Junior Procurement Specialist

Overview

This is a six-month contract position, with the potential for extension, based in either Calgary or Edmonton. Reporting to the Procurement Supervisor, the role involves independently managing the procurement of goods and services within assigned commodity areas while adhering to established purchasing policies and procedures. The Procurement Specialist ensures the timely and accurate execution of purchase orders, beginning from requisition intake through final approval. This includes developing purchase orders and request for proposals (RFx), steering bidding activities when necessary, and collaborating with Strategic Sourcing teams to align purchasing with category strategies. As the main point of contact for client procurement needs, typical duties involve procurement requisition (PR) triage, bid management, and issuing purchase orders (POs) to external vendors.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the full cycle from purchase requisition to purchase order processing, including handling releases, change orders, resolving errors, and closing out orders.
• Process and convert purchase requisitions into purchase orders in line with organizational procurement policies and standardized procedures.
• Create releases for blanket orders and convert contract purchase agreements into purchase orders.
• Identify and resolve issues related to pricing discrepancies, contract terms, delivery schedules, and shipment accuracy.
• Track order statuses to ensure punctual delivery and promptly address any supply chain concerns.
• Maintain organized documentation of contracts and purchase orders for compliance and audit purposes.
• Act as liaison between procurement and vendors during vendor pre-qualification to ensure adherence to company policies.
• Collect, classify, and analyze information to complete purchase agreements, contracts, releases, change orders, requisitions, and receipts.
• Effectively communicate with suppliers, internal departments, and contract administrators to facilitate procurement processes.
• Lead meetings, presentations, and training sessions related to procurement activities and procedures when required.
• Operate independently with strong organizational skills, maintaining professionalism and attention to detail.
• Provide updates, support, and guidance to internal business users regarding procurement activities.
• Generate periodic reports outlining procurement operations, expenses incurred, and savings realized.
• Support the development and training of junior buyers.
• Lead informal bidding processes such as RFQs and RFIs including bid receipt, evaluation, and recommendation for vendor selection.
• Analyze vendor bids using spreadsheet and other data analysis tools, summarizing findings to inform procurement decisions.
• Collaborate with end users and sourcing/contract operations teams on the pre-award contracting process to finalize vendor agreements based on defined scopes and specifications.
• Interpret specifications, contracts, purchase orders, and work orders for procurement accuracy.
• Serve as the contact point for internal stakeholders requesting procurement status and action items.
• Advise on appropriate procurement methodologies in accordance with financial and contractual approval thresholds and organizational procurement policies.
• Identify and recommend process improvements to enhance procurement efficiency and compliance.

Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum of 2 years direct experience in procurement or related roles.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or Supply Chain Management.
• Supply Chain Management Association (SCMA) designation preferred, or enrollment in SCMA certification is an asset.
• Solid understanding of procurement, tendering, and contract management principles.
• Competency in bid, contract, and specification analysis.
• Strong organizational abilities, effective time management, and multitasking capacity.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word, ERP software, and data analysis tools.
• Proven track record in delivering high-quality customer service while handling competing demands.
• Capable of working both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, fast-paced setting.