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

Procurement Category Specialists are responsible for developing and driving category strategy in line with procurement organization objectives and supporting functional partners in managing total spend, vendor relations and procurement of products and services to meet Zayo requirements.

*We're open to this role working in a hybrid capacity from either our Denver or Boulder, CO offices with remote flexibility as well (1-2 days in office and 3-4 days remote/week).

Responsibilities

• Strategically manage and support the spend subcategories: Network Equipment & Materials under Network Operations and Construction 

• Identify and realize significant cost savings from assigned categories

• Oversee development of strategic plans for management of all vendors in assigned categories

• Coordinate development of Strategic Plans for management of all vendors in assigned categories

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

• Recommended resource allocations across 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 Procurement annual budget planning and KPIs.

• Coordinate deployment and directed support of analysts and specialists to support strategic analysis and coordinate initiatives 

• Communicate Procurement performance to key Zayo internal customers

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

  • Conduct 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 

  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree - Business, Finance or related field 

• Minimum two (2) years relevant industry experience in strategic sourcing, supply chain management and vendor relationship management

• 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

• Experience with management and selection of vendors 

• 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

• 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

• Negotiation skills:

  • Track record of successfully shaping the procurement decision-making process in situations where there are competing objectives. Must have some 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

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

Required Competencies

• Advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other MS Office applications

• Tools and processes will be in place to provide support; early support required from Business Liaison role to complete selection of tools

• Travel as needed

Base pay range: $50,500-$84,100/annually commensurate with experience

#LI-AW1

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time

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

Please note, in accordance with Zayo's commitment to providing and maintaining a workplace free of recognized hazards, all U.S. and Canadian employees and any employee, vendor, customer, or visitor who enters a Zayo office or facility in the U.S. and Canada must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of such vaccination. If you are hired by Zayo, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.