Job Overview

Job Description:

Overall Purpose:
Acts as a lead in Category Technology Management, Strategic Sourcing, and Supplier Management with a specific focus on Consumer Hardware, particularly Consumer Broadband and Enterprise Customer Premises Equipment (CPE).

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

Develop Strategic, Technical Category Plans:

• Create and maintain category-specific strategies and plans for Consumer Hardware, focusing on internal demand aggregation, external market impacts to AT&T’s strategy, supplier management, and collaborative innovation.
• Incorporate current technology innovation, AT&T Domain Strategy, and next-generation innovation to optimize the value across AT&T, particularly in Consumer Broadband and Enterprise CPE.

Market Research and Analysis:

• Conduct market research and analysis to identify risks and strategic sourcing opportunities for the category plan, emphasizing technological advancements and market trends in Consumer Broadband and Enterprise CPE.
• Analyze industry/supplier trends and evolving capabilities within the consumer hardware sector.

Support Innovation Strategy with Key Suppliers:

• Ensure alignment with cutting-edge technologies and industry best practices in Consumer Broadband and Enterprise CPE.
• Interface and persuade with large cross-functional and cross-business unit teams, including VP and SVP audiences, to ensure seamless execution of category plans and organizational goals. This includes discourse with technical counterparts to bridge the gap between business objectives and technical requirements.

Supplier Management and Negotiation:

• Establish contract standards for the supported category and work cross-functionally to support the negotiation of key contracts, incorporating technical specifications and requirements to ensure optimal performance and innovation.
• Partner with Senior Sourcing Managers to guide contract terms, requirements, and pricing.

Tail Spend and Buying Channel Management:

• Create tail spend management strategies that reduce vendor proliferation and cost.
• Develop and implement buying channel management strategy for the category, leveraging technological platforms and data analytics for efficiency.

Performance Monitoring:

• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and use data analytics to track category and supplier performance, report on savings achieved, and improve long-term Supply Chain strategies.

Strategic Sourcing Engagements:

• Lead large/complex sourcing engagements in Consumer Broadband and Enterprise CPE, potentially involving a team of sourcing managers while utilizing competitive sourcing events and a fact-based approach to negotiations.
• Prepare point by point for the negotiation, frame the discussion, and present counter offers to supplier executives. Consistently produce desired results through negotiation with minimal supervision.

Supplier Evaluation and Relationship Management:

• Evaluate current and potential suppliers in coordination with internal stakeholders.
• Rationalize the supply base for Consumer Broadband and Enterprise CPE to reduce complexity, aggregate buying power, and maintain a healthy supplier ecosystem.
• Establish and foster rapport with strategic partners and suppliers.
• Monitor domain suppliers, with a principal objective of achieving the lowest total cost of ownership that meets the business goals supported by a culture of continuous improvement with cost & performance benchmarks in use.
• Influence suppliers' processes, technology decisions, and policies in ways that are mutually beneficial and sustainable for both organizations.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field to the category managed. Advanced degree or MBA preferred.

Experience:

• Typically, 8 to 10 years of relevant experience in Consumer Hardware, particularly in Consumer Broadband and Enterprise CPE categories. Has technological category knowledge, sourcing, and vendor management experience. Proven track record of managing large-scale initiatives, successful supplier negotiation and relationship management, and cost-saving initiatives desired.

Supervisory:

• No.

Environmental Requirements:

• This position may be responsible for contributing to AT&T's compliance with environmental laws and regulations as applicable to its job function. This may include, but is not limited to, work related to fuel tanks, emergency and stand-by generators, boilers, hazardous waste, hazardous materials, batteries, manholes and vaults, water wells, linear and other construction projects, water discharge, or air emissions.

Weekly Hours:

Time Type:

Location:

Salary Range:

It is the policy of AT&T to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, AT&T will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.