Sr. Vendor Manager, Vendor Strategy

Key job responsibilities

• Own vendor maintenance strategy, developing contracts and owning negotiating strategy to drive cost-effective and performance focused strategies
• Maintaining relationships with 3P vendors, while continually scouting for additional ones
• Develop internal and external financial views around volumes, labor rates, service speed and other key requirements which will drive cost.
• Evaluating and auditing contracts while seeking ways to improve and enhance the quality of services purchased and the timeliness of deliveries
• Conducting cost analyses and setting benchmarks for improvement
• Develop risk management strategies to mitigate capacity shortages, including geographic diversification and contingency planning across the vendor network
• Working closely with the company legal department to make sure contracts and terms are favorable
• Build effective stakeholder and internal customer relationships, understanding budgetary targets and influencing spend decisions, ensuring a high service levels, and adding value in other categories
• Measure actual vs planned savings; as savings trends are identified, own action plans to meet goals and develop solutions
• Influence Director and VP-level roadmaps and data-driven strategy decisions
• Set the direction for the vendors to demonstrate a management style that encourages participation and ownership, along with a continuous focus on action, customer satisfaction, support personnel satisfaction and cost management
• Own savings targets and develop mechanisms to measure actual vs. planned performance and drive action plans

Basic Qualifications

• 7+ years of with Excel experience
• 7+ years of account management, project or program management or buying experience
• Bachelor's degree, or 7+ years of professional or military experience
• Knowledge of Microsoft Access or SQL
• Experience using data to influence business decisions
• Experience driving internal cross-team collaboration
• Experience with business analysis and P&L management
• Experience owning end-to-end vendor strategy including selection, contracting, performance management, and exit planning

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience driving direction and alignment with cross-functional teams
• MBA
• Experience in transportation operations and industry knowledge
• Familiarity with fleet management systems (CMMS, telematics, work order platforms)