ROLE PURPOSE
The Contracts & Sourcing Specialist is responsible for managing the end-to-end partner lifecycle across assigned countries, including sourcing, screening, onboarding, rate negotiation, compliance, and ongoing relationship management. The role ensures the organisation maintains a compliant, cost-effective, and high-performing partner network to support the delivery of outsourced IT services globally.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Rate Card Negotiation & Target Rate Compliance
- Negotiate rate cards with partners, ensuring alignment to defined target rates across assigned countries.
- Conduct market rate analysis to validate that rates remain within competitive, market-standard ranges.
- Drive rate reduction initiatives and track savings achieved against quarterly benchmarks.
Partner Sourcing & Screening
- Source new partners in assigned countries to meet pipeline targets and address coverage gaps.
- Screen and assess prospective partners against defined qualification criteria.
- Ensure all new and existing partners complete required documentation and compliance checks prior to activation.
- Manage the offboarding and replacement of underperforming or non-compliant partners.
Ongoing Partner Rate Review & Savings Realisation
- Conduct regular reviews of existing partner agreements within defined review cycles.
- Ensure partner spend is balanced.
- Track and analyse project spend reports.
- Achieve ongoing savings through renegotiation and redistribution.
- Implement corrective actions for partners falling outside agreed rate parameters.
Partner Relationship & CSAT Management
- Maintain strong working relationships with partners through regular touchpoints and performance reviews.
- Administer quarterly partner satisfaction surveys and act on feedback to improve engagement.
- Drive partner retention in assigned countries, meeting year-on-year retention targets.
Partner Availability & Compliance Coverage
- Ensure sufficient compliant partner coverage per country within target rate parameters.
- Manage partner capacity readiness aligned to demand forecasts.
- Maintain partner folders with all required documentation to a compliance standard of 99% or above.
Escalation Management
- Respond to internal stakeholder escalations within agreed SLAs.
- Resolve escalations within target timeframes, keeping all relevant stakeholders informed and aligned.
Contracting & Database Governance
- Ensure all active partner projects are covered by signed agreements.
- Track agreement expiry dates and ensure renewals are completed prior to lapse.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date partner records including rates, expiry dates, and compliance status.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- Proven experience in partner/vendor sourcing, procurement, or contract management within an IT services or outsourcing environment.
- Strong negotiation skills with a track record of achieving rate reductions and cost savings.
- Experience managing partner compliance, documentation, and onboarding processes across multiple countries.
- Ability to analyse spend data, rate benchmarks, and market intelligence to inform sourcing decisions.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, including escalation handling.
- Proficiency in maintaining trackers, databases, and reporting tools to a high standard of accuracy.
- Experience working in a multi-country or global services environment.
Desirable Skills
- Experience with IT managed services, field services, or onsite support delivery models.
- Familiarity with compliance frameworks across multiple jurisdictions (employment law, data protection, local regulatory requirements).
- Knowledge of ITSM tools and partner management platforms.
- Multilingual capability (advantageous for multi-country partner engagement).
Key Competencies
- Commercial acumen and cost consciousness.
- Attention to detail and data accuracy.
- Proactive problem-solving and corrective action mindset.
- Relationship building across cultures and geographies.
- Ability to manage competing priorities across multiple country portfolios.
