Gauteng: Partner Relations Manager posted by Recruit-It

Job Purpose:
Responsible for procurement of the company’s products and services from regional vendors, in order to support internal stakeholders, by establishing and maintaining long-term beneficial relationships and strategies. The role supports sales and project teams in their growth and delivery objectives.
 
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 CM’s 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 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,
• Operating License

 
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