Senior Manager - Procurement.Bayobab Finance

To lead, develop, and execute Bayobab’s procurement strategy, ensuring the efficient and cost-effective acquisition of goods and services. The role is responsible for driving value, compliance, and sustainability across the supply chain, supporting Bayobab’s business objectives and growth. 

Operates in a dynamic, multi-country telecommunications and digital infrastructure environment. Must navigate global supply chain disruptions, regulatory requirements, and sustainability expectations. Supports Bayobab’s mission to connect Africa and drive digital transformation as part of the MTN Group

• Key Performance Areas: 
• Core, essential responsibilities / outputs of the position (KPA's)

1. Strategic Procurement Leadership
•    Develop and implement Bayobab’s centralized sourcing strategy across all spend domains — Network, Fiber, IT, and Mobility / Communication Platforms — ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, growth priorities, and cost-efficiency goals.
•    Design sourcing and commercial frameworks that deliver sustainable value, competitive advantage, and operational resilience.
•    Ensure sourcing decisions balance total cost of ownership (TCO), performance quality, supplier risk, and strategic relevance.
2. Governance, Policy & Compliance
•    Establish and enforce procurement governance frameworks, policies, and standards across Bayobab’s centralized sourcing operations.
•    Ensure full compliance with internal controls, Delegation of Authority (DoA), ethics standards, and legal / regulatory requirements.
•    Lead governance reviews, risk assessments, and audit processes to maintain transparency, accountability, and process integrity.
3. Supplier & Contract Management
•    Lead end-to-end supplier engagement across all domains — from qualification and negotiation to contract execution and performance monitoring.
•    Negotiate complex, high-value agreements (fiber builds, datacenter and IT infrastructure, managed services, mobility platforms) to deliver optimal commercial and operational outcomes.
•    Drive supplier performance management through scorecards, SLAs, and structured business-review sessions.
4. Financial Performance & Value Delivery
•    Achieve measurable cost savings, cost-avoidance, and value creation through strategic sourcing and commercial optimization.
•    Provide commercial modelling and financial insights to support project approvals, investment cases, and strategic decisions.
•    Partner with Finance and GSSC to align sourcing commitments with budget, cash-flow, and Capex / Opex targets.
5. Stakeholder Collaboration & Business Enablement
•    Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders — notably the Global Sourcing and Supply Chain (GSSC), Technology, Finance, and Legal — to enable efficient and compliant sourcing delivery.
•    Provide strategic input to business planning, supplier strategies, and procurement recommendations presented to management committees.
•    Drive cross-functional collaboration to improve sourcing transparency, accountability, and responsiveness.
6. Market Intelligence & Benchmarking
•    Conduct internal and external benchmarking to assess Bayobab’s commercial competitiveness and supplier performance.
•    Leverage market intelligence to anticipate cost trends, technology shifts, and supplier-landscape changes influencing sourcing decisions.
•    Maintain awareness of developments in telecom, fiber, cloud, and mobility-platform markets to inform negotiation strategy and sourcing priorities.
7. Sustainability, Innovation & Partnership Development
•    Integrate ESG and sustainability principles into procurement practices to ensure responsible and resilient supply-chain operations.
•    Foster supplier partnerships that drive innovation, efficiency, and long-term value creation in connectivity and platform solutions.
•    Encourage co-innovation and continuous improvement to support Bayobab’s digital infrastructure growth objectives.
8. Leadership & Capability Development
•    Lead, mentor, and develop the procurement team to strengthen commercial capability, governance discipline, and stakeholder engagement.
•    Build a high-performing, collaborative culture emphasizing accountability, transparency, and professional growth.
•    Support knowledge sharing, upskilling, and succession planning within the procurement function.
9. Reporting, Representation & Executive Engagement
•    Prepare and present performance reports and insights on sourcing, savings, supplier risks, and strategic initiatives to the Sourcing Committee, Bayobab Management Committees, Agile Sub-Committee, Group Sourcing Committee (GSC), and Group Operating Committee (GOC).
•    Work closely with the GSSC and relevant governance bodies to ensure alignment of sourcing actions with strategic and operational goals.
•    Represent Bayobab at internal and external procurement forums, conferences, and industry platforms to strengthen corporate visibility and thought leadership.
 

Job Requirements 
(Education, Experience and Competencies)
 

Education:
-    Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, or Engineering (Telecoms, Network, or IT Engineering preferred).
-    Postgraduate degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Business, or Finance, or an equivalent professional qualification (preferred).
-    Additional executive training in Strategic Sourcing, Contract Management, or Commercial Leadership will be an advantage.

Experience:
-    10+ years in procurement, with at least 5 years in a leadership role, preferably in telecoms or technology sectors.
-    Proven experience leading service delivery and vendor management in telecoms, digital infrastructure, or related technology-driven industries.
-    Deep understanding of emerging supply chain trends, digital procurement tools, and global sourcing best practices.
-    Demonstrated ability to lead multi-regional sourcing initiatives and navigate diverse political, regulatory, and socio-economic environments across Africa and the Middle East.
-    Experience in ERP systems (preferably Oracle) and strong proficiency in analytics, cost modelling, and data-driven decision-making.
-    Track record of driving continuous improvement, cost optimization, and process efficiency through adoption of industry best practices.

• Industry Memberships & Certifications (Advantageous)
•     Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) or Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM).
•     Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS / FCIPS) or equivalent recognized professional body.
•     Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent certification (advantageous).

Competencies
-    Strategic thinking and analytical skills
-    Strong negotiation and stakeholder management
-    Knowledge of procurement systems and best practices
-    Leadership and team development
-    Integrity and ethical conduct