Senior Specialist Procurement Category
Canadian National RailwayJob Description Apply now Senior Specialist Procurement Category Req Id: 954 Job Location: Montreal - QC Business Unit: Finance Highest Level Division: Procurement & Supply Management Posting Start Date: 10/6/26 Posting End Date: 10/20/26 French/English Bilingual Requirement: No Hiring Salary Range: $ 89900 - 118000 This range represents the hiring range. Salaries are determined individually depending on skills and experience. You will also be eligible to an annual bonus, employee share investment program (ESIP), Pension, Benefits and other perks. At CN, we are committed to our pursuit of excellence. We take pride in delivering work of the highest standard, continually innovating to shape the railroad of the future. As responsible railroaders, we make the right decisions every time, putting safety first, acting with unwavering integrity, and holding ourselves accountable for our actions. We believe in succeeding together—by fostering inclusivity and collaboration, we sustainably deliver exceptional results for our customers. Join us today and get your career moving! Job Summary The incumbent is responsible for leading end-to-end category procurement activities that deliver measurable commercial value, support safe and reliable rail operations, and strengthen supplier performance across CN. Working within the category management framework, the role independently develops sourcing strategies, leads complex RFx events, negotiates supplier agreements, manages supplier relationships, and supports business partners across Engineering, Mechanical, Operations, Finance, and corporate functions. The role also coaches Procurement Specialists, promotes procurement compliance and best practices, and contributes to process, digital, and AI-enabled improvements across the sourcing lifecycle. Main Responsibilities Lead the development and execution of category procurement strategies aligned with business objectives Drive end-to-end RFx processes from strategy formulation through supplier selection and award Perform advanced spend analytics, market intelligence, and total cost modelling to identify opportunities and support sourcing decisions Develop business cases with quantified value propositions for management approval Negotiate contracts with suppliers covering commercial, legal, financial, operational, and risk-related terms Structure agreements that balance risk, value, service levels, quality, and operational requirements Manage supplier performance against contractual obligations and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including supplier business reviews and improvement action plans Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, partnership development, sustainability improvement, and total cost of ownership reduction Coach and support Procurement Specialists while promoting procurement best practices, policy compliance, and knowledge sharing within the team Analyze complex data to determine risks and exposures and recommend holistic mitigation measures to protect CN's interests Use procurement technologies, data, and AI-enabled opportunities to generate insights, improve outcomes, and increase sourcing lifecycle efficiency Develop project plans with defined timelines, prioritize tasks, monitor progress against milestones, address issues proactively, and escalate when required Working Conditions The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday and is eligible to participate in CN's hybrid work model. The role requires travel up to 10% within North America. Experience Strategic Procurement or Supply Chain Operations Minimum 4 years of progressive experience in procurement, supply chain operations, or a related field Demonstrated experience leading complex sourcing events and contract negotiations* Track record of delivering measurable savings, value improvements, supplier performance outcomes, and total cost of ownership benefits* Candidates with an equivalent comb…