Vendor Relations Manager

The Role

Telnyx operates a global private network spanning datacenters, colocation facilities, and a worldwide IP backbone across dozens of markets. The Vendor Relations team owns the full stack of vendor relationships that power this network - datacenter and colocation providers, IP transit and connectivity partners, private point-to-point and wavelength services, dark fiber, and cross-connects.

We're looking for a Vendor Relations Manager to own vendor relationships end-to-end. You'll manage a portfolio of infrastructure vendors, lead commercial negotiations, run RFQ processes, and serve as the primary point of contact for vendor escalations and day-to-day operations. This role reports to the Director of Vendor Relations.

Responsibilities

• Own Vendor Relationships End-to-End: Serve as primary contact for assigned vendors across datacenter, colocation, and connectivity providers. Manage the full lifecycle - onboarding, contract negotiation, renewals, escalations, and offboarding.
• Lead Commercial Negotiations: Negotiate pricing, contract terms, SLAs, and NRC/MRC structures. Develop comparison frameworks and present recommendations with clear trade-offs.
• Run RFQ Processes: Design and manage RFQ/RFP workflows for new vendor evaluations and expansion projects. Collect, normalize, and analyze vendor proposals to support sourcing decisions.
• Manage Network & Connectivity Procurement: Source and negotiate IP transit, private point-to-point circuits, wavelengths, dark fiber, and cross-connects alongside datacenter/colocation deals.
• Track & Report Vendor Performance: Maintain contract databases, track SLA compliance, and produce regular reporting on vendor spend, renewal timelines, and performance against commitments.
• Manage Vendor Escalations: Own incident and escalation workflows - coordinate RFO/RCA processes, drive resolution with vendors, and ensure contractual remedies are pursued.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Work with network engineering, legal, finance, and procurement on vendor-related initiatives, contract reviews, and infrastructure planning.
• Process Improvement: Identify and implement improvements to vendor management workflows, tracking systems, and operational playbooks.

What We're Looking For

• 3-5+ years in vendor management, procurement, or supply chain - ideally in datacenter, colocation, telecom, or cloud infrastructure
• Direct experience negotiating vendor contracts (MSAs, SOWs, SLAs) with demonstrated cost savings or improved terms
• Strong analytical skills - comfortable normalizing multi-vendor comparisons across pricing structures, currencies, and contract terms
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication - you'll represent Telnyx externally with vendors
• Proficiency with Google Workspace; experience with project management tools (Jira, Salesforce, or equivalent)
• Self-directed and organized - able to manage a growing vendor portfolio without heavy oversight
• Comfortable leveraging AI tools to improve productivity and streamline workflows
• Basic understanding of networking and connectivity concepts (IP transit, point-to-point circuits, cross-connects) - enough to read proposals and engage technical stakeholders

Bonus

• Experience with datacenter vendor management (colocation, power, cooling, cross-connects)
• Familiarity with IP transit, peering, or carrier interconnect procurement
• Experience building or improving vendor onboarding and tracking processes from scratch
• SQL or data analysis skills for vendor spend and performance reporting
• Background in telecom or CPaaS vendor management (voice, messaging, numbering)

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