Procurement Agent

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!

Job Summary 

Reporting to the Procurement Manager, the Procurement Agent is responsible for ensuring procured services meet business requirements, facilitating resolution of technical issues, and interfacing with Business Units with maximum productivity and effectiveness and acting as an escalation for issues encountered.  The Procurement Agent is a key team contact and has subject matter expertise. They are responsible for inputting into the day to day management of team work loads, prioritization, productivity, troubleshooting and issue resolution, expediting, as well as minor conflict resolution.  In addition, the Procurement Agent will collaborate with Procurement & Supply Management (P&SM) Leadership to look for efficiency gains and makes recommendations on process improvements. This role encompasses procurement activities for all of the business units across all spend channels including electronic (e.g., Scope of Work, Purchase Orders, Catalogue). 

Main Responsibilities 

Ensure services are obtained cost effectively to meet requirements and in accordance with corporate compliance requirements, established procedures and policies  Executing workload queues and action requests in a timely manner  Source, negotiate, and purchase non-category, tactical services required by the business units for anything with an annual spend of $1M or less  Assess order progress against plan, identify alternatives to improve order progress, and expedite orders as necessary  Complete purchasing activities by drafting and revising Purchase Orders (PO) as per Business Unit’s requirements, seek appropriate authorization, inform the supplier.  Maintain data integrity on all inputs by comparing items requested to master data, ensuring a suitable item is not already available through existing commercial arrangement (e.g. eCommerce) and by clarifying unclear items  Collaborate with Category Managers, Category Analysts and Technology team to support the development and execution of savings opportunities, efficiencies, process improvements and supplier performance management activities  Develop and monitor KPI’s as business needs arise 

Working Conditions 

Expected to work 8-hour days, Monday through Friday.  Start time no later than 8:30 am and end time not earlier than 4:00 pm.  Dress code is business casual 

Requirements 

Experience 

Relevant work experience   Experience in a customer support role  Experience in planning, sourcing, negotiating, contracting and supplier management*  Experience in drafting and negotiating contracts*  Experience in Procurement to Pay (P2P) processes 

*Any experience for these above would be considered as an asset 

Education/Certification/Designation 

High school diploma or equivalent  Post-secondary studies 

General Skills and Attributes 

Use business acumen to drive results: stay abreast and know how CN operates   Time management and project management  Communicate with impact both orally and in written   Collaborate as ONE team: share timely information with and across functions to get things done effectively  Empower and develop others  Strong sense of urgency  Strong relationship management skills and the capability to explain technical concepts and invoicing requirements to internal functions and suppliers  Strong organizational and presentation skills  Ability to prioritize, multi-task while under pressure while adhering to business-critical deadlines  Apply analytical thinking and solve problems  

Technical Skills/Knowledge 

Good operational procurement skills and procurement process and systems expertise   Advanced computer skills: Microsoft Office Suite and Excel. Beginner to intermediate in any coding language  Understand and use RFQ and RFI processes methods of ordering and payment and market dynamics  Understand Business Unit requirements in the requisition, and evaluate its completeness for Purchase Order creation   General understanding of commercial and contract terms and conditions  Any experience with RPA (Robotic Process Automation) or ERP implementations*   Knowledge with relevant SAP/Ariba/eProcurement/Fieldglass modules* 

*Any knowledge for these above would be considered as an asset 

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.