Category Director, Procurement - Apples, Pears and Cherries
Location: 1105 Fountain Street North, Cambridge, ON
Time Type: Full time
Posted On: 2 Days Ago
End Date: December 13, 2024 (26 days left to apply)
Referred applicants should not apply directly to this role.
All referred applicants must first be submitted through Workday by a current Loblaw Colleague.
Come make your difference in communities across Canada, where authenticity, trust and making connections is valued – as we shape the future of Canadian retail, together. Our unique position as one of the country's largest employers, coupled with our commitment to positively impact the lives of all Canadians, provides our colleagues a range of opportunities and experiences to help Canadians Live Life Well.
Why is this role important:
Reporting to the Senior Director, Produce Procurement, the Director, Procurement will be the subject matter expert dedicated to specific categories who will be relentlessly focused on securing the best cost for the enterprise. The Director, Procurement will be accountable for negotiating with vendors to purchase products for the Discount, Market, Wholesale, SDM divisions and leverage the scale of the organization to enable the delivery of better value for the customer.
What you'll do:
* Meet with Category Director(s) in Merchandising to understand procurement needs, and to identify and evaluate vendors based on a set of criteria/scorecard to select the best vendor.
* Negotiate with National Brand vendors for 1st cost (which includes baseline Over & Above case rates to deliver category 1st cost targets and budget alongside enterprise objectives).
* Work with the Commodity Cost Review team to assess how vendor costs are tracking relative to market trends (using playbook as a guide).
* Initiate and own the vendor Request for Proposal (RFP) process to source products that align to the category strategy and objectives.
* Participate in the Enterprise Joint Business Planning (JBP) process, using reports and materials created by the JBP team and meet with the Merchandising teams in advance to plan cost-driven initiatives.
* Share information with the Merchandising and Control Brand teams on new products available and market trends to help inform category strategy and product development.
* Serve as first touchpoint with vendors for all 1st cost related troubleshooting.
* Develop 1st cost procurement strategies using levers (ie: commodity driven, RFP) aligned with the category playbook in partnership with merchandising.
* Complete negotiations for new and existing products, and collaborate with the Category Director in Merchandising to obtain final decisions on products.
* Provide insight and input with new innovative sourcing and procurement opportunities that can be tied to trends in the market, through research and analysis of vendor landscape.
* Collaborate with category teams for quality related issues.
* Participate in supplier facing enterprise initiatives.
* Accountable for delivering budgeted 1st cost targets.
* Work with Procurement Support team members for new vendor setup and new items that require a first cost signoff in collaboration with the Central Data Management (CDM) team.
* Collaborate with category teams to source new, sustainable products and vendors.
* Collaborate with the Replenishment and Transport teams to resolve major inventory issues as they arise.
* Facilitate where needed on major vendor stock supply chain issues.
* Provide updates to the VP of Procurement on Procurement strategies and initiatives.
* Conduct and review post-mortem analysis on the effectiveness of vendor management and procurement.
* Work with the Merchandising team to review performance metrics and determine any specific action and support required.
* Guide, coach, and motivate Procurement team members, and conduct performance reviews.
* Build and lead diverse teams that foster a workplace of inclusiveness and belonging.
What you bring:
* Demonstrated success in a procurement or merchandising role.
* Demonstrates a passion for buying and confident negotiator.
* Ability to influence internal/external partners.
* Excellent communication (verbal, written and comprehension) and presentation skills.
* The desire to drive innovation across the business and develop ongoing costing strategies.
* A strategic attitude with a demonstrated track record of achieving performance achievements.
* Demonstrates strong Financial Competence.
* Strong leadership skills.
* Proven collaboration skills.
Our commitment to Sustainability and Social Impact is an essential part of the way we do business. We focus on areas where we can have the greatest impact. Our approach is based on three pillars – Environment, Sourcing and Community.
If you are unsure whether your experience matches every requirement above, we encourage you to apply anyway. We are looking for varied perspectives which include diverse experiences that we can add to our team.
We have a long-standing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion because we know it will make our company a better place to work and shop. Requests for accommodation due to a disability can be made at any stage of application and employment.
Please Note: Candidates who are 18 years or older are required to complete a criminal background check. Details will be provided through the application process.
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