Sr Manager, Supplier Management & Partner Operations

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Your day at NTT DATA

The Senior Manager, Vendor Relations & Partner Operations, is a senior management role, responsible for overseeing the relationship between the organization and its preferred vendors and operational activities of its key strategic partner. This role manages the overall performance of preferred vendors as per agreed Service Level Agreements (SLAs). This role partners with senior management to evaluate overall vendor performance, conducts business needs assessments, vendor spend optimization, partner program & rebate analysis, and business risk management.
This role directs the lifecycle activities for existing vendor contracts. This role further works closely with internal cross functional business leaders to forecast future needs and to develop cost effective strategies aligned with business objectives to drive the strategy and selection of vendors.
This is a senior people management role, requiring managing more junior management/individual contributors within the team, thereby ensuring the efficient operation of the function.

What you'll be doing

Key Responsibilities:

• Approves the allocation of resources within the team to manage and optimize supplier performance and partner financial metrics to meet functional/team objectives.
• Provides strategic guidance to the Vendor Relations team and supports vendor/partner escalations & general inquiries.
• Defines policy / process changes that impacts the function/team.
• Works on issues of diverse and complex scope.
• Acts as advisor to meet schedules or when operational issues require resolution..
• Manages budget / vendor spend management.
• Interacts with team members or peers from other areas on matters pertaining to functional area, to provide support in resolving vendor related issues.
• Drives towards standardization of vendor engagement models across different vendors.
• Oversees the monthly vendor performance reviews.
• Provides guidance/strategy to the team ensuring they have the tools and materials towards improving vendor performance & partner status requirements against Fulfilment and Assurance of Procured Services.
• Signs off on the implementation, monitoring, reporting on Vendor Service Improvement Plans.
• Liaison between Region and Global teams working with key strategic partner, serving as a regional representative on Global Partner forums and review calls.
• Sales and Technical Enablement Strategist – Collaborate with Alliance Operations, Service Units, Sales and Technical teams to align education and enablement with partnership status requirements to foster skills and capabilities within the organization.
• Implements tactical procedures, managing and leading teams, setting goals, and managing performance accordingly.

Knowledge and Attributes:

• Extended knowledge of the IT industry and the specific products and services relevant to the organizational operations.
• Extended knowledge of Partner Program, Rebate Governance, and Partner tools to maximize NTT profitability with partner
• Extended ability to develop and execute a strategic vendor management plan that aligns with the organization's objectives.
• Extended negotiation skills to secure favorable terms and agreements with vendors.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills to interact effectively with vendors, internal stakeholders, and senior management.
• Extended ability to identify, asses, and mitigate various risks associated with vendor relationships.
• Relevant knowledge of legal and compliance requirements related to vendor contracts and relationships.
• Extended understanding of financial principles and the ability to manage budgets and cost optimization strategies.
• An openness to exploring innovative solutions and technologies that vendors can bring to the organization.
• Extended team management skills to oversee a team responsible for vendor management activities.

Academic Qualifications and Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, marketing, business administration, or a related field.
• ITIL certification is preferable.

Required Experience:

• Extended demonstrated contract / supplier management experience preferably in a multi-national Information Technology environment.
• Extended stakehold