Manager - Supply Chain Management

About The CompanyTata Communications Redefines Connectivity with Innovation and IntelligenceDriving the next level of intelligence powered by Cloud, Mobility, Internet of Things, Collaboration, Security, Media services and Network services, we at Tata Communications are envisaging a New World of CommunicationsThe Category Buyer - Services is responsible for supporting the business needs by ensuring timely procurement of requests related to assigned categories in Services. He /She ensures that the category performance is in alignment with the guidelines and targets set under SCM objectives. He /She adheres to the policy guidelines and organizational processes defined for procurement.The Category Buyer performs sourcing for sub-categories under the Services category, amounting to ~$100 - 110 Mn spend. He/ She assists demand forecasting and annual sourcing plan creation, aligned with the business requirements. He /She analyses the supply market and industry trends and assists the Category Lead in developing category strategies.He /She executes sourcing and negotiation strategies basis category strategy for all the major sourcing projects. He /She is an effective negotiator who can come up with creative negotiation strategies. He /She monitors contractual compliance and coordinates contract amendments (if any).He/ She creates catalog for direct purchase and promotes catalog based ordering amongst all business functions. He /She collaborates with the vendors for optimizing technical specifications of products/ services. He /She is responsible for effective supplier relationship management and leads collaborative discussions for value creation with the supplier. He /She maintains a good working relationships with all business functions, SCM Operations, SCM Enablers and SCM Logistics to ensure cross-functional collaboration.He /She is accountable for compliance to the guidelines and rules, both internal and external (tax laws, legal/ regulatory laws), and accountable for any artefacts/ processes needed for the same.Strategy Development And Planning Support the Category lead in development of Annual Sourcing Plan for sub-categories under Services (incl. internal and external demand) Support Category Lead in developing both, category and sourcing strategies, by forecasting demand, analyzing industry trends, understanding vendor landscape, etc. Develop negotiation strategies for all the key sourcing projects under the guidance of Category Lead Examine supplier's industry position and cost-structure, identify trends in supply market, develop cost-tear downs for key sourcing requests Optimize sourcing and ordering schedule by assessing demand drivers Minimize the potential risks to reduce supply chain uncertainties and shocks (through laid-out risk mitigation strategies)Cross Functional Collaboration Coordinate with business, sales and other stakeholders for effective demand planning and monitor the actual requirements against plan Interact with business teams to identify and optimize technical/ functional specifications under the guidance of Category Lead Facilitate ongoing collaboration between the Business teams, Operations team, Enablers team and Logistics team Support implementation of Ariba, SAP S/4 HANA and any other procurement toolsGeneral Management Manage and direct day-to-day activities of stakeholders, to ensure timely procurement as per business requirements Solicit ideas and foster an environment for personnel development of the teamSupplier Management Monitor supplier performance against the targets defined as per SRM and provide necessary support (wherever required) Collaborate with suppliers regularly and drive tangible additional value from relationship through joint cost reduction initiatives Interact frequently with the suppliers to identify issues and potential areas for improvement Provide support for vendor registration and qualification process (if required), completing all necessary checks and verifications as outlined under the SCM PolicyStrategy Execution'- Execute sourcing strategies for all the sourcing requirements; inputs (if any) to act as a feedback in the overall sourcing/ category strategy Lead end-to-end sourcing process (including RFP/RFQ process) for all sourcing initiatives defined as per sourcing plan Develop evaluation criteria, and evaluate tender responses, with guidance from Category Lead Lead the implementation of negotiated contracts and monitor contractual compliance of executed contracts Drive catalog creation (where possible) for direct purchase by increasing standardization of products/ services within the category Interact with users for demand forecasting and increasing awareness regarding catalog based ordering Adopt best practices for strategic sourcing and discern specific nuances of the contract that provide an edge in negotiations (e.g. TCO vs purchasing price) Prioritize placement of PO in cases of urgent requests with guidance from Category Lead Monitor on-time delivery against all open POs to ensure timely receipt of orders Support Query Resolution team in resolution of queries associated with invoiced amounts, delivery, etc. wherever requiredOperational Improvement Ensure that day to day activities comply with standards and performance measures set in the approved SCM policy and procedures Implement continuous improvement initiatives designed to improve operations, decrease turnaround times and streamline work processes for procurement Champion use of standard sourcing tools and methodologies including execution of advanced sourcing eventsCore Technical Skills (Sourcing Related)Strategic SourcingProcurement process Negotiation SkillsSupply base analysisContract ManagementSupplier ManagementFin and Supply ChainCore Technical Skills (Others)Strategic PlanningTechnology and ToolsRisk ManagementSustainability PracticeEssential Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree (Any Graduate) MBA or Recognized Procurement /Supply Chain certification (CIPS or equivalent Procurement qualification) Minimum of 5-6 years procurement experience, preferably with a large multinational setup handling Facilities and Infra procurement. The category includes Facilities, Admin, HR, Travel & Hospitality, Logistics, Warehousing, Repair & Maintenance and AMC’s. Experience in strategic sourcing responsible for multi-million spend Having knowledge of category management Knowledge of supply chain regulation and compliance Understanding of international, regional and local supply markets and working practices Experience in executing category and sourcing strategies; developing negotiation strategiesExperience of implementing change in a complex environment, working with a wide range of stakeholdersExperience (technical, commercial, industry / product / functional expertise, etc.) Strong skills in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint and in finance (ERP) systems Experience in catalog development for standard products/ services Experience in e-sourcing tool setsExperience in developing category strategies