Carrier relations manager in London

Colt provides network, voice and data centre services to thousands of businesses around the world, allowing them to focus on delivering their business goals instead of the underlying infrastructure.

We are seeking a motivated and relationship-driven Carrier Relations Manager with a strong background in the telecommunications sector and a focus on colocation partnerships. In this role, you will be responsible for managing strategic relationships with colocation and data center providers to ensure optimal network infrastructure availability, cost efficiency, and operational performance. You will support our network expansion and long-term infrastructure planning by managing and ordering space and power within 3rd party colocation facilities and developing critical vendor relationships.

What You Will Do

• Manage a broad portfolio of Colocation providers within the EMEA region.
• Identify, qualify and on-board new suppliers for Space & Power and develop, negotiate, and obtain approvals for Master Service Agreements and Framework Agreements; collaborate with internal operational teams to obtain quotations and negotiate individual orders.
• Manage vendor relationships and costs during the lifecycle of acquisitions; support the business with escalations and dispute resolutions; deliver material year-over-year cost savings against base.
• Identify cost optimisation opportunities and deliver them in collaboration with Engineering and Operations teams.
• Define the 3–5-year procurement strategy for your area and identify and deliver cost-reduction projects; supervise and mentor more junior CRM roles.

You Will Be Also Responsible For

• Select and on-board vendors – identify potential vendors and manage onboarding for colocation space and power in support of infrastructure projects.
• Develop Master Service Agreements, Contracts and Purchase Order terms and conditions; arrange inputs and approvals for these agreements in support of co-location space and power acquisitions.
• Develop and negotiate complex solutions with Sales, Strategy and CRM; obtain sourcing quotations from vendors for co-location space and power acquisitions.
• Negotiate costs and place contracts or purchase orders; obtain approvals and trigger the placement of orders for space and power acquisitions.
• Project management of the bidding process for network expansion projects; identify, manage and deliver cost-saving opportunities.
• Contract and commercial management for co-location, power and cross-connects; manage complex contract renewals and consolidation initiatives and maintain inventory accuracy.
• Cost management during the lifecycle of co-location space, power and cross-connects; negotiate revised costs at breakpoints and monitor ongoing cost liabilities; collaborate cross-functionally to identify further cost-optimisation opportunities.
• Escalations handling for service delivery, fault management and payments.
• Invoice & inventory validation; support Accounts Payable, Finance and operations with vendor invoices and inventory validation for co-location space and power acquisitions; own term and cost management.
• Vendor management – build and maintain strong relationships at executive level with key infrastructure suppliers; conduct regular reviews and hold vendors accountable to contractual SLAs.
• Market development intelligence – liaise with Carrier Relations Managers and Pricing Analysts to maintain knowledge of market, suppliers, regulatory, technology and pricing trends.

Qualifications & Expertise

• Bachelor's Degree in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Proven telecoms experience with knowledge of colocation.
• Experience managing relationships with suppliers, vendors & customers; ability to work with large data sets to develop complex business case models.
• Commercial contract negotiation experience; ability to collaborate and influence stakeholders across geographies.

Skills

• Extensive knowledge of suppliers within the EMEA region for colocation.
• Track record in developing contract and commercial arrangements with suppliers and defining multiyear procurement strategies.
• Professional, self-motivated; able to work with minimal guidance.
• Detail-oriented with strong data-analysis capabilities; capable of handling large data sets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; multilingual candidates preferred.
• Strategic and commercial acumen; understands P&L and cost optimisation initiatives.
• Project management skills to engage stakeholders and drive improvements.
• Ability to produce detailed reporting and provide strategic direction.
• Attention to detail and high data accuracy; customer-focused with a drive for operational excellence.
• Proficiency with Outlook, MS Excel, Word and Teams; willingness to travel 0–20% for supplier meetings & conferences.

In Addition, You Are

• A robust, dynamic self-starter with imagination and vision.
• Flexible, able to prioritise and plan time effectively; clear and concise communicator.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to foster a positive global team culture and customer focus.
• Commercially astute with a results-focused, pragmatic mindset.
• Able to identify and resolve areas where teams duplicate or conflict; contribute to cross-functional alignment.
• Willing to support a strategic vision with global thinking and entrepreneurial drive.

What We Offer You

At Colt, you'll make a difference. We empower people and trust them to do their best. Our global teams work together towards a shared purpose: to put the power of the digital universe in the hands of our customers. We offer opportunities to inspire and lead teams and work on projects that connect people, cities, businesses, and ideas.

Diversity and Inclusion

Inclusion and valuing diversity of thought and experience are at the heart of our culture. We welcome people with diverse backgrounds and experiences, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability, neurodiversity, age, marital status, pregnancy status, or place of birth.

Benefits

• Flexible working hours and the option to work from home.
• Extensive induction program with mentors and buddies.
• Opportunities for further development and education.
• Global Family Leave Policy.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Internal inclusion & diversity networks.

A Global Network

Joining Colt means becoming part of a global network with colleagues and stories across the world.