Typical issues you tackle

The biggest thing I need to have is accurate information from buyers, users, and other sources. Making sure the info is accurate for fair comparison is the hugest issue I tackle.

 

What about the issues you’d help with at UVic?

Look at absolutely anything on campus and we probably purchased it. From the Pepsi products in the bookstore to the construction company used to build a new academic centre, we are the ones who make sense of contracts and make recommendations for purchases and major projects.

 

What are the biggest projects you guys handle?

Construction is definitely the mega-project we handle. I mean, we’re talking about huge, state-of-the-art facilities.

Right now, non-employee travel is a huge thing we’re tackling. We’re looking for ways to streamline the travel needs for anyone not under the payroll at UVic (like sports teams, guest speakers, and event planners).

Some other ones that come to mind are food products, high tech stuff like advanced lab instruments.

 

What tools do you need to succeed at your job?

The biggest tools I can think of that you’d need for this job are knowledge management and organizational skills. I also use a lot of software tools in my daily work.

 

How’d you get into this?

I’m a UVic grad, so I know the campus well and thought this would be a good move.

Initially, I was attracted to this job’s mix of project management and IT. I have a vast IT background, but I can’t stand working in a solely IT role. I’d rather be the troubleshooter by process of elimination than focusing my entire day on annoying computer problems! This job allowed me to be creative and to learn some new skills that I thought would be interesting.

Prior to coming to UVic, I worked for the Better Business Bureau, which was a totally different environment. My official role there was special projects manager and a main aspect of my job was the re-branding of the Vancouver Island BBB chapter and events management/public relations. Re-branding involved a lot of purchasing and making sense of multiple proposals. However, I wasn’t in love with the environment, so I made the move into a learning-focused institution.

Now, I’m working for purchasing services and the VENUS project in very similar roles – but I’ll tell you about that later.

 

What else does your background comprise of?

Well, like I said, I graduated from the University of Victoria with a B.A. in Greek and Roman Studies. While at UVic, I worked at the Maltwood Art Gallery and at the BC Government. After graduating, I traveled for an extended period of time. Eventually, I ended up in Australia and continued working in the museum sector. While I was down under, I completed my Master’s Degree in Cultural Heritage at Deakin University in Melbourne. I've learned a lot about knowledge management and the importance of procedure from my experiences with museums and archives.

I got into IT when the web was first making its way into the mainstream – around 1995. I volunteered anywhere and everywhere, applying IT solutions to problems in many organizations and honing my skills. This developed into small contracts and eventually professional work.

 

So why purchasing?

I don’t know what interests me about purchasing – it’s a strong profession in Canada and the USA. There’s a lot of opportunity for the industry. A lot of countries are professionalizing the purchasing area.

I’m always eager to learn new skills, and purchasing has always been something that has interested me. I suppose, if I get down to it, I like the idea that I’m doing something with a clear purpose – basically saving money and increasing efficiency. It’s also nice to mix my previous skills into something I can learn and grow into.

In today’s climate, it’s rewarding to know you’re basically giving work to other residents – our department is moving the province’s economy forward.

 

What’s your other job at UVic?

I also work on the VENUS project as their web developer. It’s a more web-related role.

VENUS (the Victoria Experimental Network Under the Sea) is a major research project involving underwater, cabled observatories. We measure things like oxygen and nitrogen levels at the bottom of the sea and even have cameras and hydrophones down there. We publish the data of these underwater conditions online for researchers. It’s a major undertaking here at the University and a really cool project.

Actually, I’ve always volunteered with 'fishy' not-for-profits in Victoria so this was another natural fit for me.

 

Can you tell me a little bit about your life outside of work?

Before I came to Uvic, I did a lot of traveling – I met my wife in the Philippines and we go back every year to see our family.

I volunteer a lot, most recently at the Pink Salmon Festival. I’ve also volunteered with a lot of fishery-related groups and First Nations’ advocacy organizations.

What value does your job bring to BC?

Hopefully, I help find the best product and processes for the University by providing evaluations on what’s useful and efficient.

 

What do you think is in the future for BC?

Within my line of work, I think it’s optimistic. Both purchasing and IT are strong professions, with a lot of synergies and international opportunities.

 

What is the value of Professionals to BC?

Skilled professionals are dedicated to their job, and they have the know-how to fix any problem that someone without the training or interest wouldn’t. I feel really strongly that quality talents and ethics are the most important characteristics of professionals.

 

What does the phrase Professionals Making a Difference in BC mean to you?

We are important on so many levels. We know how to do our jobs and we have passion in everything we do. Although it may be hard to see it, it shows in the high caliber of work we output.