Gauteng: Partner Relations Manager (Telecoms Procurement Manager) posted by Recruit-It

Key Performance Areas:
– Procurement 30%
– Partner Relations Management 20%
– SLA & Credit Management 10%
– Stakeholder Management – Legal Compliance 10%
– Cost Savings – Supplier Changes 15%
– Cancellations 15%

Competency Requirements for Position
Knowledge:
– Product knowledge of Ethernet, MPLS and Internet data solutions
– Knowledge of ISP/data solution providers and markets across Africa
– Basic knowledge of telco regulations and legislation in various countries

Skills:
– Basic Cost-Accounting skills
– Excellent written and verbal communication skills
– Ability to build collaborative relationships with vendors for competitive advantage
– Basic Cost-Accounting skills
– Report Writing skills
– Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint)

Behavioral:
– Strong negotiation skills
– Strong Business Acumen
– Analytical skills
– Accurate, attention to Detail
– Deadline driven
– Planning and Organisational skills
– Initiative
– Ability to prioritize
– Problem-solving skills
– Stress tolerance
– Team player

Minimum Qualification:
– Bachelors degree in commerce, supply chain or related tertiary qualification
– Project management or service delivery background advantageous

Minimum Experience:
– 5 years’ experience in telecommunications industry, data networking products (MPLS, Ethernet, WAN, etc.).
– Experience in procurement from international suppliers, predominately in Africa and Middle East (preferable)

Other Requirements:
– Valid passport
– Willing to travel internationally on an ad hoc basis
– Prepared to work overtime, if required

Job Grade:
– D1

Key Stakeholder Relationships
Internal
– Finance
– Procurement
– Operations
– Sales
– Project Managers
– Quality Assurance
– Contract Manager.

External
– Customers
– Vendors/Suppliers
– Attorneys

Key Performance Areas & Indicators

Procurement
– Request Pricing for all access sourcing to meet client requirements – Within 48 hours
– Ensure services are sourced and negotiated at market-related prices or less.
– Drive Big Deal spreadsheet and work with the company to provide final pricing. – Ownership of Pricing.
– Negotiate further discounts, based on Qualified requests and obtain official quotes for all requests at 100% probability – Within 48 hours.
– Fully engage with Commercial Manager to confirm any technical requirements, SLA and delivery lead times for all qualified requests.
– Analyze and compare local access pricing received against existing price books.

Partner Relations Management
– Work with suppliers, ensuring open and transparent communication of supplier feedback. – Effective cooperation between parties.
– Develop, review, and refine supplier score cards and procedures. – Performance metrics.
– Conduct Supplier reviews based on Score cards and implement PIP where needed. – Supplier of scorecards.
– Leverage score card analytics to make data-driven decisions and recommendations to stakeholders and leaders. – Corrective action implemented.
– Manage and resolve supplier escalations from internal departments. – Accurate, timely identification of potential risks.
– Responsible for resolving Supplier invoice holds and payment issues from suppliers – Assist the Finance Department

SLA & Credit Management
– Ensure SLA criteria including penalties are in place with all vendors – Accurate feedback, on time, in the required format
– Analyze monthly SLA reporting received from QA for non- performance
– Negotiate necessary credit note with the supplier based on SLA reporting
– Obtain necessary credit note and ensure captured by Finance

Stakeholder Management – Legal Compliance
– Ensure onboarding Compliance document prior to commencing commercial discussions with potential supplier – RFI Document
– Ensure NDA agreement is in place prior to requesting pricing and sharing requirements to new potential suppliers – NDA Agreement
– Manage and resolve supplier escalations from internal departments
– Assist Finance Department to resolve invoicing and billing disputes
– Issues resolved promptly
– Ensure All legal compliances are in place prior to billing been received from new suppliers – MSA, SLA,

Cost Savings – Supplier Changes
– Present commercial model to confirm feasibility and get the necessary approval from all depts – Derive commercial model
– Ensure orders with suppliers are placed timeously for local access. – Double billing occurrences
– Ensure existing circuits are cancelled timeously – No failed cancellations
– Ensure providers have turn down the old link and billing has stopped – Close loop with Finance departments involved
– Drive the various departments involved the ensure the migration is completed within the necessary timelines – Program management of Project plan with PM agreement

Cancellations
– Request cancellation terms from suppliers – All requests processed same day.
– Timeous and accurate processing of all requests on Sales tool and TWYN
– Complete the full cancellation process on TWYN including the confirmation that billing has stopped with the supplier. – Within an average of 2 days