Purchasing Manager

Nova Scotia Regional Centres for Education & CSAP

20h

About The Position

The Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education (AVRCE), supporting 13,000 students and 2,500 employees, is seeking a highly skilled and strategic Purchasing Manager to provide leadership and oversight of all procurement activities across the organization. Reporting to the Director of Finance and serving as a key member of the Financial Services Management Team, the Purchasing Manager is responsible for ensuring the effective, efficient, and compliant acquisition of goods, services, and construction that support educational programming, school operations, and organizational priorities.
The successful candidate will lead the development and execution of procurement strategies that deliver best value, ensure adherence to legislation and trade agreements, manage risk, and uphold the highest standards of transparency, fairness, and ethical public-sector practice. This role requires strong judgment, strategic insight, and the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external partners.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in commerce, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field (an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered).
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible procurement experience, preferably in the public sector.
• Professional procurement or supply chain accreditation such as CPPB, CPPO, SCMP, PSPP, or equivalent (or a combination of education and experience deemed acceptable).
• Demonstrated knowledge of public‑sector procurement legislation, trade agreements, and ethical practices.
• Strong decision‑making, analytical, and creative problem‑solving abilities.
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, and commitment to confidentiality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to build strong, collaborative relationships.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supervising or managing staff, ideally within procurement or supply chain management.
• Experience in a K–12 education or broader public‑sector environment.
• Experience working with ERP systems; SAP considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct the full lifecycle procurement process, including strategic sourcing, competitive bid development, evaluation, and contract execution.
• Ensure compliance with AVRCE policies, provincial and federal procurement legislation, and applicable trade agreements.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to schools and departments on procurement requirements, risk mitigation, and best practices.
• Oversee contract lifecycle management, including negotiation, performance monitoring, renewals, amendments, and end‑of‑life decisions for assets.
• Support strategic planning, budgeting considerations, and value‑for‑money analysis across major procurement initiatives.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with vendors, service providers, and public‑sector partners.
• Develop procurement tools, templates, training, and documentation to strengthen organizational capacity and ensure consistent practice.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager