Hybrid Senior Manager, Procurement Operations & Process Excellence chez TelenorGroup

Telenor Group is the world’s leading telecommunications company across the Nordics and Asia with 211 million subscribers and 81 billion NOK in revenues. We are committed to responsible business conduct and driven by the ambition of empowering societies. Connectivity has been Telenor’s domain for more than 160 years, and our purpose is to connect our customers to what matters most.

Telenor has a leading Nordic position in mobile, broadband and TV services, as well as substantial activities in subsidiaries and joint venture operations, including mobile financial services and online classifieds in the Asia region. Worldwide, Telenor Group and our operations’ teams are 11,000 people strong.

Telenor Procurement Company (TPC), established in 2017 and based out of Singapore, operates as a subsidiary of the Telenor Group.  We deliver Global Category Management as a service to the Telenor Business Units and beyond, taking full responsibility for the end-to-end Sourcing process and performance of global spend categories. Functioning as one Global Procurement team across all Telenor markets, we enable Telenor’s strategic ambitions by becoming a centre of expertise in the pursuit of efficient operations. TPC seeks qualified procurement professionals that are comfortable working in a global setup in the fast-paced Telecom field.

For more information, please visit our website: https://www.telenor.com/about/our-companies/other-units/telenor-procurement-company

About the Role

As Senior Manager, Procurement Operations & Process Excellence, you will be responsible for leading and optimizing global procurement operations and process design, ensuring process standardization, efficiency, and compliance across all procurement functions. This role focuses on driving procurement process transformation, connecting E2E procurement scenarios, implementing digital solutions, and fostering continuous improvement in procurement processes, supplier management, and procurement service delivery. The position works closely with category areas, business units, technology teams, and external suppliers to enhance procurement effectiveness and deliver cost savings.   This is partially a new role in the team designing our Procurement Process Excellence journey and is a key part of improving our digital capabilities. In this role, you will make your mark on Telenor’s journey of digital transformation.

Main Responsibilities

Procurement Operations Leadership

• Oversee the execution of end-to-end procurement process operations, including sourcing, purchasing, contract management, and supplier performance management.
• Develop and implement global procurement operating models to improve efficiency, agility, and cost-effectiveness.
• Drive operational excellence through automation, technology adoption, and process reengineering.

Process Excellence & Standardization

• Design, implement, and continuously improve global procurement policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Ensure consistency and efficiency in procurement operations across regions and business units.
• Develop and enforce best-in-class procurement methodologies, leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, and Agile principles.

Digital Transformation & Procurement Technology

• Lead the optimization of procurement digital tools and platforms (Coupa, Sievo, others)
• Drive adoption of AI, analytics, robotic process automation (RPA), and other emerging technologies to enhance procurement efficiency.
• Collaborate with IT and functional teams to align procurement technology strategies with business objectives.

Governance, Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure procurement compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and ethical sourcing principles.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies for supplier management, contract compliance, and financial controls.
• Work closely with legal, finance, and audit teams to enforce procurement governance and mitigate operational risks.

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

• Define and track key performance metrics, including cycle time, supplier performance, and operational efficiency.
• Utilize data-driven insights to drive procurement improvements and decision-making.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to optimize procurement service delivery and enhance value creation.

Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management

• Partner with senior business leaders, finance, supply chain, and IT teams to align procurement strategies with corporate goals.
• Drive change management initiatives to ensure smooth adoption of procurement process improvements and new technologies.
• Lead and mentor procurement functional teams, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration.

Profile

We seek a passionate person in exploring various technology and knowledge has hands-on experience on procurement processes and operations, driving best practices and balancing subject matter expertise.  Continuous improvement, close co-ordination with digital team and master data team, common information architecture and business processes related to the procurement supply chain functional area will be key criteria. The following characteristics will be critical to succeed in the role:

• Deep understanding of global procurement processes, best practices, and compliance frameworks.
• Experience with leading procurement technologies (Coupa, Oracle and SAP)
• Strong expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and process improvement methodologies.
• Proficiency in procurement analytics, reporting, and performance measurement tools.
• Good understanding of master data and data structures
• A problem solver capable of dissecting a complicated problem and evaluating it systematically.
• Passionate about technology and staying up to date on current technology landscape and able to engage in technical discussion.
• A promoter of data science and Artificial Intelligence that can bring AI into procurement landscape.
• A person with strong leadership and stakeholder management capabilities
• An excellent problem-solver, analytical, and with decision-making skills.
• Able to lead change, drive innovation, and foster collaboration in a complex, global organization

Qualification and Skills Requirements

• Master’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business Administration, or a related field.

• 12+ years of experience in global procurement operations, strategic sourcing, and process excellence in a global environment (Those with lesser experience will be considered for Manager position)

• APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) (preferred)
• Coupa / Oracle Procurement Cloud Certifications
• Certified in Agile project management and Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt / Black Belt)
• Proven leadership experience in managing procurement functions, teams, and transformation initiatives

• Working in a matrix set-up
• Working in an international corporate with both European and Asian footprint