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