Lead Buyer

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Position Summary:
Provide leadership throughout the procurement cycle, with a focus on needs analysis, development of contracting strategies and the professional and timely execution of higher complexity acquisitions.  This role contributes to the consistent, efficient, effective and compliant execution of procurement activities in accordance with the University’s regulatory and governance framework. 

Primary Responsibilities:

Lead the pre-contract award phases of the procurement cycle (“define needs”, “develop procurement blueprint” and “award contract”) for higher complexity contracts, in accordance with policies, procedures, directives, and guidelines: 

• Receive Contract Request, assess appropriateness and risk ranking, and create a contract record as required. 
• Collect spending information from procurement systems, review benchmark contracts, engage with prospective suppliers to assess trends and conduct cooperative benchmarking with peers. 
• Develop contracting approach and obtain required approvals. 
• Prepare standard tendering documents for competitive processes or determine applicable University or supplier contract templates for the negotiations and prepare mutual agreement package for contract negotiations. 
• Conduct tenders by invitation or public calls for tenders or submit mutual agreement packages to potential suppliers. 
• Verify eligibility of potential suppliers as part of the supplier selection process.
• Review tenders for compliance or negotiating mutual agreement adapted package in collaboration with Legal Services as required.  
• Determine successful tenderer or, through negotiations, finalize mutually acceptable contract documents.
• Obtain all required authorizations to complete the contracting process. 
• Draft announcement in relation to new contract, as appropriate. 
• Submit the contract for approval and signature by the appropriate signing officer. 
• Update Contract Record with catalogue items, including catalogue items and system controls (standard or adapted).
• Report on contract outcomes, including the economic, social, and environmental impacts as validated by the Senior Advisor, Sustainable Procurement. 
• Provide debriefings to tenderers on competitive tendering and gather feedback to support continuous improvement.
• Actively seek and analyze client feedback, and implement improvements to personal or procurement approaches ; escalate issues as appropriate to the Senior Advisor or Associate Director.
• Share contract history to clients if requested when issues arise and liaise with Contract Officer, as applicable. 
• Regularly review key performance indicators and independently assess efficiency and effectiveness of personal stewardship of the procurement cycle. 
• Identify process gaps or pain points, validate findings with colleagues, and propose efficiency or effectiveness improvements to the Associate Director.
• Draft proposed revisions to procedures, directives and guidelines upon request. 
• Attend weekly and monthly Procurement Services team meetings
• Participate in role-relevant training and complete the training and test on the Act respecting contracting by public bodies and its regulatory framework as required by the Sous-secretariat aux marches publics.

Other Qualifying Skills and/or Abilities

• 3+ years’ related experience with an emphasis on client service, autonomous use of financial and / or procurement systems, tendering and negotiations.
• Must be bilingual (English and French) both verbally and written
• Must be familiar with the procurement function and supply chain dependencies.
• Must be resourceful, with a strong degree of professionalism.
• Must have attention to detail, with effective time management skills.
• Must be a strong communicator and a team player.
• Must have experience with common office software.
• Understanding of University culture, policies and procedures is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of the applicable public procurement law (An Act Respecting Contracting by Public Bodies)

As one of Montreal's Top Employers, here is what we offer:

• Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance) (if eligible)
• Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%) (if eligible)
• Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
• Competitive vacation policy
• Two (2) personal days
• Two (2) floating holidays
• Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
• Paid time off over the December holiday period
• Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents
• Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits

Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.

Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level # 4 on a scale of 0-4.

For a definition of our language proficiency levels, please click here.

Minimum Education and Experience:

Bachelor's Degree 3 Years Related Experience with Bachelor’s Degree /

Annual Salary:

(MPEX Grade 05) $71,890.00 - $89,860.00 - $107,830.00

Job Profile:

MPEX-FIN2D - Procurement - Professional 2

Hours per Week:

33.75 (Full time)

Supervisor:

Associate Director, Faculty Procurement

Position End Date (If applicable):

2026-12-31

Deadline to Apply:

2026-04-14

McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected].