Position Objective:
Contract Manager is responsible for managing, reviewing, negotiating, and optimizing telecom network operations contracts within the OPEX domain.
The role will support contract governance, vendor performance, OPEX optimization, BoQ and cost management, RFP/RFQ activities, and risk mitigation across Mobile Access, Core, Transport, and managed-service operations.
Job Description & Responsibilities:
- Draft, review, and support negotiation of telecom network operations contracts, including O&M, managed-service, turnkey, SLA/KPI, subcontractor, and network maintenance agreements.
- Define and manage contractual commercial and technical terms, service scopes, deliverables, escalation mechanisms, and vendor obligations.
- Manage O&M contract scopes covering preventive and corrective maintenance, spare parts, field crews, NOC, SOC, TSS, VAS, performance, and network optimization.
- Establish, monitor, and enforce vendor SLAs, KPIs, penalties, rewards, service credits, and performance requirements.
- Manage vendor relationships and performance through regular reviews, reporting, escalation, and contractual enforcement.
- Support OPEX optimization initiatives by reviewing service models, BoQs, vendor costs, resource requirements, and operational expenditure.
- Identify and support practical AI use cases within managed services and network operations to improve operational efficiency, automate activities, and reduce OPEX.
- Lead or support RFP/RFQ preparation and evaluation for large-scale telecom network operations contracts and Mega Bids.
- Draft RFP requirements, contractual terms, evaluation criteria, SLA/KPI frameworks, and BoQ structures.
- Evaluate technical and commercial proposals and support negotiations for large-value telecom contracts.
- Review BoQs, rates, quantities, service volumes, cost structures, and commercial assumptions to identify optimization opportunities.
- Support contract budgets, cost analysis, payment terms, invoicing controls, credit notes, and CAPEX/OPEX classification.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate contractual, commercial, operational, and vendor-related risks.
- Develop and standardize contract-management processes, governance frameworks, contract templates, BoQ templates, and operational procedures.
- Support automation and digitalization of contract-management activities, including contract tracking, SLA/KPI monitoring, reporting, and compliance management.
- Collaborate with Procurement, Technical/Engineering, Network Operations, Finance, FP&C, and Contract Management teams to ensure effective contract execution and governance.
- Support executive and management-level reporting on contract performance, vendor KPIs, OPEX, risks, savings, and contractual compliance.
- Ensure contractual documentation, commercial information, and business data are handled with appropriate confidentiality and governance standards.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Business Administration, Finance, Contract Management, or a related field.
- Minimum of 8-12 years of relevant experience in telecom network operations, contract management, managed services, O&M, or a related field.
- Direct experience managing Mobile Access/RAN O&M contracts, particularly field maintenance, preventive/corrective maintenance, spare parts, and field crew operations.
- Strong experience across telecom network operations including Mobile Access, NOC, SOC, TSS, VAS, Performance & Optimization, Core, and Transport.
- Proven experience in drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and managing complex telecom O&M and managed-service contracts.
- Strong experience in OPEX management, cost optimization, vendor management, and telecom network operational expenditure.
- Practical experience implementing AI use cases within network operations or managed-service contracts for OPEX reduction and operational optimization.
- Experience in preparing and evaluating RFPs/RFQs and supporting large-scale telecom bids and Mega SAR contract negotiations.
- Strong knowledge of BoQ preparation and review, cost analysis, CAPEX/OPEX classification, payment mechanisms, invoicing, and credit-note processes.
- Proven ability to identify, assess, and mitigate contractual, commercial, and operational risks.
- Experience developing and implementing contract-management processes, templates, governance frameworks, and automation.
- Strong understanding of SLA/KPI management, vendor performance management, penalties, incentives, and contractual compliance.
- Experience with fixed-network and IT Operations managed-service contracts will be an added advantage.
- Strong analytical, negotiation, stakeholder-management, and communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with technical, commercial, finance, procurement, and senior management stakeholders.
- Ability to manage multiple contracts, priorities, and deadlines in a complex telecom operating environment.