Senior IT Procurement Specialist to help lead the acquisition efforts all organizational software requirements in the telecommunications industry.

Our valued client is in need of a Senior IT Procurement Specialist to help lead the acquisition efforts all organizational software requirements in the telecommunications industry.

The role involves managing the full lifecycle of the client’s software applications, focusing on cost optimization, vendor management, security compliance, and cross-functional alignment. This strategic position moves beyond simple purchasing to ensure that all software investments align with business goals and deliver measurable value long term. It demands proactive collaboration with various stakeholders to identify needs, source products meeting requirements, negotiate contracts, manage supplier relationships, and ensure the delivery of high-quality IT resources within budget and compliance parameters.

Responsibilities

• Portfolio Review: Conduct in-depth review of current IT software portfolio to identify gaps and areas for improvement with a focus on efficiency and cost savings. Conduct cost-benefit analyses and use data-driven insights to identify opportunities for cost savings (e.g., consolidating contracts, right-sizing licenses, eliminating duplicate tools). Make recommendations for strategic roadmap and develop action plan for short and long-term implementation.
• Needs Assessment/Market Expertise: Collaborate with department leaders (IT, finance, engineering, commercial, HR) to identify specific business needs and translate technical requirements into procurement specifications. Research new products, understand IT lifecycle, and analyze total cost of ownership. Understand and can confidently advise on the various types of information technology contracts (e.g. SaaS, custom solutions, and COTS).
• Vendor Sourcing and Evaluation: Lead competitive bidding (RFPs, tenders), ensure fairness, and implement best practices. Research, vet, and select potential vendors based on functionality, pricing, security credentials, and customer support track record.
• Contract Negotiation & Management: Lead negotiations for pricing, terms, Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and data security clauses to secure favorable contracts. This includes proactively managing renewals to avoid costly auto-renewals or service disruptions.
• Implementation & Integration support: Coordinate with IT teams to ensure the software solution integrates seamlessly with existing systems and data, and support the user onboarding and training process.
• Performance Monitoring & Risk Management: Continuously monitor the performance, adoption, and usage metrics of software tools to ensure they provide a strong return on investment (ROI). Identify and mitigate potential risks related to security, compliance (e.g., data protection regulations), and vendor dependency.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate records of all contracts and licenses as well as purchase histories for audits and transparency.

Must Haves:

• 5+ Years Experience in IT-focused procurement
• Experience with Microsoft’s eco system both in the terms of tool licensing (i.e our EA agreement, Co-pilot etc), infrastructure (i.e Azure, VDI) and the workings of available funding opportunities.
• Hardware acquisition such as laptops (Dell) and peripheral procurement experience
• Overall software license tracking and expiration experience
• Experience with open-source licensing