Procurement Category Manager

Company Description

Zayo provides mission-critical bandwidth to the world’s most impactful companies, fueling the innovations that are transforming our society. Zayo’s 133,000-mile network in North America and Europe includes extensive metro connectivity to thousands of buildings and data centers. Zayo’s communications infrastructure solutions include dark fiber, private data networks, wavelengths, Ethernet, and dedicated Internet access. Zayo serves wireless and wireline carriers, media, tech, content, finance, healthcare and other large enterprises.

Position Description

Our Procurement Category Manager is responsible for developing and driving category strategy in line with Procurement organization objectives. Our Category Manager reports to our Director, Procurement Category Manager and will support functional partners in managing total spend, vendor relations and procurement of products and services to meet Zayo requirements.

*This is a hybrid position - typically coming into our Denver office 2 days/week with the flexibility to work remotely 3 days/week.

Responsibilities

• Strategically manage and support a variety of direct spend subcategories such as: Network Equipment (DWDM, IP Routers, Transcievers), Fiber Cable, Conduit, and Installation Materials

• Gather and understand technical and commercial requirements to negotiate Companywide agreements

• Recommended targets for contract type, cost savings, service levels and vendor management approach

• Identify and realize significant cost savings and cost avoidance from assigned categories

• Develop strategic plans for management of all vendors in assigned categories (category strategy); foster an environment for ongoing competition by selected vendors

• Establish cross functional teams to support and drive procurement projects and initiatives based on strategic plan priorities

• Coordinate development of spend category specific plans. These plans will serve as a primary input into the budget planning process and Procurement KPIs

• Coordinate deployment and directed support of analysts and specialists (from Center of Excellence) to support strategic analysis and coordinate initiatives

• Communicate overall performance (including cost savings and other business benefits) to key Zayo internal stakeholders

• Actively manage all stages of strategic sourcing related to assigned categories:

  • Conducts spend analysis

  • Understand business requirements

  • Analyze supply markets and evaluate vendor risk

  • Assess and mitigate supply chain disruptions

  • Develop and execute competitive bidding schedule 

  • Manage end-to-end RFP/vendor selection process and make recommendations for business award

  • Conduct periodic business review and drive continuous improvement in supply base

  • Manage vendor performance management (service level, quality, cost, delivery)

• Identify and report gaps to Procurement Lead and relevant Functional Team Leads in current process, standards, systems, tools and best practices that Procurement Support functions can support

• Understand and support the day to day transactional flow of capital subprojects, purchase requisitions, purchase orders and invoicing

Qualifications

• Minimum fifteen (15) years' relevant industry experience in strategic sourcing, supply chain management and vendor relationship management

• Bachelor’s degree required; Business, Finance or related field

• Experience with management and selection of vendors

• Experience from Telco or related industry, preferred

• Category experience with assigned spend categories, preferred 

• Line experience and training with a major firm with a significant sourcing practice, preferred

• Certifications in disciplines such as Procurement, contract review and management or Operational Planning, preferred

• Strategic sourcing experience and capabilities

  • Services spend management

  • RFP development and selection process

  • Vendor negotiations

  • Vendor management

• Results-driven mindset and capabilities, adept at resource prioritization, target setting, budgeting and business case development

• Excellent project management skills to manage strategy development and execution across multiple service providers and site locations

• Advanced reporting and communication skills; ability to demonstrate current and forecasted reporting in a manner easily understood across a variety of roles

• Motivated, high-energy and self-starter business mindset; proven change agent with excellent facilitation and problem-solving skills

• Cross-functional teams experience and capabilities

  • Experience working in and driving results in cross-functional teams, as they will regularly interface with site-level purchasing teams and internal customers to drive national category strategy execution

• Interpersonal skills

  • Strong interpersonal and vendor management skills, as liaison could serve as a main point of contact for key national vendors

• Strong negotiation skills

  • Track record of successfully shaping the procurement decision-making process and negotiation positions. Must have negotiation experience and be comfortable representing the Zayo’s interests in interactions with vendors and other counterparties

• Strong problem solving and analytical skills required to develop Category strategy, considering:

  • National demand forecasts

  • Contract development

  • Service level requirements

  • Vendor and industry dynamics

  • Inflationary factors

• Proficient in synthesizing apparently unrelated ideas to identify the optimal solution or to develop a coherent plan or vision. 

Base pay range: $80,100-$117,480 commensurate with experience.

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Benefits, Rewards & Wellness

• Excellent Health, Dental & Vision Insurance

• Retirement 401(k) Savings Plan

• Fitness membership discounts

• Generous paid time off policy including paid parental leave

Zayo provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, provincial or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.