Partner Relations Manager

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 PositionKnowledge:- 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 countriesSkills:- 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 playerMinimum 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:- D1Key Stakeholder RelationshipsInternal- Finance- Procurement- Operations- Sales- Project Managers- Quality Assurance- Contract Manager.External- Customers- Vendors/Suppliers- AttorneysKey Performance Areas & IndicatorsProcurement- 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 DepartmentSLA & 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 FinanceStakeholder 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 agreementCancellations- 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