Contract Specialist Jobs

Who We Are:

Welcome to Vale in Canada. As a leader in the mining industry, our responsibility is to positively impact our people, communities and the environment. We value our workforce and offer continuous training and career development opportunities for our people.

Vale is a global leader in the production of iron ore and one of the largest producers of nickel. Active in Canada for over 100 years, Vale employs nearly 6,000 people across our corporate office in Toronto and sites in Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador. Applying the latest technologies to sustainably produce nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum group metals, gold and silver is at the heart of what we do.

With our global headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and approximately 125,000 employees in over 30 countries, Vale is constantly growing and changing. We invite you to be part of our evolution.

Our Sudbury Operations have been in existence for more than 100 years. With five mines, a mill, a smelter, a refinery and nearly 4,000 employees it is also one of the largest integrated mining complexes in the world. Sudbury is also home to several administrative sites serving both the Ontario Operations as well as all our North Atlantic Operations.

Port Colborne is home to our Nickel Refinery where raw materials from our Sudbury operations are processed into electrocobalt and precious metals and serves as a distribution centre for finished nickel products.

Our Team:

The Contract Management Team is an integral part of the business supporting Vale’s long-term operating strategy by implementing vendor performance management processes while working with our internal customers and vendor partners to reduce total cost of ownership for services & supplies expenditures. Members of this team work across different locations to ensure all contract management processes are functioning accurately. Team members are also involved in the development of demand strategies as well as performance KPIs, initiatives, best practices and procedures.

The Opportunity

We are currently seeking Contract Specialists (2), Local 2020-05 to join our Sudbury Operations. This is a 12-month, fixed term opportunity.

The Contract Specialist is accountable for various activities within the Contract Management lifecycle which may include writing scopes of work, developing contract strategy, demand planning and market analysis, developing commercial strategy, contract administration and vendor performance management (including KPI development and measurement).

As a representative of the North Atlantic Contract Management Area, the incumbent will be responsible for leading and supporting the business for contracts in activities that range from scope development to directly administering new and ongoing service contracts. As a liaison to the operation and service providers, the Contract Specialist will also be responsible for coaching and mentoring key stakeholders. This will require going in the field and in some cases, it will mean working at the operating sites.

The incumbent will also serve as the point of contact between the Contract Management Area and other functional areas within the organization including HSE, Finance, Engineering, Legal, etc. Acting as an internal consultant, the role also has governance and oversight responsibility.

Accountabilities

• Meets with vendors and/or Plant Representatives as required to resolve contractual or performance issues.
• Applies experience base on a wide variety of claim conditions and applies this knowledge to reduce the corporation's overall risk exposure by preventing and mitigating exposure to claims.
• Educates and coaches Plant Representatives to understand and administer the various aspects of the contract (technical, legal and commercial) and support them in selecting most cost-effective solution.
• Supports procurement by providing corporate oversight and guidance for significant contractor and service provider claims.
• Leads technical evaluations. Equalizes proposals by conducting a total cost of ownership analysis.
• Monitors safety, schedule, scope, quality and cost KPI performance throughout execution. Conducts periodic reviews and requests action plan to correct substandard performance. Implements reporting and feedback routines with the various stakeholders.
• Participates in contract close out sessions to help identify lessons learned and integrate same into future scopes and/or standard procedures.
• Coordinates and conduct site visits with vendors. Coordinates response to technical queries during the RFP period.
• Builds and cultivates internal and external business relationships.
• Ensures measurements and performance KPIs are adequately addressed in scopes of work and works collaboratively with the plant representative to ensure the proper reporting and progress measurement of contracts are in place.
• Maintains governance and oversight (for the assigned area or category) in the areas of contract handover, mobilization, planning and execution as it relates to contract management, quality surveillance, expediting and document control ensuring effective implementation and ongoing management reporting.
• Leads discussions with the plants to develop and recommend category, scope and commercial strategies to Procurement. Considers the vendor market (both local and national) and look for opportunities to encourage innovation and the use of new technologies during scope development
• Achieves compliance with department’s monthly safety plan (quantity and quality) and follows notification protocols for incidents and injuries.
• Assists Plant Representatives to ensure vendor invoicing adheres to the commercial terms of the contract.
• Provides contract management support to the North Atlantic business while adhering to corporate guidelines, procurement norms and polices, Vale’s ethics and values, and any other principles and policies related to the work.
• Through collaboration with various stakeholders, leads the development of detailed scopes of work based on the chosen strategy; assesses the needs of the business, captures technical specifications and/or logistical requirements, safety and loss control standards, quality standards and other relevant items.
• Estimates demand by analyzing historical data and by working with the plants to understand current and future key business requirements that may impact the forecasted demand moving forward.
• Monitors overall contract utilization and performance, alerting management when compliance issues arise or when spend trends are outpacing the original demand plan. Works with parties to implement corrective actions as required (i.e. contract changes, process improvements, etc.)

QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIFIC SKILLS:

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business, Legal, Commerce or Engineering is preferred. Certified Engineering Technician is also desirable.

Experience: The ideal candidate will have 5-8 years progressive experience in related Vale contract management, project management, and/or contract administration/procurement roles is required.

Computer Skills : Proficiency with Microsoft Office products including Word, Outlook and Project; advanced knowledge of Excel is required. Working knowledge of SAP is required. Knowledge of other ERP systems and PowerBI is an asset.

Specific Skills :

• Understanding of contract law.
• Expert knowledge of entire contract management cycles, including administration and resolution of cost claims.
• Must possess expert knowledge of entire contract management / administration / procurement cycles. This includes writing scopes of work, issuing field work instructions/orders to suppliers, administering or resolving contract management claims and conducting audits relating to Safety, Schedule, Scope, Quality or Cost.

What We Offer You

• Competitive salary
• Grow your career in a large and global company, and mining industry leader
• Online training and career development opportunities
• Employee Family Assistance Program
• Work culture dedicated to safety, diversity & inclusion and career growth

Comments:

These positions are covered under the Collective Agreement between Vale and the Local 2020-05 United Steelworkers.

Applicants are encouraged to review the Job Selection Posting Process for Local 2020-05 Employees located on the Ontario Operations Human Resources website.

We appreciate your interest in being a part of the team though only those applicants who are selected for interviews will be contacted.

Difference Makes All the Difference

At Vale, we are committed to ensuring an inclusive work environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. Vale encourages everyone to express their ideas and opinions and values the plurality of individual profiles. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or any other personal consideration that makes us different.

Vale is an equal opportunity employer seeking to increase diversity across our operations and improve equal opportunity at Vale and in the mining industry.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, accommodation is available throughout our recruitment process for applicants with disabilities.

Apply By: May 19, 2023

Paygrade: J