Senior Manager, SCM Operations Category Management

About this opportunity:

The Senior Manager, SCM Operations Category Management position is an exciting leadership opportunity to lead strategic sourcing, contracting and category management across Cenovus assets. Reporting to the Director, SCM Operations, the successful candidate will lead a high-performing team and collaborate closely with multiple business stakeholders to develop and execute strategies that deliver sustainable value, strengthen supplier relationships, and support operational and corporate objectives.

The role provides end-to-end accountability for the procurement lifecycle, from strategic planning, sourcing, tendering, and commercial negotiations through contract award, supplier performance management, and ongoing category optimization. It oversees the Services, Chemicals, Materials & Equipment categories, with a focus on delivering value, managing supply and commercial risk, improving supplier performance, and continuously enhancing SCM processes.

As a senior leader, this position works across business units and functions to align priorities, anticipate evolving business needs, and develop practical solutions to complex supply chain challenges. The role requires strong commercial judgment, collaboration, communication, and people leadership, with the ability to influence stakeholders and translate corporate requirements into effective business outcomes.

What you’ll do:

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team including recruitment, performance development discussions, compensation recommendations, workload planning, effective delegation, and stretch opportunities that build capability and support career growth

• Drive business performance and organizational health by establishing clear priorities, setting expectations, and reinforcing accountability while fostering an engaged, collaborative, and results-oriented team environment
• Provide strategic oversight of the Services, Chemicals, Materials & Equipment categories, leading sourcing and contracting strategies, supplier performance management, and the identification and mitigation of commercial, contractual, operational, financial, reputational, ethical, and supply chain risk
• Partner with business stakeholders and suppliers to develop sourcing and category management strategies aligned with Cenovus objectives, identify and quantify value opportunities, and improve total cost of ownership, quality, service, reliability, and drive improved cost, quality, service, reliability and supply outcomes
• Identify and manage supplier and market risks while balancing risk mitigation with opportunities for innovation, value creation, and improved business performance
• Champion continuous improvement across SCM Operations by simplifying processes, implementing best practices, enhancing ways of working, and adapting priorities to evolving business requirements
• Support the development and evolution of the SCM Operations operating model, including team structure, interfaces with Upstream and Downstream businesses, alignment with peer SCM functions, and clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and RACIs
• Establish, monitor, and communicate key performance metrics for sourcing and contracting, value delivery, cost, quality, supplier performance, and operational execution, using data-driven insights to identify improvement opportunities and strengthen business outcomes
• Build strong cross-functional partnerships and influence decision-making across business units and functions, aligning stakeholders around shared objectives and delivering practical, sustainable solutions
• Communicate complex information clearly and effectively, tailoring messages to diverse audiences and ensuring corporate requirements, business priorities, risks, and recommendations are understood and translated into action

Who you are:

Our ideal candidate will have the following minimum requirements:

• Legally authorized to work in Canada
• Undergraduate degree in a technical or business discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience; professional Supply Chain certification such as SCMP, CSCP, CIPS, or ISM is an asset
• 16+ years of experience in Supply Chain Management, Finance, or related disciplines, including 10+ years in progressively senior leadership roles
• Extensive knowledge and experience in category management, strategic sourcing, contracting, supplier relationship management, and end-to-end procurement processes
• Strong understanding of Procure-to-Pay (P2P), master data management and governance, SAP, financial and commercial analysis, and data analytics and visualization tools
• Demonstrated experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams, including people leaders, with a focus on talent development, performance management, organizational effectiveness, and business results

We acknowledge the value of transferrable skills and may consider equivalent combinations of experience and education should you not meet a specific requirement.

Note: The application deadline for this position is 11:59 PM MT November 8, 2026.

Cenovus was ranked one of Canada’s Best Employers in 2025. We’re committed to being an employer of choice in our industry by offering a competitive total rewards package and employee programs and rewarding career development opportunities. Learn more.  

If you require accessibility assistance to complete the on-line application or otherwise apply for an open position with Cenovus, its subsidiaries and affiliates, please email [email protected].

Who we are:

Ranked as one of Canada’s Best Employers in 2025, Cenovus is an integrated energy company headquartered in Calgary. We’re committed to maximizing value by developing our assets in a safe, responsible and cost-efficient manner. We operate in Canada, the United States and the Asia Pacific region. Our operations include oil sands projects in northern Alberta, thermal and conventional crude oil and natural gas projects across Western Canada, crude oil production offshore Newfoundland and Labrador and natural gas and liquids production offshore China and Indonesia. Cenovus’s downstream operations include upgrading, refining and marketing operations in Canada and the United States.

Find Cenovus on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. 

The Cenovus experience

Total rewards

We’re committed to being an employer of choice through competitive compensation and our comprehensive total rewards package, including:

• Paid vacation (including a flex day program for eligible staff)
• Health & dental benefits
• Substantial mental health coverage
• Life insurance
• Disability benefits
• Employee family assistance
• Virtual healthcare coverage

Our development philosophy

We foster a culture of continuous learning and development to support employees as they build meaningful careers. We offer a variety of employee development initiatives, including:

• Internal course offerings
• Education assistance for additional development
• Opportunities to work on special projects
• Leadership development programs for emerging and established leaders

We actively promote internal job movement, recognizing the value of gaining new perspectives, building connections across teams, and applying expertise in new ways. As a fully integrated energy company, we believe that sharing knowledge across our business and operations creates stronger outcomes—for employees and for the company as a whole.

Our culture

• Our purpose: We energize the world to make people’s lives better.
• Our values:
  • Protect what matters
  • Do it right
  • Make it better
  • Do it together

• Cenovus Cares: We believe in the power of purpose-driven work. Our Employee Giving and Volunteering Program, Cenovus Cares, connects our people to our purpose, inspiring action and elevating impact year-round.
  • Support causes you care about with volunteer opportunities in and outside of work.
  • Earn donation grants while volunteering (up to $1,000 per event).
  • Receive donation matching up to $10,000 annually.

• Staff resource groups: We have various staff resource groups to help ensure our people feel a sense of belonging and can grow and do their best work. These voluntary groups are employee-led and all groups are open to all staff in all locations.

Equal opportunity employer

We believe a workplace where everyone has merit-based opportunities to grow, achieve career aspirations and feel a sense of belonging benefits our people, our company and the regions where we live and work. We embrace and encourage different perspectives and approaches, which help us make better business decisions. We believe that through this approach, we can solve challenges, seize opportunities and unlock innovative solutions.

To achieve an unbiased and respectful workplace, individuals are evaluated based on qualifications, merit and abilities, and we encourage applications from all qualified candidates. We also acknowledge the value of transferrable skills and may consider equivalent combinations of experience and education should you not meet a specific requirement.

For more information about working at Cenovus, visit cenovus.com.

The requirements of this posting may be modified to support business needs. Title and compensation administration will be based on the skills and capabilities of the successful incumbent.

Interested in this opportunity? Click the Apply link.

If you are a CURRENT EMPLOYEE, please apply by going to our Internal Career Site.