Purchasing Manager

About Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Widely recognized as top-of-class by meeting and event organizers around the world, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) has hosted over 22,000 events in our four-decade history. We are proud to support the local tourism industry as one of North America's leading convention centres, having added more than eight billion dollars in direct spending economic impact to our community. MTCC is a Crown Corporation of the Province of Ontario and is proudly governed and led by an executive management team and an independent board of directors comprised of senior private sector business leaders.

The Metro Toronto Convention Centre prides itself on its professionalism and dedication to making every event it hosts memorable for its customers and guests alike.

For a behind the scenes look at how our team helps our customers create successful events, visit our Instagram page:

@lifeatmtcc

Job Description

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

To manage the purchasing process for internal and external clients. Ensure policy and compliance throughout the purchasing process, ensuring quality standards at a competitive price, as well as source and maintain a database of suppliers and products.

External Accountabilities:

• Participates in key supplier negotiation working to secure long-term contracts in return for preferred pricing service.
• In absence of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), participates in product evaluation with Vice President of Food & Beverage and other management personnel.
• Keeps abreast with daily routine and assist in problem solving when required with receiving / store personnel.
• Liaison between vendors and internal stakeholders to facilitate communications with vendors, manufacturers and business colleagues regarding placing orders, resolving issues, providing sales presentations and / or product inquiries and all RFx processes.

Internal Accountabilities:

• Sourcing goods and services for the MTCC at the right outlet, for the right service and price and in accordance with the corporate Procurement Policy.
• Make produce and non-food purchasing and product recommendations to appropriate management and all levels of staff.
• Develop and implement volume discount/rebate programs with suppliers. Maintain various vendor market quotations weekly. Development of organizational procurement strategy. Identification and realization of cost savings and reduction activities.
• Develop and design a centralized process for RFxs management. Provide expertise in the preparation of procurement documents (RFx) and contracts for specific sourcing events as assigned. Design a centralized rating system to analyze the decision process of competing bids. Facilitate and support the contract award process, which will include the drafting of procurement materials, management and issuance of bid process documents, the vendor selection process, and support of ongoing vendor management.
• Budget management for procurement. Develop strategies to improve tender execution, contract negotiation and supplier performance evaluation, delivery planning and monitoring, purchase execution, and performance management. Lead sourcing initiatives while following the guidelines of the Ontario Broader Public Sector Procurement Directive as it applies to Other Government Entities.
• Ensure corporate compliance with policies and procedures, authorities, directives, legislation, and purchasing by-laws. Form and lead cross-functional working teams to formulate short to long-term sourcing strategies for identified categories. Work with executive and senior management to integrate planning and procurement, purchasing practices, and supply chain management to drive operational and cost efficiencies (both short-term and long-term) and ensure practices are aligned with business objectives.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of our strategic sourcing agreements and identify areas of savings and process improvements through contract consolidation, outsourcing, and other opportunities. Ensure the integrity, transparency, reliability, timeliness, and accuracy of financial data, reports, and analyses pertaining to the procurement process, approvals, and procurement systems.
• Develop, train, and mentor staff to ensure that they meet required performance standards. Maintain and update vendor databases in all business systems. Develop and maintain SOPs for the purchasing department. Procurement reporting at the Ministry's request. Other duties as assigned or directed.
• Internally, communicate with department managers and various administrative staff to determine their needs, process purchasing requests, conduct purchase inquiries, and provide purchasing advice. Make recommendations to department managers and administrative staff regarding products and purchasing decisions.
• Responsible for sourcing goods that are required within a short period of time (i.e. 1 hour), finding alternative options when primary products are not available, and researching new products. Responsible for ordering products and ensuring that they are received in good condition and are the correct ones.
• Provides support and advice to MTCC staff about products through extensive research. This position provides assistance to the Food & Beverage Controller to ensure a smooth workflow and provides vendor selection which may impact on bottom line.

JOB SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Working knowledge of the market place, manufacturers both local and abroad, and product knowledge.

• With strong interpersonal and people management skills and approximately ten years in the purchasing field you are geared for action and deliver on what you say.

• You also have a bottom line orientation with the understanding that quality cannot be compromised for the sake of cost savings.

• Highly organized, an effective negotiator and communicator, knowledgeable in the wholesale food industry and are proficient in the standard suite of office software

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum three (3) to five (5) years' experience in a procurement role

• Certificate in Purchasing, or courses towards Professional Purchaser registration is preferred

• Sound knowledge of Ontario Public Service (OPS) procurement policies and directives as well as relevant legislation and practices

• Working knowledge of computer systems including Microsoft Office, Excel, Biddingo, Adaco, EBM.

• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders

• Experience with F&B and hospitality industry procurements

• Demonstrates a commitment to providing a high level of customer service, with an acute understanding of the customer and their needs; utilizes sound judgment and decision making

• Demonstrates project management skills; ability to organize, control and coordinate a variety of activities in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment

• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently

• Ability to prioritize workload, manage unexpected occurrences and at the same time manage deadlines

• Experience in administering terms and conditions of formal contracts

• Knowledge and experience in materials provisioning and understanding of business and legal issues

• Excellent communication skills combined with strong analytical abilities and mathematical aptitude required

• Demonstrates experience in supplier relationship management and supplier qualification

• Proven team player

Interested applicants are asked to submit their application online no later than:

March 20, 2025

Please note: The Metro Toronto Convention Centre is proud to provide employment accommodation during the recruitment process. During any stage of the recruitment process, applicants have the right to request accommodation.