specialists
- Support talent development and execute talent management plans
- Provide coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to drive team growth
- Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture aligned with CN values
Compliance and Risk Management
- Evaluate and quantify risk impacts across the category portfolio and articulate and present risks to business partners with proposed mitigation measures
- Ensure all procurement policies are followed within the team and provide consultation and guidance to team members and stakeholders
- Perform root cause analysis on compliance failures and implement corrective actions
Data, Digital and AI Excellence
- Define methods and guidelines for using procurement technologies within the team and conduct advanced analysis using all relevant data sources
- Keep up with market developments in procurement technology, analytics, and AI applications and identify opportunities to deploy AI-enabled solutions
- Strive for optimal organizational efficiency, improve business processes, and recommend holistic changes to ways of working
Project and Process Management
- Integrate project plans across multiple concurrent projects and identify areas of synergy or dependency
- Evaluate progress and adjust for external factors affecting timelines or scope
- Demonstrate deep knowledge of interdependencies across functions, anticipate risks, and influence outcomes through effective stakeholder management
Working Conditions
The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday and is eligible to participate in CN's hybrid work model. The role involves managing priorities and delivering work within established timelines, with support from the team to ensure sustainable and effective workload management. The role requires travel up to 10% within North America.Requirements
Experience
Strategic Procurement or Supply Chain Operations
- Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in procurement, supply chain operations, or a related field
- Proven experience leading cross-functional sourcing teams and managing category portfolios
- Record of accomplishment in developing and executing procurement strategies with measurable results
- People management experience, including coaching and team development
- Candidates with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered
Education/Certification/Designation
- Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Finance, or related degree
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master's degree*
- Professional certification or designation such as Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)*
- Candidates with equivalent practical experience, education, or training will be considered
* Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory)
Competencies
- We Care About Each Other
- We Strive for Excellence
- We Succeed Together
- We Lead Responsibly
- Vision and strategic thinking
- Impactful and inclusive leadership
- Performance and value delivery
- Empowerment and talent development
- Strategic communication and influence
- Managerial courage and decisiveness
- Compliance
- Business acumen
- Process optimization
- High-Impact Execution
- Negotiation
Technical Skills/Knowledge
- Strong command of category management methodologies and strategic sourcing frameworks
- Advanced analytical capabilities, including spend analytics and financial modelling
- Experience with enterprise procurement platforms including SAP, Ariba, and Fieldglass
- Knowledge of Total Cost of Ownership and Net Present Value concepts
- Complete understanding of category management, contracting, and pricing models
- Advanced knowledge of contract terms and conditions
- Knowledge of CN's procurement policies and procedures, affiliate rules, and regulatory compliance
- Excellent leadership, communication, and presentation skills
- Bilingualism, English and French
* Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory)
Additional Information (If Any)
About CN
CN is a premium railroad that sustainably generates value for our customers, shareholders, employees, and stakeholders with an unwavering commitment to safety and service. 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. CN's network connects Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through an 18,800-mile rail network. CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN powers the North American economy and is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
At CN, we are dedicated to building North America's safest, most inclusive and sustainable railroad, which includes reflecting the communities in which we operate. Research shows that candidates often don't apply unless they feel they fit the job posting at 100%. To all potential applicants, even if you don't meet every job requirement listed in a posting, we still encourage you to apply. If you require an accommodation for the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodations), please get in touch with our team at cnrecruitment@cn.ca.
As an equal opportunity employer, qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.
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