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 (Contract)
Location: Remote, Upstate NY
Job Type: Contract
Pay Range: $38–$45/hr, depending on experience

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Vendor Manager to manage enterprise vendor portfolios and vendor relationships for assigned business units. This role will act as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders and will lead sourcing, vendor selection, negotiations, contracting, renewals, governance, and performance management activities.

The Vendor Manager will focus on improving vendor performance, achieving competitive costs, balancing risk, strengthening vendor alignment, supporting on-time contract execution, and improving business partner satisfaction. This position requires strong communication, negotiation, project leadership, and stakeholder management skills, along with the ability to manage complex vendor relationships with minimal oversight.

Key Responsibilities

Partner with business units through regular vendor portfolio reviews, including current activity, future needs, vendor financials, contract dates, risks, issues, opportunities, and trends.

Provide industry and market insight related to vendor cost drivers, negotiation levers, competitors, pricing trends, and sourcing strategies.

Facilitate upfront planning with business units for new agreements, renewals, amendments, and vendor-related initiatives.

Manage vendor agreement lifecycle activities, including renewals, amendments, and new contracts, ensuring quality, competitive costs, timely execution, and proper escalation of key issues.

Lead sourcing, vendor selection, RFx processes, direct negotiations, and contracting plans in partnership with internal stakeholders.

Partner with Legal, Finance, Security, EPMO, Sourcing, Purchasing, Executive Management, and business units to support review, approval, and execution of vendor agreements.

Lead commercial negotiations focused on vendor product and service obligations, pricing, contract terms, and measurable cost efficiencies.

Track and report negotiation outcomes, vendor performance trends, action plans, risk items, and cost optimization opportunities.

Direct formal vendor governance processes for select vendors, including performance reviews, scorecards, contractual obligation reviews, and vendor improvement plans.

Own vendor relationships for multiple enterprise vendors to ensure performance aligns with contractual obligations and business partner expectations.

Lead vendor escalations, contractual dispute resolution, pricing issue resolution, and engagement with supplier executive leadership as needed.

Create and maintain vendor documentation, including contacts, agreements, financials, vendor performance, strategic direction, tactical activity, risks, issues, and planned initiatives.

Partner with business unit executives to support cost model optimization, alternative sourcing, vendor rationalization, and enterprise priority projects.

Support ongoing operational activities, vendor management process improvement, reporting, analytics, and vendor management framework optimization.

Maintain high standards of integrity, confidentiality, member privacy, and compliance with company policies and procedures.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, IT, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.

In lieu of a degree, 7–10 years of relevant experience in Business, Finance, IT, Supply Chain Management, or a related field may be considered.

Experience

5–7 years of experience working with top-tier enterprise vendors in sourcing, negotiation, contracting, vendor governance, and vendor relationship management.

Demonstrated experience leading complex vendor negotiations and managing enterprise-level agreements.

Experience executing strategic competitive bids and negotiations with a track record of delivering cost efficiencies and value across a diverse vendor portfolio.

Experience managing complex competitive bid processes, major negotiations, vendor escalations, and contract/pricing disputes.

Project leadership experience, including managing initiatives from inception through completion.

Experience managing multiple projects, vendor relationships, and stakeholder priorities simultaneously.

Required Skills

Strong communication, persuasion, and relationship-building skills.

Ability to influence stakeholders, secure alignment, and drive execution across business units and cross-functional teams.

Strong strategic thinking, analytical ability, attention to detail, and operational planning skills.

Ability to work with minimal oversight and exercise sound decision-making regarding objectives, priorities, and approach.

Ability to lead cross-functional teams and potentially direct the work of others.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs, data analysis, reporting, vendor documentation, and performance tracking.

Strong understanding of vendor governance, scorecards, RFx processes, sourcing strategies, contract lifecycle management, and enterprise vendor risk/performance management.

Preferred Certifications

Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP), or similar procurement, sourcing, or vendor management certification preferred.