Vendor Manager

Job Description

Please no 3rd parties or C2C.
Must be a US Permanent Resident or Citizen.
We are unable to sponsor currently.

Job Title: Vendor Manager
Location: Remote – Upstate NY (Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Albany)
Job Type: Full time / Contract 
Salary Range: $45/hr. – $50/hr. 

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced Vendor Manager to oversee enterprise-level vendor relationships across one or more business units. This role is responsible for managing the complete vendor lifecycle—from sourcing and contract negotiation to performance governance and strategic alignment. The ideal candidate will act as a trusted advisor, driving value, mitigating risk, and ensuring vendors support both operational goals and long-term strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a strategic advisor to internal stakeholders on vendor planning and portfolio health

• Lead end-to-end vendor lifecycle management: sourcing, evaluation, negotiations, contracting, renewals, and amendments

• Drive planning efforts with business units by sharing market trends, pricing intelligence, and risk indicators

• Coordinate with Legal, Finance, Security, IT, and Procurement to ensure timely contract execution

• Act as the escalation point for critical vendor issues, disputes, and performance concerns

• Develop and manage vendor scorecards, performance reviews, and corrective action plans

• Oversee RFx processes and vendor proposal evaluations

• Lead cost modeling, vendor rationalization, and initiatives requiring vendor oversight

• Enhance the vendor management framework, tools, and best practices

• Maintain detailed documentation for key vendors including performance metrics, risk profiles, and agreement terms

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, IT, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred

• Equivalent experience (7–10 years) may be considered in lieu of degree

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years in vendor management, sourcing, or contract management within an enterprise environment

• History of negotiating complex, high-value contracts and achieving measurable vendor outcomes

Technical Skills:

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office

• Familiarity with vendor management systems and contract lifecycle tools preferred

Certifications:

• Relevant certifications (e.g., CPSM, PMP, or similar) a plus but not required

Soft Skills:

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple concurrent priorities

• Strong analytical and decision-making capabilities

• High attention to detail and commitment to governance and compliance

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on vendor performance and enterprise operations. You’ll work in a collaborative environment with strong leadership support, visibility across the organization, and opportunities to shape vendor strategy and best practices.

ISSI Technology Professionals celebrates diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.