Senior Advisor, Information and Operational Technology, Procurement and Supply Management

At CN, everyday brings new and exciting challenges. You can expect an interesting environment where you’re part of making sure our business is running optimally and safely―helping keep the economy on track. We provide the kind of paid training and opportunities that long-term careers are built on and we recognize hard workers who strive to make a difference. You will be able to thrive in our close-knit, safety-focused culture working together as ONE TEAM. The careers we offer are meaningful because the work we do matters. Join us!

The Senior Advisor, Information and Operational Technology, Procurement and Supply Management (P&SM) is responsible for advising and supporting the P&SM Information and Operational Technology (I&T/OT) team in strategic category procurement decisions, technology-related project procurement and contract requirements. As such, the position is actively engaging Information and Technology (I&T) business management, internal customers and stakeholders to get a thorough understanding of requirements as well as applying market knowledge in order to advise and support the team with procurement process. Furthermore, the role provides technical procurement expertise on policies, procedures, systems and standards to support the team to undertake procurement planning, development, sourcing and management to make strategic decisions and effectively meet CN’s and P&SM’s objectives.

·       Act as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for I&T/OT procurement by having in-depth knowledge of P&SM procedures and CN’s I&T function

·       Advise and support the team by applying knowledge and expertise to procurement and commercial elements of category procurement activity

·       Advise business management, internal customers and stakeholders in the application of best practices and in line with the Procurement Policy

·       Support onboarding of new team members by job shadowing, delivery of targeted training sessions and coaching

·       Conduct full procurement activity on selected key initiatives in collaboration with the Category Managers, the Category Analysts or the Contract Specialists

·       Lead negotiations of complex contracts with a multitude of vendors for CN corporate strategic programs and I&T/OT projects (master services and purchase agreements, license agreements, maintenance & support agreement [including Service Level Agreement], and statements of work)

·       Ensure contractual protections are put in place to protect CN’s interest and mitigate project risks (including data ownership, derivative data, intellectual property rights and ownership)

·       Participate actively in the definition of requirements, vendor analysis, RFX full process, negotiation strategy and playbook, final recommendation and award process

·       Contribute to reporting requirements and contract management activities

·       Provide market intelligence, insight and advice to assist in strategic procurement activity

·       Interact with key internal customers and management at different levels to keep current with priorities and business requirements and to identify efficiencies

·       Be fully aware of I&T related new topics and challenges (e.g., I&T Security, rapid expansion of cloud environments, and new technologies applied to business and operations)

·       Provide coaching and support to the Category Managers, the Category Analysts or the Contract Specialists in performing their procurement activities.

The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday. The role requires occasional travel (20 to 40%) within Canada and the United States. Due to the nature of the role, the incumbent must be able to meet tight deadlines, handle pressure, and stress.

Business and I&T

·       Minimum 15 years of procurement and/or relevant I&T experience

o    Experience in category management and contract management

o    Experience in drafting and negotiating technology contracts for major projects (from initial implementation to maintenance), including hardware, software licensing and professional services

o    Experience or background in Information Technology or Operational Technology

·       Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Science, Finance or Law

·       Demonstrates agility and drives change

·       Knows the business and stays current on industry needs

·       Applies critical thinking

·       Collaborates with others and shares information

·       Seeks and values all perspectives

·       Sets direction and inspires others

·       Communicates with impact

·       Demonstrates active listening

·       Solves problems to create value

·       Knowledge of I&T/OT procurement

·       Good understanding of technology landscape and suppliers

·       Negotiation skills

·       Communicate effectively at various level

·       Ability to coach and mentor peers and business stakeholders on key concepts

 About CN

 CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. 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. As the only railroad connecting Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the Southern tip of the U.S. through a 19,500 mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. At CN, we work as ONE TEAM, focused on safety, sustainability and our customers, providing operational and supply chain excellence to deliver results.