Associate Category Manager, Store Supplies - Non-Trade Enterprise Sourcing

Come make your difference in communities across Canada, where authenticity, trust and making connections is valued – as we shape the future of Canadian retail, together. Our unique position as one of the country's largest employers, coupled with our commitment to positively impact the lives of all Canadians, provides our colleagues a range of opportunities and experiences to help Canadians Live Life Well®.

At Loblaw Companies Limited, we succeed through collaboration and commitment and set a high bar for ourselves and those around us. Whether you are just starting your career, re-entering the workforce, or looking for a new job, this is where you belong. 

The Associate Category Manager, Store Supplies - Non-Trade Enterprise Sourcing will join the team of others reporting to the Senior Category Manager. You will be deeply involved in conducting analysis to support category strategy development and execution as well as actively involved in supplier engagement and strategic supplier relationship management. They are required to have strong problem-solving skills with extensive experience using Excel and/or PowerBI in order to conduct quantitative analysis and create/maintain a category fact base using multiple (and sometimes ambiguous) sources of data and provide recurring and ad hoc sophisticated analytical assignments to the category management teams. The role will also be required to conduct detailed supply market analysis and build category and supplier profiles. Strong communication and social skills are vital.

Strategic Sourcing

• Use detailed market analysis to create scenarios regarding potential market development. Use insights from market analysis to support stakeholder innovation, to mitigate risks for client BU, and to amend category strategies or to deliver additional savings
• Actively developing and managing strategic supplier relationships while managing risk and compliance
• Conducting RFx sourcing events including establishing baseline, analysis of supplier bid proposals and category benefits assessment and key performance metrics
• Conducting comprehensive supply market analysis to identify sourcing opportunities
• Ability to use historical data to create supplier risk profiles and quantify supplier risks/opportunities

Business & Category Management

• Support the execution of category management strategies and activities and of strategic sourcing process and approaches for assigned categories/sub-categories
• Ability to conduct reliable analysis
• Preparing and assessing potential sourcing scenarios
• Implementing e-Sourcing techniques and engaging with suppliers who provide e-catalogs
• Managing internal customers and accounting for their needs while resolving difficult issues in a timely manner
• ESG reporting and supplier assessment required for Stewardship data collection and support

What You'll Need:

• A minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business Management
• 1-3 years relevant experience (including financial reporting/analysis, layered analytic/problem solving experience)
• Previous experience within category management or strategic sourcing in a retail environment preferred
• Previous experience with SAP, Ariba and Fieldglass would be an added advantage
• Proficient with MS Office (specifically Excel, PowerPoint)

Skills and Capabilities:

Behavior:

• Strong analytical and negotiation skills
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work with disparate teams
• Creative, quality and results-driven
• Strong work ethic and problem-solving skills
• High degree of ingenuity, creativity and innovation
• Highly organized and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

Technical Skills:

• Strong in analytics; deep use of Excel, PowerPoint, PowerBI and/or Access
• Strong problem-solving skills and work ethic
• Strong attention to detail and organization skills
• Category specific background would be an added advantage
• Technical knowledge of performance measurement and tracking

Communication Skills

• Strong organizational, verbal communication and writing skills
• Ability to present ideas in business-friendly and user-friendly language
• Fluent in English (written and spoken)
• Ability to summarize complex data into key insights

At Loblaw, we respect the environment, source products with integrity and make a positive difference in the community. Our CORE Values – Care, Ownership, Respect and Excellence – guide all our decision-making and come to life through our Blue Culture. We offer our colleagues progressive careers, comprehensive training, flexibility, and other competitive benefits – these are some of the many reasons why we are one of Canada’s Top Employers.

Loblaw recognizes Canada's diversity as a source of national pride and strength. We have made it a priority to reflect our nation’s evolving diversity in the products we sell, the people we hire, and the culture we create in our organization.

Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired.

Our commitment to Sustainability and Social Impact is an essential part of the way we do business, and we focus our attention on areas where we can have the greatest impact. Our approach to sustainability and social impact is based on three pillars – Environment, Sourcing and Community – and we are constantly looking for ways to demonstrate leadership in these important areas. Our CORE Values – Care, Ownership, Respect and Excellence – guide all our decision-making and come to life through our Blue Culture. We offer our colleagues progressive careers, comprehensive training, flexibility, and other competitive benefits – these are some of the many reasons why we are one of Canada’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, Canada’s Greenest Employers & Canada’s Top Employers for Young People.

If you are unsure whether your experience matches every requirement above, we encourage you to apply anyway. We are looking for varied perspectives which include diverse experiences that we can add to our team.

We have a long-standing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion because we know it will make our company a better place to work and shop. We are committed to creating accessible environments for our colleagues, candidates and customers. Requests for accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary or permanent) can be made at any stage of application and employment. We encourage candidates to make their accommodation needs known so that we can provide equitable opportunities.  
 
Please Note:
Candidates who are 18 years or older are required to complete a criminal background check. Details will be provided through the application process.

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