Vendor Manager

Join our team

The TELUS Procurement team is on a mission to ensure we spend our money smartly! Within TELUS we spend significant amounts on goods and services from stationary to strategic outsourcing. Through understanding business needs and building strong partnerships with our stakeholders and suppliers, we are helping those who spend money on behalf of TELUS get the best value, achieve the best results, and bring the best innovation from third parties.

If you’re a trailblazer with great communication skills, who can forge strong relationships while championing innovation and sustainability, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the best minds in the industry to support our journey to becoming best in class.

Together, we can make sure TELUS optimizes spend, and reinvests as much as possible to build a friendly future for Canadians.

What we'll accomplish together

As a Category Manager, you will have accountability for the strategic procurement of contingent and external labour with our strategic vendors. You will also be responsible for building relationships within new areas of the organization, and the opportunity to develop the strategy and manage one or more spend categories.

You will use your negotiation skills, financial acumen, contingent labour knowledge and Procurement expertise to develop and deploy world-class approaches to spend management while utilizing e-procurement tools to deliver optimal value. You will also be responsible for negotiating, drafting, administering and managing commercial contracts associated with this category.

What you’ll do

• Partnering with stakeholders across the organization as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor
• Driving best in class strategic sourcing related to category expertise, that will underpin TELUS' continued profitable growth, whilst offering an unsurpassed client experience
• Influencing key strategic decisions through impactful thought leadership and consultative approach
• Leveraging expert skills in data analytics, market research, sourcing, relationship and contract management
• Leading major contract negotiations, strategic sourcing activities, cross functional projects, risk and relationship management, and savings initiatives
• Optimizing our delivery model to maximize impact for TELUS
• Lead strategic sourcing projects, including direct negotiations and RFx events
• Lead contract negotiations with new and existing suppliers
• Renew and amend existing contracts
• Manage supplier compliance to contract terms and TELUS Procurement programs related to ESG, Supplier Due Diligence, Supplier Sustainability and Diversity, among others
• Manage the performance of key suppliers
• Optimize the supplier pool within assigned portfolio
• Analyze supplier contract and spend data, deliver insights, identify and implement cost saving and value generating opportunities
• Drive internal process improvement, change and innovation
• Act as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders, jointly develop supplier management strategies
   

What you bring

• Working knowledge of contingent labour, procurement, category management, and supplier sourcing practices for 5 or more years
• Knowledge of contract drafting and negotiations, including legal and commercial terms and conditions (i.e. pricing, performance management and SLA development)
• A “can-do” attitude and innate belief in the art of the possible
• Strong communication, storytelling and presentation skills, with proven ability to influence decision makers, using Microsoft PowerPoint and/or Google Slides
• Ability to maintain perspective and confidence in face of difficult contract negotiations, tight deadlines and client expectations
• Ability to build and maintain effective partnerships internally and externally
• Proven track record of execution and delivery in complex environments, strong problem solving skills and attention to detail
• Passion for using facts and data, translating analytics and intelligence into effective business decisions in the best interests of the organization
• Demonstrated ability to enable and drive change, think flexibly, and pivot when needed
• Knowledge of  areas such as staff augmentation, temporary labour, staffing agencies and professional services will be an asset
• A team player who thrives in a dynamic corporate environment
• Strong business mindset and financial acumen
• Big picture thinker with an entrepreneurial mindset

Great-to-haves

• Experience with VMS, eSourcing, SAP tools at an advanced level
• Knowledge of financial principles and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements an asset
• Bachelor Degree
• MBA or SCMA or a willingness to complete these designations as a part of your career development including equivalent international designations such as CIPS or ISM