Position Purpose: As a Vendor Optimization Manager, you will play a key role in supporting the organization's vendor management function by providing data-driven insights, maintaining vendor records, and ensuring smooth execution of core vendor processes. Your responsibilities will span performance analysis, contract and SLA management, market research, and supporting key vendor lifecycle activities such as RFPs and quarterly business reviews.
Role Summary:You will work closely with the Vendor Management Manager, legal, finance, business, and IT leaders to ensure decisions are backed by clear data, risks are identified early, and vendor relationships contribute measurable value. This role requires a strong balance of analytical rigor, attention to detail, negotiation skills, and the ability to influence and facilitate discussions while communicating insights effectively to stakeholders.
You will be instrumental in strengthening vendor management by turning performance, spend, and contract data into actionable insights that drive better decisions. By ensuring vendor processes such as RFPs, SLA tracking, and quarterly reviews run smoothly, you help the business mitigate risks, optimize value, and build stronger partnerships across the organization.
Key Responsibilities:- Vendor Performance Analysis:Analyze vendor performance data and prepare reports that highlight trends, risks, and opportunities. Provide actionable insights to guide vendor-related decisions.
- Market Research & Vendor Selection Support: Support research and analysis for new vendor selections, including benchmarking, capability assessments, and cost comparisons.
- Vendor Management System Maintenance: Maintain accurate, up-to-date records on vendor contracts, performance metrics, and risks within the vendor management system.
- Contract & SLA Oversight: Assist in leading contract negotiations, coordinate legal reviews, and ensure service level agreements (SLAs) are well defined, measurable, and enforced.
- Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs):Organize and facilitate QBRs with key vendors, ensuring discussions are supported by performance data and drive continuous improvement.
- RFP Process Support: Support vendor evaluations during request-for-proposal (RFP) processes, ensuring scoring and recommendations are grounded in data and aligned with business needs.
- Risk & Opportunity Monitoring: Monitor industry and vendor news to proactively surface risks, compliance concerns, or opportunities that may impact vendor relationships.
Key Capabilities:Essential Attributes, Skills & Experience: - Analytical & Reporting Skills: Proven ability to analyze data sets, identify patterns, and present findings through clear, concise reports and dashboards.
- Vendor Management Knowledge: Familiarity with vendor lifecycle processes such as contracting, SLAs, QBRs, and RFPs.
- Attention to Detail: Strong capability to maintain accurate records in vendor management systems and ensure compliance with governance standards.
- Collaboration: Effective communicator who can work cross-functionally with legal, finance, and business leaders, ensuring vendor insights are well understood.
- Problem-Solving: Ability to identify vendor-related risks and opportunities early and recommend practical solutions.
- Technology Proficiency: Comfortable with vendor management platforms, MS suite, and business intelligence tools for performance tracking and reporting.
- Culture Fit: Commitment to data integrity, process transparency, and continuous improvement. Adaptable and proactive in a dynamic environment.
- Business Partnership: Experience collaborating with leaders and cross-functional teams to align financial insights with business priorities. Ability to influence decision-making through trusted analysis.
- Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex financial information in a clear, concise, and compelling manner to both financial and non-financial audiences.
Desirable Attributes, Skills & Experience: - Experience with vendor scorecards or KPI frameworks.
- Exposure to contract negotiation and commercial review processes.
- Knowledge of compliance and regulatory requirements in vendor management.
- Exposure to industries such as logistics, e-commerce, retail, supply chain, technology services, or manufacturing.
- Experience supporting process automation or reporting enhancements.
Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university or 5-7 years of relevant experience based on the responsibilities outlined above.
- Five or more years of financial and/or contract analysis
- Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Company, in its discretion, may find appropriate and acceptable.
Benefits may include:- Health, dental, and vision coverage - eligible after 60 days, low out of pocket
- 401(k) with generous company match - eligible after 60 days, immediately vested
- Employer paid employee assistance program
- Employer paid short term and long-term disability
- Employer paid life insurance
- Flex spending
- Paid vacation
- Paid sick days
- Paid holidays
Salary Information: $105,000 - $115,000 based on experience. 
