Director of Vendor Management

About Us:Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS’) is among the largest 100 pension systems in the United States. INPRS serves the needs of approximately 500,000 members and retirees representing approximately 1,900 employers, including public universities, school corporations, public safety, municipalities and state agencies. The Indiana Public Retirement System is a public pension fund who manages approximately over $50 billion in assets, making it one of the largest in the United States. We are located in the heart of the city, in downtown Indianapolis, near the circle & across the street from our monumental state house. The ideal candidate must be a resident of Indiana as well as live within close proximity from Indianapolis. This position is not eligible for H-1B or any other kind of temporary or permanent sponsorship for work authorization by the Indiana Public Retirement System. Therefore, if you will require sponsorship from us for work authorization now or in the future, we cannot consider your application at this time. Why Join:INPRS’ believes that people are the foundation of our success. It takes people with different backgrounds, ideas, and strengths to be successful. Balance in life is important. We strive to have a flexible and supportive environment while not sacrificing service to our members. We pride ourselves by modeling a collaborative, diverse and inclusive environment for our employees. Our mission. “As fiduciaries, educate stakeholders, collect necessary contributions, and prudently manage member assets to deliver promised defined benefit and defined contribution benefits and services”. About the RoleINPRS is seeking a strategic Director of Vendor Management to lead an enterprise vendor governance program that drives performance, compliance, transparency, and risk mitigation across third‑party relationships. This role sets agency-wide standards, manages vendor lifecycle practices, and delivers executive‑level reporting. Key ResponsibilitiesVendor Governance & FrameworkBuild and enhance vendor management policies, lifecycle processes, and performance standards.Oversee onboarding, due diligence, performance measurement, risk/issue management, renewals, and vendor exits.Performance & Value DeliveryDefine SLAs and performance metrics; manage scorecards and review cycles.Lead benchmarking and cost/value optimization initiatives.Risk & Compliance OversightManage third‑party risk, documentation review, risk monitoring, and remediation coordination.Provide executive reporting on vendor risk posture, compliance status, and performance trends.Ensure alignment with NIST, ISO 27001, SOC, and ITIL frameworks.Cross‑Functional & Team LeadershipPartner with IT, Procurement, Legal, Security, Finance, and business units.Advise leadership on vendor strategy, improvement opportunities, and innovation.Lead a small team, fostering accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement. QualificationsEducation & ExperienceBachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.10+ years in vendor management, contract management, sourcing, ITSM, or third‑party risk; 5+ years in team/program leadership.Demonstrated success maturing vendor governance or risk programs.Knowledge, Skills & AbilitiesExpertise in supplier governance, contract structures, SLAs, renewals, and exits.Skilled in building frameworks, executive communication, benchmarking, and risk remediation.Strategic thinker with strong change‑leadership, relationship management, and data‑driven decision‑making abilities.Familiarity with NIST, ISO 27001, SOC reporting, ITIL, and related standards.Work Conditions & ToolsHybrid schedule; limited vendor‑site travel.Use CLM tools, reporting dashboards, risk assessment platforms, and vendor comparison tools. Comprehensive Benefits Package:Competitive compensationFlexible ScheduleHealthcare coverage (medical / dental / vision)Health savings account with employer contributionPrescription coverageEmployer funded retirement plan (pension plan)Deferred compensation plan (employer and/or employee contribution plan)Flexible spending accountWork/life balance (37.5 hours weekly)12 paid holidays; 14 during election yearPaid leave (personal, sick, vacation)Tuition reimbursementProfessional credential reimbursementGroup life insuranceEmployer-paid downtown parkingIf you are interested in this position, please submit your application and resume for review. For more information about our organization, please visit our INPRS Careers Page: https://www.in.gov/inprs/careers.htm. Equal Employment Opportunity:The Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruit, select, develop, and promote employees based on individual ability and job performance. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all people in all aspects of employer-employee relations without discrimination because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. We will comply with the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable state and federal laws.Indiana Public Retirement System has established a culture that welcomes equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all employees and applicants. We encourage you to apply if you feel you have the transferrable skills to be successful in this position and we look forward to reviewing your application.