BAND 3 – Category Manager

About the BCLDB:

The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) is one of two branches of government that provide oversight for the beverage alcohol and non-medical cannabis industries in the province. The LDB is responsible for the wholesale distribution of liquor and cannabis, and operates the retails brands BCLIQUOR and BC Cannabis Stores.

The LDB is committed to government’s goals of making life better for people in B.C., improving services, and ensuring a sustainable province for future generations. The revenue generated by the LDB helps fund essential public services like health care, education, and community programming. Learn more on the LDB careers page.

As part of the Chief Administrative Office (CAO), the Corporate Services (CS) team plays a critical role in supporting the entire organization. Comprised of Policy, Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Relations, Corporate Privacy and Information, Sourcing and Vendor Performance, Strategy & Business Transformation, Social Impact & Environmental Sustainability and the Enterprise Project Management Office, CS is driven by customer-service and taking action to advise, consult and support each business area throughout the LDB.

The CS team is comprised of approximately 70 staff. What brings CS together as a team is the ability to work together to support both the operational areas of the business and other corporate service areas (e.g., Corporate Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology). The group has a strategic lens with a focus on ensuring the organization aligns and complies with corporate priorities, policies, legislation, best practices, and government mandate.

About this role:

The Category Manager, Sourcing & Vendor Performance will lead spend management activities for a specified category of procurement spend within the LDB. The Category Manager is responsible for developing and supporting LDB procurement policies and procedures within their identified spend category. This role is an integral part of the Director’s leadership team, working closely with other Category Managers to develop and execute on sourcing strategies and programs consistent with corporate strategic plans, corporate policy, business requirements, project requirements and sound commercial, provincial, legal and ethical practices.

The Category Manager leads their team in analyzing, evaluating, determining and recommending the most strategic, cost-effective and efficient means of sourcing and delivering products and services to meet the needs of their assigned category. The Category Manager makes strategic recommendations on sourcing at an enterprise level and is responsible for creating the governance mechanism that is necessary to continuously improve vendor relationship management and contract management.

The Manager provides day to day direction and supervision to a team comprised of Senior Buyer, Buyer and Coordinator roles. The Manager leads analysis, development and implementation of spend management for their category by developing business cases/proposals with supporting documentation and justification. The Manager leads the analysis on financial conditions, compliance matters and effectiveness of strategies and programs to meet business objectives and develops recommendations for senior leadership.

Special requirements and working conditions include the ability to work outside of core business hours, and the ability to travel as required. A successful completion of a criminal record check is required.

For complete details about this opportunity, including accountabilities, please refer to the attached job description, also located in the Additional Information section at the bottom of the posting.

An eligibility list for temporary future opportunities may be established.

Position requirements:

Education and Experience:

Degree or diploma in law, business administration, commerce, public administration, finance or relevant field and a minimum of 4 years of recent, related progressive experience.

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered i.e., secondary (high) school diploma or equivalent certificate and a minimum of 6 years of recent, related progressive experience

Recent, related progressive experience must include the following and must have occurred in the last 8 years:

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience overseeing the work of junior staff (e.g. coordinators or assistants).
• Experience leading strategic procurement projects through to completion (at least 2 projects with a description) (Activities should include e.g., analyzing complex issues, evaluating options and recommending solutions).
• Experience with issues management at an executive level.

Preference may be given to those candidates with the following:

• Experience with contract document drafting and negotiations of contracts.
• Experience in providing advice on solicitation strategies and/or negotiation tactics.
• Experience taking on a lead role on procurement projects/ initiatives within the procurement team and/or to drive results from the team.
• Experience with requirements gathering and the facilitation of identifying the needs and objectives for procurement initiatives.
• Certification in Supply Chain or related discipline e.g., SCMP (Supply Chain Management Professional).
• Experience using enterprise resources planning (ERP) systems (i.e., JDE, SAP, Oracle, etc.).
• Experience with public sector procurement.

Application instructions:

To be considered for this position, your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the education and experience as outlined in the position requirements section above. Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process may be assessed on the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies as outlined in the attached Job Description. Applicants must meet the requirements as described below to be considered:

• A cover letter is required as part of your application. The content and/or format of your cover letter may be evaluated as part of the assessment process.
• Ensure your resume includes your educational accomplishments, employment history including start and end dates (month and year) of your employment, and any relevant information that relates to the job to which you are applying.

For specific position-related enquiries, please contact Kriti Verma, HR Advisor, Talent and Compensation at kriti.verma@bcldb.com .

Only applications submitted using the BC Public Service Recruitment System on this website will be accepted. For more information about how to create or update your profile, please refer to the attached Application Instructions or refer to the Job Application page on the MyHR website. If you are experiencing technical difficulty applying for a competition, please send an e-mail to BCPSA.Hiring.Centre@gov.bc.ca before the stated closing time, and they will respond as soon as possible to assist you.

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:00pm Pacific Time on the closing date of the competition.

Working for the BC Public Service:

The BC Public Service is committed to creating a diverse workplace to represent the population we serve and to better meet the needs of our citizens. Consider joining our team and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

This position is eligible for flexible work arrangements, such as a hybrid work combination of in-office and work-from-home, following the guidelines established for flexible workplaces .

The Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service is available to applicants that self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, status or non-status, Métis, or Inuit) seeking work or already employed in the BC Public Service. For guidance on applying and interviewing, please contact IndigenousApplicants@gov.bc.ca or 778-405-3452.

The BC Public Service is an award-winning employer and offers employees competitive benefits, great learning opportunities and a chance to engage in rewarding work with exciting career development options. For more information, visit What the BC Public Service Offers .

Job Category

Leadership and Management

Additional Information

Category Manager