Vendor Manager - Global Telecom Expenses Management & Supplier Relationships

Description

About the Team

Our Global Procurement & Supplier Management team is a strategic function within TPS that supports Telus' international expansion across North America, LATAM, APAC, EMEA, and emerging markets. We partner with key vendors to optimize costs, manage risk, and drive innovation across our telecom infrastructure. The work you do in this role directly influences which vendors become Telus' strategic partners, shapes contract terms that protect the organization, and drives the cost and quality outcomes that make our international growth sustainable.

The Role

As Vendor Manager, you'll wear multiple hats: strategist, negotiator, analyst, and relationship builder. Your primary mission is to ensure Telus gets the best value and service from our global telecom suppliers while building partnerships that support long-term growth. This is a global role with true multi-regional responsibility — you won't be managing one geography; you'll orchestrate vendor relationships across five regions simultaneously, which means strategic thinking at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Vendor Management (35%)

• Develop and execute global vendor strategy aligned with Telus international expansion roadmap

• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new telecom service providers and technology partners across North America, LATAM, APAC, EMEA, and emerging markets

• Conduct vendor due diligence including financial stability, regulatory compliance, and capability assessments

• Build long-term strategic partnerships with key vendors to drive innovation and cost efficiency

• Manage vendor scorecards and performance metrics across service level, quality, delivery, and cost dimensions

• Lead quarterly business reviews with strategic vendors; escalate performance issues and drive improvement plans

Contract Negotiation & Management (30%)

• Negotiate complex, multi-million-dollar master service agreements, purchase agreements, and service level agreements with global suppliers, securing favorable payment terms, pricing locks, and protections against currency and regulatory risk

• Navigate the complexity of multi-jurisdictional requirements including tax implications, local regulations, and data protection (GDPR, local privacy laws)

• Manage contract lifecycle from procurement to renewal or termination

• Coordinate with Legal and Finance teams on contract terms, risk allocation, and compliance requirements

• Maintain centralized contract repository with version control and compliance tracking

Global Expenses Management (25%)

• Own spend visibility and cost optimization across international markets—identify consolidation and renegotiation opportunities through vendor consolidation, renegotiation, and market benchmarking

• Implement spend visibility tools and analytics to track vendor expenses by category, region, and cost center

• Develop and manage vendor budgets with direct accountability for cost variance analysis and cost forecasting

• Lead procurement initiatives for major capex projects including network equipment, infrastructure deployment, and technology upgrades

• Optimize pricing through volume leverage, multi-year agreements, and competitive bidding processes

• Prepare spend reports and recommendations for senior leadership

Supplier Relationship Management (10%)

• Serve as primary point of contact for key strategic vendors; manage escalations and resolve disputes in a timely and professional manner

• Partner closely with Finance, Legal, and regional operations teams to align vendor strategy with business priorities

• Represent Telus at industry forums, vendor conferences, and trade shows

• Communicate vendor requirements, roadmap changes, and performance expectations clearly and consistently

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent professional experience in vendor management

Experience

• Minimum 7 years in vendor management or procurement roles

• Minimum 5 years managing global vendors and cross-border sourcing across multiple jurisdictions

• Demonstrated experience in telecom, network infrastructure, or related technology industry with proven track record of understanding regulatory, technical, and operational nuances of telecom vendor relationships

• Proven track record managing vendor relationships with multiple international suppliers across different geographies and regulatory environments

• Demonstrated experience managing cost reduction initiatives with understanding of P&L impact

Technical Skills

• Working proficiency in SAP, Ariba, or equivalent procurement platforms (you don't need to be an expert, but comfort navigating the system is essential)

• Strong financial acumen including P&L management, cost analysis, and budgeting

• Fluency in contract management, negotiation, and familiarity with legal and compliance implications of multi-jurisdictional contracts

• Proficiency in vendor scorecard and spend analysis tools

• Intermediate to advanced Excel and business intelligence tools

Core Competencies

• Proven track record negotiating complex, multi-million-dollar contracts with vendors across different geographies and regulatory environments

• Strategic thinking with ability to align vendor strategy to business objectives and international expansion roadmap

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with comfort working with complex financial and operational data

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across executive, vendor, and cross-functional teams

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities across global regions with competing deadlines

• Cultural awareness and comfort working effectively across geographies and time zones. You approach cross-border challenges with curiosity and flexibility, have experience managing vendors from different cultures, and are comfortable working asynchronously.

Compliance & Regulatory Knowledge

• Working knowledge of international trade regulations, tariffs, and compliance requirements

• Knowledge of data protection and cybersecurity requirements in telecom (GDPR, local regulations)

• Familiarity with anti-corruption laws (FCPA, Bribery Act) and ethical procurement practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in international expansion or geographic market entry initiatives

• Experience leading strategic cost reduction or transformation programs with measurable financial impact ($10M+ preferred)

• Experience with enterprise procurement systems implementation or optimization