Vendor Management Lead

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced Vendor Management Lead to oversee the end-to-end management of strategic technology and service providers that support the organization's product and business objectives. This role is responsible for driving vendor sourcing, contract management, performance oversight, partner engagement, and vendor-led business initiatives to ensure strong, mutually beneficial partnerships.

The successful candidate will act as the primary point of coordination for external vendors and partners, ensuring alignment with organizational goals while maximizing service quality, operational efficiency, commercial value, and business growth opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, assess, and evaluate prospective technology vendors, service providers, and strategic partners to support current and future business requirements.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to define vendor selection criteria and evaluation frameworks.
• Conduct vendor due diligence, risk assessments, and onboarding activities in accordance with procurement and governance standards.
• Support vendor selection processes, negotiations, and recommendation activities.

• Manage the complete lifecycle of vendor agreements, including contract administration, renewals, amendments, and compliance monitoring.
• Monitor vendor performance against service level agreements (SLAs), contractual obligations, and operational expectations.
• Conduct regular vendor performance reviews, audits, and service assessments.
• Identify and address service delivery issues, escalating concerns and driving corrective action plans when required.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of vendor contracts, contacts, and performance documentation.

• Serve as the primary relationship manager for assigned vendors, suppliers, distributors, and technology partners.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships to support business objectives and long-term collaboration.
• Facilitate regular business reviews to evaluate service delivery, operational performance, and partnership effectiveness.
• Coordinate day-to-day engagement activities to ensure alignment between vendor capabilities and business needs.

• Partner with product, sales, and business teams to develop joint business initiatives and growth strategies with vendors.
• Support business opportunities requiring vendor collaboration, technical expertise, or specialized product knowledge.
• Track vendor-related sales activities, program participation, and business performance metrics.
• Help drive revenue growth through strategic partner engagement and solution enablement.

• Manage participation in vendor incentive programs, promotional initiatives, rebates, and partnership benefits.
• Monitor utilization of available vendor funding programs and commercial incentives.
• Coordinate reporting requirements, documentation, and claims processes related to incentive and rebate programs.
• Identify opportunities to maximize financial and strategic benefits from vendor partnerships.

• Collaborate with marketing teams to develop and execute joint campaigns, events, webinars, and demand-generation initiatives.
• Coordinate vendor-sponsored training, certifications, and enablement programs for internal teams and channel partners.
• Ensure stakeholders have access to current vendor resources, sales tools, product information, and marketing collateral.
• Support initiatives that strengthen product knowledge and sales readiness across the organization.

• Develop and maintain vendor business plans that include performance objectives, growth targets, budgets, and strategic initiatives.
• Align vendor capabilities, roadmaps, and offerings with organizational priorities and product strategies.
• Participate in strategic planning sessions and business reviews with key vendor stakeholders.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and vendor ecosystems to identify opportunities for innovation and growth.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Information Technology, Marketing, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience in vendor management, supplier management, procurement, partner management, business development, or related functions.
• Experience managing technology vendors, service providers, distributors, or strategic business partners.
• Demonstrated success in contract management, vendor negotiations, and performance management activities.

• Strong understanding of vendor lifecycle management, sourcing processes, and supplier governance.
• Experience managing service level agreements, commercial terms, and contractual compliance.
• Knowledge of vendor incentive programs, rebates, partnership models, and channel ecosystems.
• Ability to evaluate vendor performance, identify risks, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience supporting go-to-market initiatives, sales enablement activities, or strategic partnerships is advantageous.

• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple vendor relationships and priorities simultaneously.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy.
• Results-oriented mindset with a focus on operational excellence and business value creation.

Key Success Measures

Performance in this role may be evaluated through metrics such as:

• Vendor service quality and performance outcomes
• Contract compliance and risk management effectiveness
• Cost optimization and savings initiatives
• Utilization of vendor funding, incentives, and rebate programs
• Success of joint business development and go-to-market initiatives
• Accuracy and timeliness of vendor reporting and documentation
• Strength and effectiveness of strategic vendor partnerships