Procurement Specialist

About Us

The Ontario Cannabis Store provides safe, responsible access to recreational cannabis for adults 19 and older. We operate the sole legal online store for recreational cannabis in Ontario and are the provincial wholesaler of cannabis for private retail stores.

Working at the OCS is a unique opportunity to be part of an agile start-up in a ground-breaking new industry.  We’re a diverse team passionate about delivering a great customer experience, working together with mutual respect and building value out of our differences.  We’re an inclusive organization that understands that delivering great results comes out of ensuring every voice is heard.  

About the Role

We’re looking for a Procurement Specialist to join our Procurement team. In this role, you will coordinate procurement and purchasing processes for small to large, low to medium complexity and risk procurements across various categories. You will ensure compliance with all applicable policies and guidelines while securing the best value in terms of price, quality, and timelines.

As a Procurement Specialist, you will manage the full RFx lifecycle, oversee purchase order creation, and provide analytics and reporting support. Your strong multitasking skills will help you balance multiple priorities while offering expert guidance on procurement policies, competitive sourcing strategies, and contract negotiations. You will also collaborate with stakeholders to ensure procurement solutions align with business needs, making a meaningful impact on the organization.

About Your Day

• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, suppliers, and the vendor community.
• Consult with stakeholders to understand business needs and identify procurement opportunities.
• Guide stakeholders on procurement policies, protocols, and compliance requirements.
• Support procurement planning by developing creative and effective sourcing strategies.
• Manage the full RFx lifecycle, from requirements gathering to contract finalization.
• Conduct market research and supplier analysis to inform procurement decisions.
• Develop RFx procedures, forms, and evaluation criteria to streamline the process.
• Facilitate kick-off meetings, evaluator training, and consensus discussions.
• Advise on selection methodologies, evaluation criteria, and pricing strategies.
• Assist stakeholders in building negotiation strategies and securing optimal vendor agreements.
• Ensure accurate data entry into procurement systems for audit and tracking purposes.
• Oversee procurement documentation, ensuring compliance and proper record-keeping.
• Act as the primary liaison between vendors and internal teams throughout the procurement process.
• Support category and vendor performance tracking, compliance, and reporting.
• Issue contracts and purchase orders, ensuring all required approvals are obtained.

About You         

• Post-Secondary education in business/commerce or related field, and/or supporting courses in business/commerce, finance, procurement, supply chain, or other related areas, or a relevant combination of education and experience
• 3+ years of experience in a strategic sourcing and/or vendor management role
• Knowledge of strategic sourcing and intermediate procurement and strategic sourcing concepts
• Public sector procurement knowledge and experience including appropriate provincial and federal requirements is preferred
• Sound knowledge of or certification in Procurement/Supply Chain Management including, but not limited to: SCMAO, CPPB, CPPO, PSPP or equivalent.
• Intermediate MS Office skills
• Experience with electronic bidding systems (Merx, Biddingo Bids & Tenders, Jaggear, and others), ERP programs such as D365, Oracle, SAP and others is an asset
• Experience with ServiceNow or other Procurement/Contract Management software is preferred
• Conflict resolution, negotiation, facilitation, problem solving, and interpersonal skills

About the Job

• This position currently offers a hybrid work schedule. The current in office requirement is a minimum of 3 days/week (may be more depending on business needs). The OCS office is located near York Mills and Yonge Street. However, OCS reserves the right to change this policy and its office location at any time.
• City: Toronto, ON 
• Employment Type: Permanent, Full- Time (Bargaining Unit Role; Represented by OPSEU)
• Required Travel: Rare, usually within the GTA
• Application Deadline: February 27, 2025

Compensation

The target hiring range for this position is $84,835-$ $89,000. This is a pay grade 8 BU role, with a salary range of $84,835-103,687. Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.

We are committed to providing an accessible, equitable and inclusive candidate and employee experience. We provide reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process and in employment. If you require an accommodation please let us know, we will work with you to meet your needs.