Partner Relations Manager

SUMMARY:
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%

• 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

• 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)

• 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

• Bachelors degree in commerce, supply chain or related tertiary qualification
• Project management or service delivery background 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)

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

• D1

• 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 note with the supplier based on SLA reporting
• Obtain necessary credit note and ensure captured by Finance

• 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 the 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

POSITION INFO:
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%

• 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

• 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)

• 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

• Bachelors degree in commerce, supply chain or related tertiary qualification
• Project management or service delivery background 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)

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

• D1

• 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 note with the supplier based on SLA reporting
• Obtain necessary credit note and ensure captured by Finance

• 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 the 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