Public Procurement Leadership Essentials for Elected Officials and Senior Leaders
Lead with confidence. Govern with clarity.
Public procurement decisions affect service delivery, financial stewardship, organizational risk and public trust. Elected officials and senior leaders play an important governance and oversight role, even when they are not directly involved in the procurement process.
This online course builds strategic insight into procurement governance, oversight, accountability and informed decision-making to support fair, transparent and defensible procurement outcomes.
This course was developed by the Public Procurement Learning Lab with support from our project partner, OECM.
Why This Course Matters
Build the knowledge needed to provide effective leadership, governance and oversight throughout the procurement process.
Governance
Understand the distinct but complementary roles of elected officials, senior leadership, administration and procurement professionals.
Risk Awareness
Recognize common procurement, ethical and reputational risks before they affect the organization or undermine public confidence.
Informed Oversight
Ask better questions, understand key decision points and support fair, transparent and accountable procurement outcomes.
At a Glance
Format
Online and self-paced
Duration
Approximately 60–90 minutes
Designed for
Elected officials and senior non-procurement leaders
Procurement experience
No previous knowledge required
Course access
Six months from purchase
Pricing
Introductory Pricing
August 1–31, 2026
Individual Registration
$89 per participant
Regular price: $99
5-User Package
$399 per package
Regular price: $425
Includes access for five participants
Combine packages and individual registrations to accommodate your group size.
Each participant receives individual access to the self-paced course.
Register for the CourseCourse Module Overview
Through four leadership-focused modules, participants will build a stronger understanding of public procurement, governance responsibilities and the role leaders play in supporting fair, transparent and accountable decision-making.
Build a foundation in how public procurement works and why public-sector purchasing is subject to heightened scrutiny and accountability.
Participants will explore:
- The purpose and scope of public procurement
- The principles of openness, fairness and transparency
- Core values, including competition, value for money and accountability
- Fiscal responsibility and stewardship of public funds
- Procurement laws, policies and trade agreements
- Social, sustainable and ethical procurement considerations
Gain an overview of the processes, methods and governance frameworks that guide public procurement from planning through contract close-out.
Participants will explore:
- Common procurement methods and when they are used
- The stages of the procurement cycle
- Procurement tools and supporting resources
- Governance and oversight mechanisms
- The importance of consistent policies, procedures and delegated authority
- Continuous learning, changing legislation and emerging procurement trends
Understand the distinct but connected responsibilities of elected officials, senior leaders and procurement professionals.
Participants will explore:
- The governance role of elected officials
- The operational leadership role of senior public-sector staff
- Appropriate involvement in budgets and major award recommendations
- The importance of maintaining a clear boundary between governance and administration
- How procurement can support broader organizational and community objectives
- Accountability, ethical conduct and reliance on professional expertise
Learn how political or organizational influence can affect procurement outcomes and how strong governance helps protect the integrity of the process.
Participants will explore:
- Different forms of political influence
- The risks and consequences of inappropriate involvement
- Governance practices that support impartial decision-making
- Conflicts of interest and perceived conflicts
- Questions leaders should ask when reviewing procurement recommendations
- How to support procurement professionals while maintaining appropriate oversight
Reinforce Your Learning
Each module includes real-life examples, interactive activities and a knowledge check to help participants confirm their understanding and apply key concepts to their leadership role.
Upon completing all four modules, the required knowledge checks and the course survey, participants will receive a course certificate.
Hear From Public Sector Leaders
Public sector leaders share how the course builds knowledge, strengthens governance and supports better-informed procurement decisions.
The course provides elected officials with a strong, practical foundation in public procurement and governance. The real-world case studies clearly demonstrate why informed oversight matters.
Geoff Wright, P.Eng., MBA
City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer
City of Mississauga
An excellent resource for elected officials and senior leaders, offering practical, real-world guidance on procurement governance, decision-making and maintaining public trust.
Marisa Chiu, CPA, CA
Commissioner of Corporate Services, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
City of Mississauga
The course clearly reinforces the distinct but complementary roles of elected officials and administration while providing a practical overview of transparency and accountability in public procurement.
Karen Shea
Chief of Staff – Mayor and CAO Office
Town of Innisfil
This course provides valuable public procurement knowledge that many employees may not otherwise receive and would be an excellent addition to staff onboarding.
Sheridan Graham, CMO
Chief Administrative Officer, Deputy Clerk and Deputy Treasurer
Peterborough County
Strengthen procurement knowledge across your leadership team
Give elected officials and senior leaders the procurement knowledge to support informed, transparent and accountable procurement decisions.
Complete the course at your own pace and receive a certificate of completion.
Flexible Pricing for Individuals and Organizations
Choose the option that works best for your leadership team.
Introductory Pricing
Available for registrations completed August 1–31, 2026
Individual Registration
August Introductory Price
$89 per participant
Regular price: $99
Includes individual course access for one elected official or senior leader.
5-User Package
August Introductory Price
$399 per package
Regular price: $425
Includes individual course access for five participants from the same organization.
Multiple 5-user packages may be purchased for larger groups.
Need a quantity that is not a multiple of five?
Combine 5-user package(s) with individual registrations. For example, course access for six participants would include one 5-user package and one individual registration.
Each participant receives individual access to the self-paced online course.
Registration and Refund Policy
Registrations are non-refundable; however, course access may be transferred to another participant within the same organization. Participants have six months from the date of purchase to complete the course.
Ready to strengthen procurement knowledge across your leadership team?
Register NowComplete the course at your own pace and receive a certificate of completion.
Need registrations for a larger group? Contact us to discuss your organization’s learning needs.
Program Partner
Developed by the Public Procurement Learning Lab with support from our project partner, OECM.