Junior Purchaser

About Ontario Shipyards

Ontario Shipyards operates two prominent marine facilities located on Lake Ontario: the main fabrication facility in Hamilton and the historic Port Weller Dry Docks on the Welland Canal in St. Catharines. Collectively, they constitute the largest Canadian-owned ship repair and refit enterprise on the Great Lakes. Serving as a reliable partner to the Canadian Coast Guard and leading commercial fleets, Ontario Shipyards delivers advanced manufacturing and extensive vessel life extension services.

The company is undergoing significant expansion driven by Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy and is implementing the Ontario Shipyard Modernization Project (OSMP), a multi-million-dollar initiative transforming shipyard operations within Ontario and across Canada. The team takes great pride in maintaining and building the Great Lakes fleet, supporting vessels that are crucial to Canada's economic infrastructure.

Position Summary

As a Junior Purchaser reporting to the Procurement Manager, you will assist in ensuring timely, cost-efficient, and compliant acquisition of materials, equipment, supplies, and services necessary for company projects and day-to-day operations. Collaborating closely with suppliers and internal teams such as Engineering, Production, Operations, Project Management, Finance, and Sales Support, you will handle purchase requisitions, prepare and issue purchase orders, obtain and review supplier quotes, track delivery, and maintain procurement documents.

You will also contribute to supplier documentation processes, handle non-conformance and corrective actions, adhere to purchasing policies, and engage in continual improvement efforts. This position offers a strong foundation for career growth in procurement and supply chain management within a dynamic industrial or manufacturing setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Review purchase requisitions ensuring completeness of information, specifications, approvals, and support documents.
• Generate, issue, and maintain purchase orders using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, following approved requisitions, vendor quotes, budgets, and company policies.
• Request and collect quotations from qualified suppliers; assist in evaluating pricing, delivery schedules, payment terms, quality, and commercial factors.
• Communicate with suppliers to confirm orders, pricing, availability, lead times, and status updates.
• Monitor open orders and delivery timelines, proactively following up on delayed or incomplete shipments.
• Coordinate with various internal departments to clarify purchase requirements and resolve procurement challenges.
• Maintain detailed procurement records including purchase orders, quotations, order confirmations, delivery info, certificates, and correspondence.
• Assist in resolving discrepancies related to invoices, receiving, pricing, quantity, and purchase orders.
• Support supplier onboarding, qualification, documentation, and performance monitoring.
• Help manage supplier non-conformance reports, corrective action requests, and relevant quality documents.
• Ensure purchasing activities adhere to company policies, approval limits, contractual and project specifications, and quality standards.
• Assist in sourcing new suppliers and keep accurate supplier details updated within the ERP system.
• Support inventory control, material planning, expediting, and project procurement as needed.
• Identify and recommend improvements in purchasing processes, documentation, interactions, cost management, and operational efficiency.
• Prepare procurement reports, updates on order status, and related documents as requested.
• Perform additional procurement and administrative tasks as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience

• Diploma or degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Procurement, Logistics, or related disciplines preferred.
• Between 1 to 3 years of experience in procurement, purchasing, supply chain, or administrative roles.
• Experience in manufacturing, industrial, construction, marine, or project-driven environments is advantageous.
• Familiarity with generating purchase orders, acquiring supplier quotes, and managing open order tracking is a plus.
• Competency in Microsoft Office and ERP software, especially Business Central, is highly valued.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Strong organizational skills with emphasis on maintaining precise records.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines within a fast-paced setting.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills for dealing with suppliers and internal colleagues.
• Capable of working autonomously and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Adaptable, dependable, solution-focused, and eager to learn new skills.
• Basic knowledge of procurement procedures, commercial terms, supplier management, and inventory operations is beneficial.

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual salary range between $50,000 and $60,000, dependent on experience.
• Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability coverage applicable to employees and dependents.
• Participation in RRSP matching program and Health Spending Account (HSA).
• Paid vacation and statutory holidays.
• Discounts on safety equipment such as boots and glasses.
• Access to professional development opportunities and specialized training in shipyard operations.
• On-site parking available.

Additional Information

This opportunity requires candidates to either reliably commute or relocate to the Port Weller site in St. Catharines before starting employment. The company reviews all applications personally without using automated screening tools. Ontario Shipyards promotes an inclusive and accessible workplace in adherence to the Ontario Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), offering accommodations during the recruitment process as needed.