Richard Burelle

Successful at developing the vision, direction and strategies required to manage operational issues, generate effective supply initiatives, influence corporate policy and build a positive corporate reputation. Possess strong business acumen with a clear sense of purpose and urgency when faced with diverse situational challenges. Skilled at building key relationships with stakeholders and establishing an open operating environment based on mutual respect and collaboration.

Director Provincial Contracting Services - Shared Health Manitoba - Winnipeg, Manitoba

(2025-07)

Reporting to the Executive Director, Supply Chain Services, this senior procurement role is accountable for the strategic development and efficient operation of the contracting function across all Service Delivery Organizations (SDOs). The role drives enterprise-wide procurement excellence through leadership, innovation, and collaboration.

• Lead the Category Management team overseeing $800M in annual acquisitions, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and value delivery.
• Identify, implement, and optimize enterprise-wide contracting systems and software to enhance efficiency, compliance, and scalability.
• Design and deliver robust spend analytics and reporting frameworks to support data-driven decision-making and category strategy execution.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Finance, Legal, Operations, and Clinical teams to identify cost-saving opportunities and drive procurement value.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure contracting effectiveness, supplier performance, and savings realization.
• Ensure contracting practices align with regulatory requirements, risk management protocols, and ethical standards.

Director Procurement Operations - Investors Group Financial - Winnipeg, Manitoba

(2021-08 - 2025-07)

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Procurement & Vendor Management, this senior procurement role within the organization has accountability for the development and ongoing efficient operation of the procurement function for all business units in the IGM family.

• Lead the development of policies, processes, and governance to support new operating model
• Identify and implement systems and software to enable procurement across all IGM companies
• Lead implementation of new Source to Contract cloud-based platform
• Deliver reporting to support strategic sourcing delivery model
• Develop and drive enhancements in the utilization of technology in procurement

Executive Director, Procurement & Supply Chain Centre of Excellence - Government of Manitoba - Winnipeg, Manitoba

(2019-09 - 2021-08)

Reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister of Supply Chain, this senior procurement role within the organization has accountability for the development and efficient operation of the procurement & supply chain centre of excellence (CoE) function. The CoE represents three main areas of procurement; Governance, Policy and Performance, Client Services, and Procurement Systems and Administration.

• Develop and implement improved governance model to enable a broad stakeholder group
• Lead the development of policies and process to support category management
• Identify and implement systems and software to enable procurement across summary government encompassing $2B in annual spend
• Advance Business Partner model to support pan-governmental collaboration
• Build and implement core government demand planning process
• Develop procurement analytics model and standard taxonomy
• Develop and drive enhancements in the utilization of technology in procurement

Director, Strategic Procurement - Saskatchewan Polytechnic - Regina Saskatchewan

(2019-04 - 2019-09)

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Finance, this senior procurement role within the organization has accountability for all corporate procurement activity including contracts for all campus and administrative offices across Saskatchewan.

• Lead the transformation from tactical to strategic procurement
• Report on procurement activities to senior executives
• Develop the procurement analytics model
• Develop and deliver briefing notes on all procurement related initiatives
• Develop and drive enhancements in the utilization of technology in procurement
• Lead strategic sourcing and category management design and implementation
• Identify and execute on opportunities for process improvement

Manager, Supply Chain Services - Viterra Inc. - Regina Saskatchewan

(2016-08 - 2019-04)

Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, this is the most senior procurement role within the organization. The role was responsible for all corporate Procurement including contracts for facilities across Canada and the USA.

• Develop and implement a contract management system
• Negotiate all major supply contracts across the business
• Develop and report on procurement related savings
• Develop and drive enhancements in the utilization of technology in procurement
• Lead strategic sourcing and category management design and implementation
• Identify opportunities to consolidate requirements across business lines and geographies

Manager, Financial Operations - City of Regina - Regina Saskatchewan

(2016-04 - 2016-08)

Reporting to the Director of Finance, this is the most senior procurement role within the City organization. The role was responsible for all Procurement and Accounts Payables functions.

• Develop city wide policy for the procurement of goods and services
• Provide expert procurement guidance and direction to executive management
• Develop and report on procurement related key performance indicators
• Develop and drive enhancements in the utilization of the corporate ERP system (Oracle)
• Lead strategic sourcing and category management design and implementation
• Procure-to-pay process mapping and continuous improvement

Director, Procurement - Government of Manitoba - Winnipeg Manitoba

(2013-11 - 2016-04)

Reporting to the Treasury Board Secretariat, this is the most senior procurement role within the Manitoba Government, with oversight responsibility for the acquisition of goods and services across government.

• Develop government wide policy for the procurement of goods and services
• Provide expert procurement guidance and direction to executive management
• Develop and report on procurement related key performance indicators
• Develop technology solution to facilitate proactive contract disclosure
• Develop and drive enhancements in the utilization of the corporate ERP system (SAP)
• Lead strategic sourcing and category management design and implementation
• Procure-to-pay process mapping and continuous improvement

Manager, Supply Chain Enablement - Cameco Corporation - Saskatoon Saskatchewan

(2013-02 - 2013-10)

As part of the supply chain management leadership team, accountable for developing and managing key enabling aspects of the supply chain management process. The primary goal; to enhance effectiveness and efficiency throughout the mining supply chain utilizing appropriate business processes, information technology, and industry best practices.

• Identify and leverage enhancements in the utilization of SAP
• Lead process improvement to existing business processes
• Lead spend analytics process to enable strategic sourcing
• Manage the performance and development of team members
• Develop and implement vendor prequalification and management processes
• Develop and implement quality management program
• Contribute of departmental business planning process

Senior Advisor, Supplier Relations - BHP Billiton Canada - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

(2011-10 - 2013-02)

Responsible for the development of a comprehensive industry participation strategy aimed at optimizing local participation in BHP Billiton's potash projects. Accountable for pro-actively identifying potential contracting opportunities and linking local businesses to opportunities. Established strong working relationships with key stakeholders such as principal EPC contractor, business associations and project leadership in order to create an environment conducive to achieving shared objectives.

Responsible for maintaining a positive relationship with the local business community in order to foster the development of long term, sustainable businesses and to continuously enhance the corporate image in the community.

• Develop and implement an industry participation strategy
• Manage key supplier relationships with the goal of enhancing local opportunities
• Issues management (procurement)
• Development of a local opportunities linking system (MS Access Database)
• Liaison to industry on project activities

Procurement Manager - SaskPower - Regina, Saskatchewan

(2009-09 - 2011-10)

Management accountability for the transition from a decentralized to a centre led procurement organizational model. Management of operational and strategic issues related to the acquisition of a broad range of complex materials and services in support of corporate objectives.

• Design and implement new operating model for procurement (centre-led supply chain)
• Design and implement strategic category management and strategic sourcing framework
• Lead and deliver comprehensive spend analysis and opportunities identification
• Manage and develop a competent team of procurement professionals
• Lead supplier negotiations of top 5 spend categories
• Deliver $30M in savings over 3 years on top 5 spend categories
• Develop and implement a supplier survey process and key performance indicator reporting

Procurement Manager - BC Hydro - Vancouver, British Columbia

(2009-02 - 2009-09)

Responsible for the management of procurement activities for engineering groups within the corporation. This role evolved to include the management of the procurement helpdesk function through the implementation of a new procure to pay process. Accountable for the team delivering technical assistance to enterprise users of the corporate materials management system.

• Provide subject matter expertise on new ERP system
• Teamed with engineering groups to develop appropriate procurement strategies for major contracts including new generation development and infrastructure improvements. This included consulting on negotiation strategies, contractual matters, and policy implications.
• Lead sourcing strategy development for engineering services category
• Manage and develop a competent team of procurement professionals
• Developed a tracking system (MS Access) for ERP implementation

Purchasing Supervisor - Manitoba Hydro - Winnipeg, Manitoba

(2006-09 - 2009-01)

Accountable for the efficient acquisition of goods and services related to all major infrastructure projects including new generation, transmission, and rehabilitation.

• Lead and develop a competent team of project procurement professionals
• Lead sourcing strategy development for major projects
• Developed a process for contract management (change orders)
• Jointly develop a new contract model for large civil portion of project
• Provide subject matter expertise on SAP to project teams
• Participate in negotiations for major equipment and apparatus supply

Purchasing Officer - Manitoba Hydro - Winnipeg, Manitoba

(2005-01 - 2006-01)

Responsible for the review of all purchasing policies and the development of recommended changes based on changes to Canadian case law and changing market conditions. Worked in collaboration with the legal team to redraft policies and develop accompanying procedures.

• Policy review and recommended changes
• Training team members on policy and procedures
• Lead the design and implementation of customs compliance system

Development Liaison Officer - Manitoba Hydro - Winnipeg, Manitoba

(2004-01 - 2005-01)

Responsible for the development of strategies to optimize the participation of local Aboriginal people on new hydroelectric generating projects located in northern Manitoba. Worked in collaboration with the project team to develop objectives and strategies based on specific work packages and executed these strategies as required. Reviewed proposals from Aboriginal stakeholders and developed recommendations based on established criteria.

• Key liaison with Aboriginal stakeholders on matters related to procurement and contracting
• Develop contract language ensuring Aboriginal businesses inclusion
• Identify opportunities for Aboriginal participation on major projects
• Review and summarize Aboriginal business proposals and opportunities

Tendering Officer - Manitoba Hydro - Winnipeg, Manitoba

(2003-01 - 2004-01)

Led the group accountable for the delivery of competitive procurement documents for the corporation. Team consisted of three senior information writers delivering in excess of 300 hundred corporate procurement documents annually. Influenced key management in order to secure acceptance and buy-in to a new model of procurement document delivery which resulted in an estimated 50% reduction in turn-around time.

Senior Buyer - Manitoba Hydro - Winnipeg, Manitoba

(1998-01 - 2003-01)

Led procurement projects for the largest business unit within the corporation. Conducted sourcing activities including all RFx processes for a wide range of products and services supporting the production of power by hydro and thermal operations. Participated on SAP upgrade team delivering training to corporate employees involved in the requisitioning of material and services utilizing the materials management (MM) module.

Acted as department subject matter expert in SAP system and developed formal training program for new employees. Provided assistance to super users and sat on the materials management process improvement committee.

Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) - Supply Chain Management - University of Manitoba (2003-01 - 2003-01)

Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) - Supply Management - Institute for Supply Management (2003-01 - 2003-01)

Certificate in Public Procurement Law - Public Procurement Law - Osgoode Hall Law School (2010-01 - 2010-01)

Program on Negotiation - Negotiation - Harvard Business School (2005-01 - 2007-01)

Local Content Management Master Class - Local Content Management - LCS (2012-01 - 2012-01)

Executive Leadership Development Program - Executive Leadership - Province of Manitoba (2014-01 - 2014-01)

Executive Leadership Program - Executive Leadership - Viterra Inc. (2017-01 - 2018-01)

M.Sc. in Procurement - Procurement - University of Glamorgan (2028-01 - 2028-01)