tech savvy Vendor Manager - HYBRID

Key Responsibilities

• Supports vendor relationships across DMV modernization and operations as a key point of contact, partnering with senior program leadership on complex or escalated issues.
• Manages multiple contracts simultaneously, ensuring vendors meet all deliverables, milestones, service levels, and quality expectations.
• Oversees contract compliance, including SOW obligations, financial terms, data requirements, reporting, and performance metrics.
• PARTNERS WITH PROCUREMENT, LEGAL, OPERATIONS, PROJECT TEAMS, AND BUDGET TEAMS TO SUPPORT CONTRACT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, RFP DEVELOPMENT, AND EVALUATIONS.
• CORRELATES ACROSS INTERNAL TEAMS (IT, PRODUCT, BA, TESTING, OCM, OPERATIONS) TO ENSURE VENDOR WORK ALIGNS WITH DMV GOALS AND PROGRAM PRIORITIES.
• IDENTIFIES RISKS EARLY AND SUPPORTS ESCALATION AND ISSUE-RESOLUTION PROCESSES, CONTRIBUTING TO CORRECTIVE ACTION PLANS.
• REVIEWS VENDOR DELIVERABLES FOR COMPLETENESS AND ALIGNMENT, COORDINATING WITH TECHNICAL SMES FOR DEEP TECHNICAL VALIDATION.
• ENSURES VENDORS FOLLOW SECURITY, COMPLIANCE, INTEGRATION, AND DATA STANDARDS REQUIRED BY DMV AND NCDIT.
• SUPPORTS CROSS VENDOR COORDINATION BY IDENTIFYING DEPENDENCIES AND RAISING ALIGNMENT NEEDS TO SENIOR PROGRAM LEADERSHIP.
• MANTAINS ACCURATE AND CURRENT DOCUMENTATION ON CONTRACT STATUS, PERFORMANCE, RISKS, AND PAYMENT APPROVAL WORKFLOWS.
• SUPPORTS VENDOR ACCOUNTABILITY BY MONITORING DELIVERABLES, MILESTONES, AND SERVICE LEVELS, AND BY COORDINATING WITH SENIOR LEADERSHIP ON PERFORMANCE CONCERNS.
• SUPPORTS FINANCIAL TRACKING ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INVOICE VALIDATION AND BURN RATE MONITORING.
• MONITORS VENDOR RESOURCE USAGE AND ENHANCEMENT HOURS, ENSURING ACCURATE CATEGORIZATION, PROPER DOCUMENTATION, AND ADHERENCE TO APPROVED BUDGET AND SCOPE.
• TRANSLATES TECHNICAL ISSUES, RISKS, AND IMPACTS INTO CLEAR AND ACTIONABLE COMMUNICATION FOR LEADERSHIP.
• SUPPORTS PLANNING AND PROCUREMENT ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORTS VENDOR EVALUATIONS EFFORTS.

Required Skills & Experience

• Experience managing vendors, contracts, or delivery partners in complex technology environments.
• Strong working knowledge of state government procurement, contracting processes, and compliance requirements.
• Experience managing large technology contracts, system implementation vendors, SI partners, or SaaS/hosting providers.
• Proven ability to interpret SOWs, technical deliverables, project plans, SLAs, acceptance criteria, and contract language.
• Able to drive vendor performance through influence, diplomacy, escalation management, and structured accountability.
• Technical fluency to understand systems, integrations, testing workflows, data impacts, and modernization related technical dependencies.
• Experience coordinating across cross-functional teams, including IT, business leaders, SMEs, and executive stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills; ability to proactively identify risks and navigate complex vendor issues.
• Experience validating deliverables, reviewing technical documentation, and confirming readiness for acceptance or payment.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to simplify complex technical or contractual topics.

Desired Attributes

• HIGHLY ORGANIZED AND DETAIL ORIENTED, WITH THE ABILITY TO MANAGE MANY MOVING CONTRACTUAL AND TECHNICAL COMPONENTS.
• PROACTIVE, ASSERTIVE, AND ACCOUNTABLE — STEPS IN EARLY TO ADDRESS ISSUES AND ENSURES THOROUGH RESOLUTION.
• STRONG RELATIONSHIP BUILDER WHO CAN FOSTER TRUST WHILE HOLDING VENDORS TO HIGH-PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
• COMFORTABLE NAVIGATING AMBIGUITY AND ESTABLISHING STRUCTURE IN EVOLVING MODERNIZATION AND OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS.
• BALANCES FIRMNESS WITH DIPLOMACY, MAINTAINING PRODUCTIVE VENDOR RELATIONSHIPS WHILE PROTECTING DMV INTERESTS.
• DEMONSTRATES SOUND JUDGMENT WHEN BALANCING CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, BUSINESS NEEDS, AND TECHNICAL CONSTRAINTS.
• THROWS IN FASTMOVING, HIGH-STAKES DELIVERY PROGRAMS WITH MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS AND DEPENDENCIES.
• BRAINS A CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT MINDSET AND SEeks OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE VENDOR PROCESSES, DELIVERABLES, AND OUTCOMES.