Category Sourcing Manager

When you join Verizon

You want more out of a career. A place to share your ideas freely — even if they're daring or different. Where the true you can learn, grow, and thrive. At Verizon, we power and empower how people live, work and play by connecting them to what brings them joy. We do what we love — driving innovation, creativity, and impact in the world. Our V Team is a community of people who anticipate, lead, and believe that listening is where learning begins. In crisis and in celebration, we come together — lifting our communities and building trust in how we show up, everywhere & always. Want in? Join the #VTeamLife.

What you'll be doing…

As our Carrier Management Manager, you will be accountable for the overall relationship with Telecom Operators globally. The key focus will be negotiating new Access, Interconnect, TDM agreements, Fixed Wireless Access connectivity, defining and implementing optimal access cost structures and contracting frameworks to maximize margin for the business. Success in this position will require a proactive leader with strong analytical and negotiating skills, and a mix of strategic and tactical thinking. This is a critical role within a high-visibility, dynamic, high-performing team based out of Verizon's East Point Business Park office.

- Negotiating commercial terms of carrier agreements (new and amendments to existing agreements), including establishing relationships with Carrier contacts at other operators.

- Management of a portfolio of operating partners within a prescribed region to line cost budget, including commercial impacts and cost levers.

- Providing insight, strategies and tactics to attain the optimum line cost and best-in-class customer experience across the portfolio of operating partners.

- Identify contract improvements, simplifications and optimization opportunities to drive better outcomes, including contacting frameworks.

- Formulating pricing recommendations designed to preserve/improve Verizon Access competitiveness while protecting profitability. This may require financial analysis and/or business case development of alternative scenarios and recommendations to management, including creating concise decks/presentations for review with senior management.

- Relationship management, including resolving commercial issues which will require partnership with technical and finance organizations (e.g. network, revenue assurance, area finance), including driving projects to completion.

- Leads various Cross Functional Teams (CFTs) to develop Verizon's requirements and to reach consensus on commercial approach. This includes drafting necessary language to translate business needs into specific requirements for contract-related documents, e.g. Statements of Work (SOW), Letters of Authorization (LOAs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), as applicable. This also includes leading the CFT to reach consensus, meet milestones and complete contracting by business partner required date.

- Earns the business partner's respect and serves as a Trusted Advisor. Plans and proposes sourcing strategies that best support the business.

- Collaborates closely with key business partners to understand their priorities and challenges; assess their needs on an ongoing basis; and manage their expectations

- Representing Verizon at industry forums, associations and events

- Performing contract administration, including work closely with legal counsel, regulatory affairs, tax and commercial finance to create and amend contracts consistent with business principles agreed to between the operators.

- Preparation of deal memos and compliance documentation to ensure the smooth approval and execution of new contracts and amendments.

- Participation in, and development of materials for, Operational Reviews with senior executives in the business.

- Some travel may be required to support relationship management with roaming partners.

- Support of other Carrier Management related initiatives as required

You'll need to have:

- Bachelor's degree or relevant work experience.

- Previous Category Sourcing experience required, demonstrated through one or a combination of work and/or military experience, or specialized training.

Even better if you have one or more of the following:

- Bachelor's degree in Finance or Technical discipline.

- Master's degree in a related area.

- Effective negotiation and influencing skill.

- Demonstrated effective interpersonal, written, verbal communication skills.

- Effective problem solving and management skills.

- Strong degree of proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint & Word.

- Broad-based knowledge of the wireless telecommunications industry.

- Knowledge and experience with TDM, Interconnect, Fixed Wireless Access, .

- Relevant work experience working in a large cross-functional culture.

- Comfort in working up and across the organization – working with senior staff members and front line employees.

- Demonstrated competency in strategic thinking that results in new ideas that drive the business forward.

- Diversified experience with emphasis on negotiations / analysis and relationship management.

- Proven ability to influence decision makers.

- Demonstrated ability to multi-task and be detail oriented with respect to ensuring deadlines are met.

- Proven record of performance and trusted professional credibility.

- Track record of handling extremely confidential information appropriately.

If Verizon and this role sound like a fit for you, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every "even better" qualification listed above.

Where you'll be working

In this hybrid role, you'll have a defined work location that includes work from home and assigned office days set by your manager.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Equal Employment Opportunity

Verizon is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, gender, disability or any other legally protected characteristics.

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