EY Procurement Category Specialist 

Canada, Ontario, Toronto 

454071627

About Our Team:Our Supply Chain Services team consists of approximately 300 professionals operating in 31 countries. We are innovators at heart, leveraging the latest technologies and trends to enhance our services. In a rapidly changing world, we embrace transformation and strive to deliver best-in-class services and supplier partnerships across four key categories:

• Talent (including Brand, Marketing, and Communications)
• Technology & External Content
• Real Estate (including Workplace Services and Real Estate Technology)
• Travel, Meetings & Events

In this role, you will be a key contributor within our Global Procurement’s Talent Procurement team, reporting to the Procurement Talent Lead for Canada. You will spearhead procurement strategies, sourcing execution, transformation initiatives, and stakeholder engagement for selected projects primarily in Canada.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver a portfolio of strategic projects across Talent (HR) categories, focusing on brand value and quantitative outcomes through strategic change, strong negotiations, and process efficiencies.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to EY stakeholders, aligning procurement projects with business needs while providing exceptional customer service.
• Manage end-to-end sourcing projects and category management activities, ensuring effective commercial management of EY’s Talent suppliers.
• Leverage digital tools and procurement technologies to enhance efficiency and support data-driven decision-making.
• Lead complex RFx processes and negotiations, collaborating with stakeholders and shared functions such as Legal and Risk Management.
• Foster strong relationships with key EY business stakeholders and report on project progress regularly.

Skills and Attributes for Success:To qualify for this role, you should have:

• A minimum of 5-7 years of procurement experience, particularly in sourcing Talent/HR services.
• A proven track record in defining and delivering procurement strategies in HR categories.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to identify opportunities that align with EY’s needs.

Ideally, you’ll also have:

• An ability to influence and align efforts with key stakeholders.
• A solid understanding of strategic trends in talent and HR.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to travel up to 5% for strategic engagements.

What We Look For:

• Procurement Expertise: Strong understanding of procurement processes, particularly in Talent/HR, with a proven track record of developing effective sourcing strategies.
• Commercial Acumen: Ability to analyze market trends and identify cost-saving opportunities that align with business objectives.
• Influencing and Negotiation Skills: Exceptional skills in influencing stakeholders and negotiating favorable terms while maintaining strong relationships.
• Analytical and Strategic Thinking: Strong analytical skills to evaluate supplier performance and market conditions, translating data into actionable insights.
• Project Management Proficiency: Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring alignment with timelines and budgets.
• Excellent Communication Skills: Strong oral and written communication abilities to effectively convey ideas and present to senior leadership.
• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with procurement technologies, ERP systems (such as SAP Ariba), and tools for online Rfx and e-Auctions is advantageous. Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools is also expected.