Manager, 3rd Party Vendor ManagementLocation: New York, NY
Job OverviewWe are seeking a strategic and operationally strong
Manager, 3rd Party Vendor Management to oversee the end-to-end management of trading card printing and manufacturing vendors. This role will be responsible for managing day-to-day vendor operations, production execution, and vendor performance to ensure on-time, high-quality delivery.
The Manager will lead vendor lifecycle activities from bid evaluation through final production delivery while driving continuous improvement across vendor performance, operational processes, and cross-functional collaboration. This role will also manage day-to-day coordination through partnership with the Associate, ensuring smooth execution across multiple production partners in a fast-paced environment.
Key ResponsibilitiesVendor Strategy & Relationship Management- Oversee bid evaluation processes, ensuring competitive pricing, capacity alignment, and quality standards.
- Manage vendor scope of work, service expectations, and contract adherence.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with key production partners and act as the primary escalation point for vendor issues.
- Support vendor segmentation and strategic partner development.
Production Oversight & Operational Governance- Oversee production planning and vendor capacity across trading card manufacturing partners.
- Ensure production timelines are achievable and risks are proactively managed.
- Provide escalation support for timing, quality, or operational issues that impact delivery.
Vendor Performance Management- Own vendor KPI frameworks including quality, on-time and in-full (OTIF) performance, responsiveness, and cost efficiency.
- Create quarterly business reviews (QBRs) materials with vendors.
- Drive accountability and improvement plans for underperforming vendors.
Cross-Functional Leadership- Partner with Product, Project Management, Procurement, Quality Assurance, and Logistics teams to align production planning and delivery expectations.
- Ensure cross-functional dependencies are proactively managed across the production lifecycle.
- Support strategic planning for upcoming releases, volume forecasting, and capacity planning.
Process Improvement & Vendor Operations- Identify operational inefficiencies and implement scalable vendor management processes.
- Develop tools, dashboards, and reporting frameworks to track vendor performance and operational health.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives related to manufacturing, vendor operations, and production workflows.
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or related field.
- 3-6+ years of experience in vendor management, print production, supply chain, or manufacturing environments.
- Experience managing third-party manufacturing or production vendors required.
- Strong analytical and operational problem-solving skills with advanced Excel or data analysis capabilities.
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional initiatives and vendor performance management.
- Strong communication and negotiation skills.
- Experience in trading cards, collectibles, or CPG production environments is a plus.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed (up to ~25%).
The salary range represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation. This salary range is specific to New York City and may not be applicable to other locations. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training. For information about our benefits, please visit https://benefitsatfanatics.com/
NYC Salary Range
$105,600-$132,000 USD
