The Vendor Manager is responsible for managing WIOCC’s strategic supplier ecosystem to support the delivery of network programmes, customer projects, and operational activities. This role involves evaluating and onboarding service providers, negotiating commercial agreements, monitoring performance against SLAs, resolving delivery obstacles, and driving supplier improvements. The Vendor Manager ensures all vendors deliver on time, within budget, and at the required quality standard, enabling revenue acceleration, improved customer experience, and reduced delivery risk.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Vendor Strategy and Planning
- Develop and implement the vendor management strategy aligned to business plans.
- Identify supplier gaps to match future expansion including network build, POP expansion, and fibre access projects.
- Maintain a regional vendor capacity matrix.
- Collaborate with the PMO to forecast workload and match vendor capacity pipeline to delivery plans.
- Align with the Hyperscale's Engagement Director on the commercial and operational implications of back-to-back deals.
Vendor Selection, Sourcing and Onboarding
- Support RFP/RFQ preparation, issuance, evaluation, and vendor shortlisting.
- Lead commercial and delivery-related negotiations with shortlisted suppliers.
- Manage vendor due diligence covering financial stability, capability, HSSE policies, and resource availability.
- Facilitate contract award and onboarding into WIOCC systems.
Contracting, Compliance and SLA Governance
- Draft, negotiate, and execute supplier contracts with Procurement and Legal oversight.
- Ensure SLA terms reflect delivery timelines, downtime guarantees, workmanship standards, and penalties.
- Monitor contractual obligations and maintain renewal/expiry calendars.
- Implement systematic compliance audits and remedial plans.
Vendor Performance Management
- Develop vendor scorecards with KPIs (On-time delivery, Quality pass rates, Safety compliance, etc.).
- Conduct monthly and quarterly performance reviews with each vendor.
- Track and escalate underperformance with corrective action plans.
- Collaborate with Service Management, Network Operations, and the Hyperscale's Engagement Director on performance metrics.
Project Delivery Support
- Act as the primary vendor escalation point for PMO, Engineering, and Operations.
- Resolve delays in mobilization, material delivery, site access, and testing.
- Maintain accurate vendor delivery status reporting.
Cost Control and Value Optimization
- Benchmark vendor pricing across countries to ensure competitiveness.
- Track spend versus budget by vendor and project category in coordination with Engineering and the Hyperscale Engagement Director.
- Identify opportunities for volume discounts and aggregated procurement.
- Support Finance with accruals and cost forecasting.
Risk Management and Issue Escalation
- Identify delivery bottlenecks and maintain a vendor risk register with mitigation plans.
- Manage escalation workflows across various departments including Legal and PMO.
- Resolve disputes related to delays, quality issues, or scope deviation.
Relationship and Stakeholder Management
- Maintain strong relationships with vendor leadership and operations teams.
- Engage cross-functional stakeholders including Logistics, Finance, and Service Management.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business Administration, or a similar field.
- Minimum 5–7 years of experience in vendor management, supply chain, or technical project delivery.
- Preferred experience in Telecom or Pan-African infrastructure.
- Demonstrated ability to lead contract and commercial negotiations.
- Strong knowledge of risk, compliance, and SLA administration.
Skills and Competencies
- Technical: Contract negotiation, vendor management methodologies, Telecom infrastructure (DWDM, IP, fibre build, POP power), and ERP experience (NetSuite preferred).
- Behavioral: Time-sensitive problem solving, strong influencing skills, cross-cultural relationship building, and persuasive communication.
- Attributes: Client-focused, high ethical standards, collaborative, and detailed-oriented.
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