Telecommunications Contracts

General Description: The Director of Telecom Contracts will lead Global and Regional Telecom contract negotiations. This position is responsible for creating and managing our contractual agreements with our primary Telecom vendors consistent with corporate guidelines that support best possible business value and balanced risk. Director of Telecom Contracts will lead development, negotiation and management of our global and regional agreements. Will assist regional management with obtaining best possible agreements with preferred in country suppliers. Is responsible for maintaining a schedule of contracts and manage to the terms of the contracts. The position reports to the Chief IT Procurement Officer, Global Information Services. Leadership • Confidently set our telecom sourcing strategies making sure they are aligned with business and technical goals. • Model desired organizational behavior as defined in the company values and leadership competencies. • Cultivate, support, and promote an organizational culture that provides for high performance, high morale, integrity, teamwork and work-life balance. • Lead, support, and influence the achievement of the mission, goals, and objectives of the department and organization. • Fully participate in organizational processes/initiatives, , interviewing, budgeting, training, etc. • Conceive and convey innovative programs and processes across the department and with business. • Proactively lead cross-functional teams to find department wide solutions. • Represent GIS IT Procurement in cross-department meetings/decision-making. Customer/Business Orientation • Focus on internal and external customer requirements. • Comprehensive understanding of customer Telecom needs. • Support and improve business process and understand implications associated with designs. • Negotiate and execute critical vendor relationships in support of systems and architecture. • Ability to meet business objectives. Development/ Learning • Coach and develop people with organization-wide perspective. • Responsible for performance management/feedback and development of direct reports. • Support and facilitate the exchange of learning across the organization. • Coach/mentor direct reports and peer level. • Pursue personal and professional development opportunities. Project Management • Establish and maintain project plans across multiple projects. • Execute appropriate level of planning and management as dictated by characteristics and timing of project. • Participates in the identification and development of operational and strategic plans across technologies and/or across systems for business customers. Problem Solving • Understand broader implications of situations; identify potential problem areas and execute solutions across the enterprise before they become problems. • Prioritize problems and solutions. • Provide conflict resolution mechanisms Key Responsibilities Production Support • Effective follow-up and communication of problems as they occur. • Anticipate and communicate business impacts. • Work with support teams and business customers to ensure business needs are met. • Develop and ensure supportable systems. Financial Accountability • Assist financial control and accountability on capital and operating expenses for areas of responsibility. • Seek out and pursue opportunities for new business development. Essential Duties • Negotiate contract agreements with our primary Telecom vendors consistent with corporate guidelines that support best possible business value and balanced risk. • Identifies potential areas where existing policies and procedures require change, or where new ones need to be developed, especially regarding preservation and proper use of enterprise assets and future business expansion. • Directs and manages the activation, rate reviews and termination of contracts. • Determines and effectuates accountability and identification of all Telecom contracts. • Responsible for managing the terms of IPG Telecom contracts. • Trains, supervises, assigns projects, evaluates and is responsible for hiring/termination of staff to maintain performance of job duties. • Works to create a positive environment with work associates. Job Requirements: Experience • Generally has three-five years management experience in business and/or telecommunication environment, including two years experience leading teams and providing work direction. • Experience with negotiation of telecom goods and services with an understanding of contract structure • Experience in working with legal and making business/legal decisions. • IT/Telecom work experience outside North America is desirable. Maturity • Ability to deal with complex organizational issues and make appropriate trade-offs as required. • Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing when dealing with internal and external customers and suppliers. • Direct and coordinate the development, review and approval of all telecom contracts in support of all groups. • Lead and/or contribute to projects/committees that establish guidelines, set procedures, outline standards, and monitor industry best practices. Core Knowledge • A solid knowledge of US telecom services and market rates for those services. • Thorough knowledge of management/leadership principles. • General knowledge of personnel practices and regulations. • Understanding of telecom costs and cost drivers • Proficient knowledge of telecom and trends in technology. • General business acumen including understanding product strategy across market segments and function across products. • Knowledge of how to use outside experts for market specific intelligence • Experience with foreign telecom deal structure and regulatory issues. Critical Skills • Excellent partnering, negotiation, communication and advocacy skills. • Demonstrate management basics - planning, organizing, directing, developing, and supervising. • Provide tactical leadership within the IT Procurement team. • Ability to effectively lead others to accomplish goals/objectives. • Ability to influence/direct at all levels. • Ability to set and manage stakeholder expectations. • Ability to apply common sense scrutiny to complex business proposals