Vendor Relations Manager
Job Description
About the Organisation
We operate across a broad ecosystem of technology suppliers, service partners, and operational vendors that support mission-critical functions spanning cloud services, enterprise platforms, digital operations, procurement management, and business support solutions. Vendor relationships represent a major lever in our ability to deliver operational excellence, cost efficiency, service reliability, and long-term strategic alignment.
Our environment emphasizes transparency, robust governance, value optimization, and partnership-driven collaboration. The Vendor Relations Manager plays a central role in ensuring that vendor engagements deliver measurable outcomes, risk is minimized, performance standards are upheld, and cross-functional teams receive consistent, high-quality support.
This role requires a seasoned leader who thrives in structured environments, understands technology supply chains, and can guide complex vendor portfolios with clarity and strategic foresight.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
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Manage the full lifecycle of vendor relationships including onboarding, performance evaluation, contract management, and renewal cycles.
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Lead strategic negotiations to ensure favorable terms, service-level adherence, and cost efficiency.
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Establish vendor governance frameworks including scorecards, KPIs, reporting rhythms, and escalation paths.
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Partner with Technology, Finance, Procurement, Legal, and Operations teams to align vendor performance with organisational goals.
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Oversee vendor risk assessments, compliance reviews, and contract due diligence.
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Build and maintain strong relationships with key technology and service partners.
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Support sourcing activities including RFPs, proposal evaluations, and market analysis.
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Drive continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen vendor value, reliability, and operational alignment.
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Collaborate with internal teams to gather requirements, clarify expectations, and monitor service effectiveness.
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Present vendor insights, performance summaries, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
Job Qualifications and Requirements
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8+ years of experience in Vendor Management, Procurement, Supply Chain, Strategic Partnerships, or related disciplines.
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Experience in global technology environments or enterprise operational settings.
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Strong understanding of contract negotiation, vendor governance, compliance structures, and risk management.
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Familiarity with procurement processes, sourcing methodologies, and vendor performance frameworks.
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Bachelor’s degree required; advanced business or operations-related qualifications preferred.
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Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
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Experience working cross-functionally with technology, finance, legal, and operations teams.
Personal Capabilities and Qualifications
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Strong analytical mindset with the ability to evaluate vendor performance and financial impact.
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Skilled communicator who can build trust with internal stakeholders and external partners.
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Highly organised and detail-oriented with strong process discipline.
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Comfortable managing multiple vendor portfolios in a fast-paced environment.
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Strategic thinker with strong decision-making and prioritisation abilities.
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Professional presence with the ability to influence, negotiate, and support executive-level discussions.
Strategic Support
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Provide insights into vendor market trends, pricing structures, and capability innovation.
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Support long-range sourcing strategies and commercial planning cycles.
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Advise leadership on vendor consolidation, technology upgrades, and risk exposure.
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Influence procurement strategy, spend optimisation initiatives, and enterprise vendor roadmaps.
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Partner with Finance to align vendor spend with budget planning, forecasting, and cost control.
Working Conditions
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Fully remote role within the United States with periodic travel for vendor meetings, contract reviews, or leadership summits.
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Collaboration across distributed legal, procurement, technology, and operational teams.
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High accountability for service quality, cost optimisation, and partnership outcomes.
Job Function
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Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and performance evaluation across multiple functions.
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Strengthen vendor governance frameworks and operational alignment.
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Support sourcing, negotiation, and partnership strategies to maximise vendor value.
Compensation & Benefits
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Base Salary: $270,000 – $340,000
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Annual performance bonus
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Eligibility for long-term incentive programmes
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Executive benefits package including:
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Health & wellness plans
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Retirement savings programme
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Paid executive leave
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Leadership development resources
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Remote work technology support
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Wellbeing and mental health support
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Why Join Us
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High-impact role shaping vendor strategy across the organisation.
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Influence key decisions related to procurement, operations, and technology partnerships.
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Remote-first environment with strong cross-functional collaboration.
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Opportunity to drive vendor innovation, cost optimisation, and operational transformation.
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Clear advancement pathways into Procurement Leadership, Operations Management, or Strategic Sourcing roles.