Stephen Stewart
Auckland,Long Bay
Summary
Results-driven IT/ICT procurement expert with a track record of delivering cost savings, process improvements and implementing large projects. Currently Procurement Manager at Air New Zealand IT Networks, I've leveraged my experience at global companies like Cisco and Rackspace to drive procurement activities across hardware and software categories.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
IT Procurement and Asset Manager
Network Edge - Air New Zealand IT Networks
07.2021 - Current
- Strategically managed the End-of-Life (EOL) lifecycle of hardware assets across Air New Zealand's global IT networks, providing expert guidance on replacement recommendations and decommissioning strategies to minimise risk and ensure seamless continuity of operations
- Effectively manage and maintain a comprehensive asset management system for all network devices, ensuring accurate tracking, reporting, and compliance with organizational standard
- Proactively managed and maintained Cisco support contracts & renewals, ensuring seamless IT infrastructure operations, and updated database records to ensure accurate tracking and reporting of technical support services
- Coordinating licensing and software procurement renewals, ensuring timely and cost-effective management of technology assets, while identifying and implementing new requirements to drive business growth and efficiency.
- Managed monthly project billing reporting and approvals, delivering timely notifications to stakeholders on all charges for their respective cost centers, ensuring seamless financial transparency and accountability.
IT Procurement and Supply Chain Manager
Codeblue
08.2019 - 06.2021
- Management of procurement and end to end supply chain processes via multiple systems for CodeBlue customers and internally nationally – including quoting, purchasing equipment from approved vendors, goods receipting, and supplier invoices and statement reconciliation.
- Negotiates terms and conditions with suppliers, ensuring favourable pricing and promotional activities to maximise profit margins and exceptional service delivery for Codeblue and its customers.
- Spend management across client compute/server compute/networking/storage portfolios, including supplier rebate scheme management and reporting.
- Customer and company license and warranty management to ensure renewals/new requirements are processed ensuring continuing service without disruption.
IT Procurement Category Manager
University of Auckland
03.2019 - 08.2019
- Undertakes procurement category reviews of technology products and services and technology suppliers to identify procurement opportunities and implement best value supplier arrangements.
- Develops tender documents (RFQs/RFIs/RFPs etc) and service level agreements as appropriate.
- Negotiates terms and conditions with suppliers, through to preparation/review of supplier contract documents to ensure terms meet University requirements and makes recommendations to appropriate parties (senior managers, Tenders Board etc) for sign off.
- Develops and maintains a profile of consumption, spend data and trends across the categories for key strategic suppliers.
Procurement Specialist - Hardware/Software
Cisco Systems, Inc.
11.2017 - 11.2018
- Performs procurement execution activities for Cloud Infrastructure Engineering group globally for implementation of Cisco Umbrella, maintaining hardware, software and services requests across departmental stakeholders.
- Manage procurement and approval paths in a variety of internal and external facing systems based on corporate compliance. Systems include Netsuite, Oracle and iProcurement.
- Manage hardware warranty contracts across Cisco own brand and third-party solutions ensuring equipment is covered globally
- Project management across business services team, with focus on procurement, inventory management, asset management, logistics and finance activities
- Hardware program management across 60+ DC locations, processing RMAs and equipment refresh requests to maintain uniform hardware standard across global footprint.
Buyer Planner II
Rackspace Managed Hosting
12.2015 - 11.2017
- Manage procurement function for all regions within EMEA/APAC, to ensure all supply chain needs are fulfilled for both DC and office locations across the International business
- Collaborates with product, strategic sourcing, demand planning, sales, deployment and inventory departments to facilitate new product offerings, end-of-life activities, inventory re-order levels and purchasing catalogue alignment to ensure hardware, software and services are available to meet internal/external customer requirements
- Performs purchasing execution for EMEA/APAC in collaboration with demand planning for hardware (compute, storage and networking equipment and components), software and services, utilising available company-owned supply where available to minimise capital expenditure.
- Instrumental member of business-critical project to establish new data centre and company presence in Germany, central sole point of contact for advising supply chain needs required for new region, and implementing systems/stock plans in alignment with strict project plan.
- Conducts supplier performance reviews in accordance with set KPIs established to ensure companies goals are met and maintained through stringent measuring/collaboration
Supply Planner
Gate Group
08.2014 - 12.2015
- Daily stock management from suppliers into two European warehouses, and one US based warehouse. Planning of extended lead times from USA from airline nominated suppliers, using both air and sea freight logistics
- Supplier management and purchases based on forecasts both provided and created
- DSP Logility forecasting software super user, forecasting and supply planning parameters
Buyer
EBP Group
07.2008 - 08.2014
- Promoted as lead role to manage and purchase a wide range of products with direct responsibility for an >£8m portfolio that represents 40% of the company’s turnover. Performs multidisciplinary initiatives to ensure exacting fulfilment of business and customer needs, including regular liaison with cross-functional departments/department heads, internal/external clients and European/Far East suppliers, while overseeing stock control and daily stock ordering, managing purchase spend, and sourcing new suppliers and inviting tenders for existing products.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of Canterbury
Christchurch, NZNo Degree - CIPS Level 4
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing And Supply
01.2013
Skills
- Procurement & Buying
- Strategic Sourcing
- Supplier Management
- Negotiation
- Hardware/Software
- Cost Reduction
- Contract Management
- Asset Management
- Project Management
- Relationship Management
Timeline
IT Procurement and Asset Manager
Network Edge - Air New Zealand IT Networks
07.2021 - Current
IT Procurement and Supply Chain Manager
Codeblue
08.2019 - 06.2021
IT Procurement Category Manager
University of Auckland
03.2019 - 08.2019
Procurement Specialist - Hardware/Software
Cisco Systems, Inc.
11.2017 - 11.2018
Buyer Planner II
Rackspace Managed Hosting
12.2015 - 11.2017
Supply Planner
Gate Group
08.2014 - 12.2015
Buyer
EBP Group
07.2008 - 08.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of Canterbury
No Degree - CIPS Level 4
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing And Supply
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