Senior Vendor Relations Specialist

NTT; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 700 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A global technology services company is seeking a Senior Vendor Relations Specialist in Johannesburg, South Africa. This advanced role involves managing vendor contracts, ensuring service delivery meets performance standards, and optimizing stakeholder relationships. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in supply chain management and significant contract management experience. The company fosters an inclusive workplace with hybrid working conditions.

Qualifications

• Ability to establish strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced knowledge in finance, marketing, and logistics.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate service level agreements with vendors.
• Monitor vendor performance and provide feedback.
• Develop performance metrics for suppliers.

Skills

Stakeholder relationship management

Communication skills

Accounting knowledge

Logistics knowledge

Business acumen

Organizational skills

Negotiation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain management or related field

ITIL certification

Job description

Make an impact with NTT DATA Join a company that is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We are renowned for our technical excellence and leading innovations, and for making a difference to our clients and society. Our workplace embraces diversity and inclusion – it’s a place where you can grow, belong and thrive.

Your day at NTT DATA

The Senior Vendor Relations Specialist is an advanced subject matter expert, responsible for client satisfaction by ensuring that services are delivered according to agreed service level agreements (SLA) and other contractual performance requirements. This role has the required advanced ability to manage coordinated delivery of service and manage compliance to agreed performance standards.

Key responsibilities

• Respond to new or changed business needs and/or services and determine and define the requirement for new or updating existing vendor contracts.
• Negotiate service level agreements with vendors that meet business requirements.
• Agree and signs the required contract with the vendor, ensuring conformance to strategy and process.
• Analyse vendor performance against contract and provide feedback to relevant stakeholders on performance delivery.
• Work with commercial and contract management team to process contract renewals, managing schedule of contract termination dates to meet renewal or termination process requirements.
• Agree points of interaction and escalation with the client and vendor, ensuring the continuous delivery of the service according to the SLA.
• Ensure that the scope of services offered by the vendor is delivered against and that the quality of service delivered is managed appropriately.
• Determine the impact of service improvements identified in relation to the vendor and documents and ensures the appropriate actions are implemented by the vendor.
• Obtain vendor programme requirements and provide information to business on the gaps and requirements to close these in order to maintain the chosen level of vendor accreditation.
• Monitor and analyse trends in company spending and inventory control in order to make recommendations for the future, and to identify areas for possible savings.
• Develop, establish, implement, and enforce supplier and outsourcer guidelines, obligations, and service level agreements to the organisation.
• Maintain a catalogue of preferred suppliers/vendors and develop performance metrics for each category of vendor.
• Performs any other related task as required.

To thrive in this role, you need to have

• Ability to establish strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to deal tactfully with vendors, suppliers, and contractors who provide a broad spectrum of products and services.
• Advanced knowledge of accounting, finance, marketing, and logistics.
• Ability to work in high-pressure environments.
• Ability to manage urgent and complex tasks simultaneously.
• Advanced business acumen and commercial skills.
• Passionate, strong initiative, self-driven with commitment to succeed.
• Displays excellent persuasion and influencing ability.
• Detailed, meticulous and highly organized.
• Proactive in approach with excellent facilitation skills.

Academic qualifications and certifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, marketing, business administration, or a related field.
• ITIL certification is preferable.

Required experience

• Advanced demonstrated contract / supplier management experience preferably in a multi-national environment.
• Advanced stakeholder engagement experience.
• Advanced demonstrated understanding of the contract lifecycle management.
• Advanced experience managing expectations when balancing alternatives against business and financial constraints.

Workplace type

Hybrid Working

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30+ billion business and technology services leader, serving 75% of the Fortune Global 100. We are committed to accelerating client success and positively impacting society through responsible innovation. We are one of the world’s leading AI and digital infrastructure providers, with unmatched capabilities in enterprise-scale AI, cloud, security, connectivity, data centers and application services. Our consulting and industry solutions help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 50 countries. We also offer clients access to a robust ecosystem of innovation centers as well as established and start-up partners. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3 billion each year in R&D.

Equal Opportunity Employer

NTT DATA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer with a global culture that embraces diversity. We are committed to providing an environment free of unfair discrimination and harassment. We do not discriminate based on age, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, disability, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected category. Join our growing global team and accelerate your career with us. Apply today.

Third parties fraudulently posing as NTT DATA recruiters

NTT DATA recruiters will never ask job seekers or candidates for payment or banking information during the recruitment process, for any reason. Please remain vigilant of third parties who may attempt to impersonate NTT DATA recruiters—whether in writing or by phone—in order to deceptively obtain personal data or money from you. All email communications from an @nttdata.com email address. If you suspect any fraudulent activity, please contact us.