Manager, Procurement Change and Adoption

Description

Being part of Air Canada is to become part of an iconic Canadian symbol, recently ranked the best Airline in North America.

Let your career take flight by joining our diverse and vibrant team at the leading edge of passenger aviation.

This position's key responsibility within the Strategic Procurement (SP) team, is to lead change management, communication and training efforts, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and ensuring smooth transitions in the face of multiple policies and program rollouts.

Activities will include collaboration with cross-functional teams, stakeholders and leadership to drive long term adoption and maximize the benefits of procurement related changes.

The opportunity is based at Air Canada's Montreal Headquarters in Dorval.

Scope

• Develop and execute procurement change management strategies and plans to support the successful adoption of new programs, tools, procurement policies, transformations, processes, and technologies, with a structured methodology.
• Define and deploy strategies to maximize long term adoption and sustain changes.
• Create a robust SP Communication strategy related to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Revamp onboarding experience and create strategy for training and continuous learning for all SP.
• Lead training efforts related to new program roll outs or improvements of steady state.

Accountabilities (Responsibilities) :

Run Change Management activities for Strategic Procurement

• Create a structured methodology and lead procurement change management activities.
• Create process and tools in order to create a strategy to support adoption of the changes required by a project, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
• Conduct impact analyses, assess change readiness, and evaluate the actual impact of changes.
• Identify potential areas of challenges and proactively develop strategies to mitigate resistance.
• Identify opportunities and provide expertise to build resilience to change across the organization.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Run the communication strategy for SP and continuously identify communication content / topics and manage the delivery of key messages and communications.
• Design, develop and implement clear and effective communication plans adapted to roll-outs to articulate the benefits, objectives, and impacts of procurement changes to various stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders and collaborate with branches impacted by procurement changes to ensure a holistic and integrated approach to transformation, and continuously monitor progress and make necessary adjustments.
• Engage and influence leaders and key stakeholders across the procurement organization, ensuring their involvement and commitment to change initiatives, and their support before, during and after changes are rolled out.
• Identify and manage change network and foster open communication channels to address concerns, obtain feedback, and promote a positive culture.

Training and Development

• Lead focus groups, workshops, presentations, and meetings with key stakeholders to drive faster adoption of change, improved system utilization and greater proficiency of the changes to ensure minimal business disruptions.
• Be in charge of the Strategic Procurement University training and development strategy; Provide ongoing coaching and training to employees at all levels to foster a culture of adaptability and responsiveness to change and incorporate continuous learning into onboarding and different formats such as self-service e-learning portals, videos, and in-person coaching.
• Build strategy to continuously upskill the team and prepare the next strategy of leaders in the context of succession planning.
• Lead and support training efforts, and improvements to current training programs by providing inputs, documenting requirements, and supporting the design and delivery of training programs.
• Create a training framework optimizing training delivery and knowledge retention.

Metrics and Evaluation

• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success and impact of change initiatives, develop reinforcement mechanisms for monitoring long term adoption and keep track of training completion
• Conduct regular assessments and evaluations to gather feedback, identify areas for improvement, and work with leadership and stakeholders to address concerns and encourage a positive attitude towards change.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• University degree in a relevant field of study (Business, Change Management, Communications)
• Strong understanding of procurement processes and best practices.
• A solid understanding of how people go through a change and the change process.
• 5+ years' experience in a similar capacity, (i.e. demonstrated knowledge and experience in change management and communication, familiarity with project management methodologies)
• Proven experience in working in project teams and implementing a change program of work.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical mindset and critical thinking skills. Must be able to lead change initiatives with a structured methodology / process and a forward-looking, holistic approach.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to cultivate strong collaborative working relationships and viewed as credible, and to influence and persuade others to action.
• Acute business acumen and understanding of organizational issues and challenges.
• Self-starter and ability to work under pressure, changing priorities and tight deadlines with limited supervision.
• Proficient using Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, etc.)
• Change management or project management certification is an asset.

Conditions of Employment :

Candidates must be eligible to work in the country of interest, at the time any offer of employment is made and seeking any required work permits / visas or other authorizations which may be required is the sole responsibility of the candidates applying for this position.

Linguistic Requirements

Based on equal qualifications, preference will be given to bilingual candidates.

Diversity and Inclusion

Air Canada is strongly committed to Diversity and Inclusion and aims to create a healthy, accessible and rewarding work environment which highlights employees' unique contributions to our company's success.

As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all to help us build a diverse workforce which reflects the diversity of our customers, and communities, in which we live and serve.

Air Canada thanks all candidates for their interest; however only those selected to continue in the process will be contacted.