Assistant Manager Procurement - Technical

Job Purpose:The candidate will act as a role model with a strong business-driven mindset, demonstrating sound judgment and strategic decision-making. The role requires leading and overseeing complex projects, driving the continuous enhancement of the 5G Network Planning portfolio—including RAN, TXN-Optical, TXN-Access, Power Systems, Operational Support System, Data Engineering, Core & Cloud, and IP-Core. The incumbent will work closely with end-user departments to define, evaluate, and procure end-to-end solutions, ensuring optimal commercial and technical outcomes aligned with the company’s overall business objectives.

Job Responsibilities

Lead and oversee end-to-end procurement activities for the Network Planning domain, with full accountability for complex telecom sourcing initiatives. This includes developing a deep understanding of enterprise-level network solutions and managing RFIs/RFPs for RAN, TXN-Optical, TXN-Access, Power Systems, Core & Cloud, IP-Core, as well as servers, storage, software, SLAs, and professional services, in strict alignment with company procurement policies.Drive supplier engagement and commercial sourcing by coordinating with OEMs, suppliers, and partners, in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, to obtain competitive and compliant quotations.Act as the primary procurement interface for suppliers, OEMs, and partners, ensuring effective requirement gathering, consolidation, and validation of telecom equipment and software offerings.Lead supplier and OEM engagement during high-complexity bids, tenders, and RFPs, including active participation and facilitation of pre-bid meetings requiring in-depth technical and commercial discussions.Independently manage and lead RFP and tender projects of varying scale and complexity from a procurement and commercial governance perspective, ensuring timely execution and stakeholder alignment.Review and challenge RFP documentation, technical evaluation criteria, and bidding submissions prepared by RD’s and Network Planning teams to ensure clarity, competitiveness, and compliance.Develop bid strategies, procurement plans, and vendor shortlisting recommendations, securing alignment and formal consent from technical and business stakeholders.Proactively onboard and follow up with new suppliers, OEMs, and partners to ensure timely registration and participation in sourcing events. Lead commercial negotiations and contract drafting discussions, ensuring optimal commercial terms, risk mitigation, and contractual compliance.Ensure submission of complete and compliant bidding and contracting documentation to Compliance and Control teams for contract execution.Drive contract finalization by actively following up with vendors and internal legal and compliance teams to ensure timely contract signing.Work proactively with RD’s to finalize and lock FSAs for maximum demand aggregation, ensuring price stability, technical clarity, and supply continuity.Eligibility Criteria (Education, Knowledge, Experience and Skills):Education:Must have a bachelor's degree. MS/MBA degree shall be preferredWork Experience:Up to 5-7 Years of experience is required. Procurement experience in telecom sector, system integrators shall be preferred.Skills – Generic:Stakeholder ManagementMust Possess high standard integrity and Moral ValuesStrong project management skills (setting/managing timelines, prioritization, communication)Problem solving & Negotiation skillsTime Management & Ability to multi-task under constrained timelinesSkills – Job Specific:Strong knowledge of procurement policies and compliance requirementsEnough knowledge about technical details of the projects to manage end to end in techno-commercial negotiations and act as interface between various stakeholders.Telecom procurement business acumen.Must have worked in renowned System Integrators, ISPs and Telecom SectorDeep product knowledge of telecom equipment and experience of end-to-end telco network solutions especially with regards to procurement process.RFP preparation, Negotiations, contracting