Buyer, Equipment and Data Centre Sourcing

Bells AI Fabric program is a groundbreaking national initiative designed to position Canada as a global leader in Sovereign AI. By building a secure highperformance coasttocoast compute fabric Bell is creating the foundational infrastructure required to power the next generation of AI innovation while ensuring data sovereignty resilience and scalability at national scale.

The Buyer supports the sourcing and procurement of owner-furnished contractor-installed (OFCI) equipment for Bell AI Fabric data centre projects. The role executes competitive sourcing activities coordinates supplier due diligence evaluates commercial submissions converts approved awards into purchase orders and tracks commitments through delivery while maintaining alignment with project budgets technical requirements governance controls and site schedules.

The Buyer is accountable for accurate and timely sourcing and purchasing execution complete commercial documentation effective supplier coordination and early escalation of cost schedule capacity quality or compliance risks that could affect data centre delivery.

Support end-to-end sourcing activities for assigned OFCI categories including market research supplier identification RFx issuance bidder communications commercial clarification bid tabulation total-cost analysis negotiation support award recommendations and maintenance of a complete sourcing record in accordance with procurement governance.

Purchase Order (PO) & Order Management

• Create issue and administer purchase orders for high-value OFCI equipment including generators electrical distribution equipment cooling systems and other assigned infrastructure packages using the companys procurement system. Confirm that the approved supplier scope quantities pricing delivery terms site destination required dates and authorization records are accurate before release.

• Manage purchase orders from creation through closeout confirming supplier acknowledgement manufacturing milestones committed ship dates logistics status site-required dates receipt and outstanding obligations. Escalate potential delays or deviations early and maintain current records for project reporting.

• Collaborate with Accounts Payable receiving project controls and suppliers to resolve purchase-order receipt and invoice discrepancies; support timely payment; and ensure goods and services are accurately recorded in the system.

Commercial Review & Change Orders

• Review supplier commercial proposals for completeness and compliance with sourcing requirements; compare pricing commercial terms lead times payment terms warranty coverage logistics assumptions exclusions and total cost; document clarifications and support a fact-based award recommendation.

• Process and track equipment change orders arising from approved design revisions quantity changes commodity price movements logistics changes or schedule adjustments. Validate the suppliers commercial basis confirm scope and pricing impacts with the appropriate stakeholders and obtain required budget and governance approvals before issuing a revised purchase order.
• Maintain accurate records that distinguish original purchase-order value approved change orders forecast-at-completion committed spend and remaining exposure enabling timely reporting of budget variances and commercial risks to the Senior Manager Procurement.

Supplier Onboarding & Risk Assessment

• Coordinate supplier onboarding in the procurement system and maintain a clear checklist of required documentation including confidentiality agreements tax information banking details insurance certificates compliance records and required approvals. Follow up on missing or expiring documents and retain an auditable record of completion.

• Complete initial and periodic supplier risk assessments covering financial stability manufacturing capacity operational resilience quality compliance information security and delivery performance. Record identified risks required mitigations owners and follow-up dates and escalate material concerns for decision before award or purchase-order release.
• Confirm that suppliers satisfy applicable company requirements for onboarding confidentiality insurance sanctions and compliance screening information security and other required controls before an award is finalized or a purchase order is released.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Support the Senior Manager Procurement with bid analyses sourcing records purchase-order histories change-order logs supplier performance information and commercial insights required for negotiations governance reviews and leadership reporting.

• Collaborate with Engineering Capacity Planning Design and Construction Project Controls Cost Management Legal Finance Accounts Payable logistics partners and site teams to validate technical specifications quantities commercial requirements delivery priorities and approval readiness before award and purchase-order execution.

Core competencies include commercial and numerical analysis RFx and bid-tabulation discipline negotiation support purchase-order accuracy supplier relationship management schedule awareness risk identification stakeholder communication attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple long-lead equipment packages in a fast-paced project environment.

• Bachelors degree in supply chain management engineering business finance or a related discipline.
• With at least five years of relevant experience in procurement strategic sourcing supply chain construction procurement or critical infrastructure.
• Experience supporting data centre projects OFCI equipment long-lead capital equipment competitive RFx processes contract and purchase-order administration and procurement or ERP systems is preferred. A masters degree or a recognized procurement designation is an asset.