Vendor Relations Specialist

Join a company that is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We are renowned for our technical excellence and leading innovations, and for making a difference to our clients and society. Our workplace embraces diversity and inclusion – it’s a place where you can grow, belong and thrive.

About the role

The Vendor Relations Specialist is a seasoned subject matter expert, responsible for ensuring client satisfaction by participating in the delivery of services that are aligned to the agreed service level agreements (SLA) and other contractual performance requirements. This role requires the ability to manage the coordinated delivery of service and manage compliance to agreed performance standards.

Responsibilities

• Offers support by responding to new or changed business needs and/or services and determine and define the requirement for new or updating existing vendor contracts.
• Negotiates service level agreements with vendors that meet the needs of the business, its operations and the needs of the clients.
• Agrees and signs the required contract with the vendor, ensuring conformance to strategy and process.
• Analyzes vendor performance against contract and provides feedback to relevant stakeholders on performance delivery.
• Works closely with commercial and contract management team to process contract renewals, managing schedule of contract termination dates to meet renewal or termination process requirements.
• Serves as the escalation point for vendor disputes, by agreeing points of interaction and escalation with the client and vendor, ensuring the continuous delivery of the service according to the SLA.
• Monitors and reviews service levels to ensure that suppliers are performing within contractual agreements and success targets; may also conduct vendor audits.
• Supports peers by regularly supplying training of vendor relationship skills.
• Determines the impact of service improvements identified in relation to the vendor and documents and ensures the appropriate actions are implemented by the vendor.
• Participates in implementation of products and services from new or current vendors, ensuring smooth execution and on-time delivery.
• Obtains vendor program requirements and provide information to business on the gaps and requirements to close these in order to maintain the chosen level of vendor accreditation.
• Works on strategic projects that identify, analyze and correct problems with cost and quality by alerting vendors to problems or discrepancies.
• Performs any other related task as required.

Requirements

• Ability to establish strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to deal tactfully with vendors, suppliers, and contractors who provide a broad spectrum of products and services.
• Seasoned knowledge of accounting, finance, marketing, and logistics.
• Ability to work in high-pressure environments.
• Ability to manage urgent and complex tasks simultaneously.
• Seasoned business acumen and commercial skills.
• Passionate, strong initiative, self-driven with commitment to succeed.
• Displays excellent persuasion and influencing ability.
• Detailed, meticulous and highly organized.
• Proactive in approach with good facilitation skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, marketing, business administration, or a related field.
• ITIL certification is preferable.

Experience

• Seasoned demonstrated contract / supplier management experience preferably in a multi-national environment.
• Proven stakeholder engagement experience.
• Seasoned demonstrated understanding of the contract lifecycle management.
• Seasoned experience managing expectations when balancing alternatives against business and financial constraints.

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30+ billion business and technology services leader, serving 75% of the Fortune Global 100. We are committed to accelerating client success and positively impacting society through responsible innovation. We are one of the world’s leading AI and digital infrastructure providers, with unmatched capabilities in enterprise-scale AI, cloud, security, connectivity, data centers and application services. Our consulting and industry solutions help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 70 countries. We also offer clients access to a robust ecosystem of innovation centers as well as established and start-up partners. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3 billion each year in R&D.

Workplace type: Remote Working