Senior Program Manager – IT Technology Vendor Management

About the role

The Technology Vendor Manager serves as a strategic partner and trusted advisor in managing the organization’s technology vendor ecosystem. This role bridges business strategy, IT leadership, and vendor relationships to ensure technology investments deliver maximum value, are cost-optimized, and align with long-term capital and operating plans. The position has a genuine passion for operational excellence and vendor management, possesses robust communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrates high analytical capabilities, is vendor-focused, team-oriented, and highly capable of working independently and cross-functionally to meet operational and business objectives.

The Technology Vendor Manager will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Operations, Architecture, and Sourcing, to define vendor-specific requirements and oversee performance through KPIs and SLAs. Success requires agility in communication, with the ability to engage confidently with executives while working closely with technical teams and individual contributors. The role plays a critical part in aligning vendor strategy with the organization’s technology and business objectives, working across operations, enterprise architecture, sourcing, and IT leadership to manage vendor and support program reporting to executives to enable strategic decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Partner with internal stakeholders—including sourcing, IT, architecture, finance, legal, and business teams—to ensure vendor relationships contribute measurable results to performance objectives.
• Collaborate with Operations, Architecture, IT Leadership, and other stakeholders to align and document vendor capabilities.
• Develop and deliver innovative commercial models that contribute to the CIO financial savings target.
• Establish and enhance Tier-1 and Tier-2 strategic supplier relationships; engage with suppliers and their leadership regularly.
• Conduct periodic supplier reviews to discuss performance, document product roadmaps, and align business needs.
• Seek out disruptive technologies, establish relationships, discover opportunities to pilot, and partner with IT stakeholders to rationalize the existing technology footprint.
• Leverage internal and external data to provide insights and recommendations that enhance supplier performance and operational efficiency.
• Translate technology requirements into vendor-specific solutions that integrate with multi-year capital and expense investment plans.
• Manage the full lifecycle of vendor relationships, including onboarding, governance, performance reviews, and contract compliance.
• Ensure suppliers deliver consistently against contractual commitments, service level agreements, and compliance requirements while driving operational excellence and innovation.
• Proactively identify and resolve operational challenges; contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop quantitative analysis and reporting on supplier performance by tracking and reporting performance using KPIs and SLAs, driving accountability and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with the Sourcing department to develop negotiation strategies, optimize costs, and ensure favorable contract terms.
• Provide strategic insight and recommendations to executives while also engaging at a detailed level with technical and operational contributors.
• Identify risks, opportunities, and innovations within the vendor portfolio to strengthen business outcomes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders—including Operations, Architecture, and IT Leadership—to develop vendor-related technology strategies and requirements.
• Manage vendor relationships across the lifecycle, ensuring alignment with business objectives and technology roadmap.
• Engage as required in market analysis, trending, value assessment, and business requirements for alternative approach strategies.
• Conduct Total Cost of Ownership analysis for vendor relationships, evaluating both direct and indirect costs to inform decision-making and optimize cost efficiency.
• Understand vendor-driven spend forecasts segmented into Capital and Expense; present forecasts to Finance and IT Leadership.
• Ensure technology investments are integrated with capital and operating expense plans while supporting enterprise strategy and priorities.
• Represent vendor strategy at both executive and operational levels, adapting communication style to engage with senior leaders and individual contributors.
• Proactively identify risks, opportunities, and innovation potential within the vendor ecosystem.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• 8+ years of progressive experience in IT vendor management, sourcing, or technology strategy.
• Skilled in project management, time management, and reporting to executives.
• Expertise in managing and optimizing relationships with Tier-1 suppliers.
• Ability to develop supplier strategies that align with objectives and enhance supplier relations.
• Proficiency in managing large-scale projects, including implementation of new technologies and process improvements.
• Partner with Sourcing to identify levers to secure favorable terms and manage supplier contract costs effectively.
• Proven ability to provide guidance and leadership to peers and teams, fostering best practices in vendor management.
• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks while contributing to broader team goals.
• Strong understanding of IT contracts, vendor governance, and technology lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex vendor relationships and restructure contractual relationships to enhance value.
• Proven success in partnering with cross-functional teams to align vendor solutions with business and technology strategy.
• Strong experience in business case development and financial acumen with experience in cost optimization and contract strategy.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence executives and collaborate effectively with technical teams and individual contributors.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Knowledge of IT infrastructure, applications, cloud services, and emerging technologies is highly desirable.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business, Engineering, Information Systems, or related discipline.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Professional in Supplier Management (CPSM), Certified Technology Procurement Professional (CTPP), or ITIL certification.
• Experience managing vendors within large, complex enterprises and multi-year investment planning cycles.
• Experience with ERP, vendor management or procurement tools (e.g., SAP Ariba, Coupa, ServiceNow, GEP).
• Knowledge of regulatory, compliance, and risk management considerations in IT vendor contracts.
• Strong track record of driving innovation and value creation through vendor partnerships.