Consultant - Category Specialist

The Consultant - Category Specialist is a professional role within the Emergency Health Service Provincial Health Corporation and will work within Contracting and Commissioning Oversight at Acute Care Alberta (ACA). The position supports the development and management of contracting arrangements, including agreements with alternative service delivery providers. The Specialist acts as a subject matter expert in sourcing strategies, contracting, and competitive bidding. They lead the development, negotiation, and writing of complex, high value, long term provincial contracts that influence operational performance, reduce risk, and manage costs. Work products must be high quality and detail focused, as they may affect budgets by millions of dollars. The role provides guidance, oversight, and supervision to teams and contracting professionals involved in competitive bidding and standardizing sourcing/contracting methods, protocols, and procedures. It ensures documents developed effectively bind EHS and ACA to sound contractual commitments. The position also contributes to project management, including planning, implementing, and converting province wide contracts that impact end users across all regions. Responsibilities may include developing project strategies, plans, and schedules; monitoring progress against timelines and budgets; and managing resources within a matrix organizational environment.

The Category Specialist will act as a subject matter expert having in-depth knowledge with respect to the development of contracting strategies, Request for Proposal documents, and resulting contracts that are of significant value, complexity, typically longer term and provincial in scope. The Category Specialist will be accountable for: Collaborating with program areas to devise optimal contracting strategies and RFP documents. Including lead the contract development, negotiation, and writing process for Continuing Care services. Lead/facilitate in-depth fact-based analysis throughout all aspects of contracting process and present to stakeholders to formulate strategy, collective goals, and assist with informed decision making. Developing negotiation strategies and conduct negotiations within established parameters independently. Developing framework/tools/forms to standardize processes (allow for flexibility in diverse work) and develop systematic procedures. Contract performance management (breach of contract/compliance) and that includes development of mitigation strategies, remediation planning, dispute resolution, and on-going contract management. Supervise and guide Contract Coordinators and other contracting professionals. Develop plans for contracting activity, set reasonable timelines for staff deliverables, manage resources, and executive level reporting. Lead or participate in department project management activities.

Education Requirements: Completion of post-secondary degree in Business or Supply Management or another degree with additional business or legal training. Minimum of five years of experience in contracting or sourcing, preferably in an organization of significant size, complexity and diversity.

Strong communicator with excellent organizational, presentation, and influencing skills. Skilled in negotiation, facilitation, conflict resolution, and explaining complex issues. Extensive expertise in contract negotiation, drafting, and managing large value transactions. Strong business acumen, including strategy, planning, policy development, modeling, and project management. Solid understanding of corporate administrative practices and strong analytical (quantitative and qualitative) capabilities. Proven ability to build stakeholder buy in, manage competing priorities, and lead diverse resources. Adaptable, innovative problem solver with experience developing effective sourcing and contracting strategies. Able to apply and mentor others in key financial concepts (TCO, NPV, ROI, make/lease/buy). Demonstrated ability to produce actionable recommendations and uphold high ethical standards.

MBA preferred; equivalents considered. Training in Health Care Supply Chain or Project Management is an asset. Strong negotiation, sales, and market intelligence skills. Skilled at assessing user needs and resolving complex issues. Demonstrated leadership, decision making, coaching, teaching, and ability to inspire confidence.