Partner Relations Manager/ Vendor Manager (Telco)

Key Performance Areas:

• Procurement 30%
• Partner Relations Management 20%
• SLA and Credit Management 10%
• Stakeholder Management - Legal Compliance 10%
• Cost Savings - Supplier Changes 15%
• Cancellations 15%

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Minimum Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in commerce, supply chain or related tertiary qualification
• Project management or service delivery advantageous

• 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)
• Experience in building relationships with suppliers and managing these relationships well
• Wanting a strong relationship manager rather than just a procurement manager
• Strengths required in supplier management and relationships, really need someone who knows how to own a supplier and manage and build the relationship. Focusing on negotiation and assertiveness competencies please.
• Partner Relations Manager should see a supplier or partner almost like a staff member, and that the PRM must be able to hold the supplier accountable for slow turnaround, not only on pricing, but also in Finance, Operations, Delivery and NOC.

• Valid passport
• Willing to travel internationally on an ad hoc basis
• Prepared to work overtime, if required

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

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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)

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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

• Finance
• Procurement
• Operations
• Sales
• Project Managers
• Quality Assurance
• Contract Manager

• Customers
• Vendors/suppliers
• Attorneys

• 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.

• 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

• 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 notes with the supplier based on SLA reporting
• Obtain necessary credit notes and ensure captured by Finance - Accurate feedback, on time, in the required format

• 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

• 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 to ensure the migration is completed within the necessary timelines - Program management of Project plan with PM agreement

• 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