Manager, Talent Acquisition Operational Excellence & Vendor Management

About the role

The Manager, Talent Acquisition Operational Excellence & Vendor Management role is located at the Lake Forest, IL office and is hybrid 2 days per week. This position is responsible for the strategy, governance, and operational excellence of Talent Acquisition's external labor and vendor ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute vendor management strategies for assigned supplier portfolios, including supplier selection support, relationship management, performance governance, and continuous improvement initiatives that align with business objectives.
• Lead the management and optimization of contingent workforce programs, including oversight of the Managed Service Provider (MSP), vendor performance, service delivery, compliance, and workforce planning alignment.
• Serve as a key liaison between Talent Acquisition, Procurement, HR, Finance, Legal, and business leaders to ensure contingent labor solutions deliver high-quality talent, mitigate organizational risk, and support evolving business needs.
• Drive accountability for all TA Vendors through KPI management, business reviews, contract oversight, and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring a value-driven TA partner portfolio that ensures seamless hiring manager, candidate, and recruiter experience.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve contingent workforce vendor programs and governance practices to optimize supplier performance, service delivery, cost effectiveness, compliance, and alignment with business needs.
• Lead supplier performance management activities by establishing key performance indicators, service level expectations, scorecards, and business review processes; analyze results and implement corrective actions to improve vendor outcomes.
• Partner with Procurement and business stakeholders to support sourcing events, supplier evaluations, contract negotiations, renewals, onboarding activities, and vendor selection decisions that balance cost, quality, risk, and service requirements.
• Evaluate supplier performance, market conditions, spend trends, and operational metrics to identify opportunities, risks, and recommendations that improve service delivery, reduce costs, and strengthen supplier partnerships.
• Influence cross-functional stakeholders and provide subject matter expertise on vendor management practices, supplier strategies, and purchasing decisions; lead complex projects and initiatives that enhance procurement effectiveness and business results.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Finance, Operations, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, supplier management, vendor management, contract administration, contingent labor / Managed Service Program (MSP) or related supply chain disciplines.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of procurement, sourcing, supplier relationship management, contract governance, and vendor performance management practices.
• Knowledge and experience supporting vendor management for a Talent Acquisition space.
• PREFERRED: Experience analyzing supplier performance, operational metrics, spend data, and market trends to develop recommendations and support business decision-making.
• Knowledge of supplier risk management, governance frameworks, performance scorecards, and service level management.
• Experience partnering cross-functionally with business stakeholders to drive supplier performance and operational effectiveness.

Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Benefits

With benefits starting on day one, our programs provide choice and flexibility to meet team members' individual needs, including:

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.
• 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.
• A 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
• Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.
• Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents.

Pay

The anticipated base pay compensation range for this position is $103,600.00 – $172,600.00. This role is eligible for an incentive target of up to 15 %, based on the achievement of individual and company performance objectives in accordance with the current terms of the incentive program which are subject to change.

Schedule

This role is hybrid 2 days per week.