Job DescriptionThe Strategic Vendor Management Sr. Specialist is responsible for supporting the Vendor Management Office (VMO) in the governance, oversight, and relationship management of strategic technology and business service providers. This role serves as a key liaison between internal stakeholders and vendors to help ensure contractual commitments, performance expectations, and business objectives are achieved.
This role will assist with supplier performance management, contract compliance monitoring, service level reporting, governance activities, risk management, financial tracking, and continuous improvement initiatives. The successful candidate will possess strong analytical, communication, and relationship management skills and be able to collaborate effectively across multiple business units and supplier organizations. This position requires the ability to manage competing priorities, perform detailed analysis, and support strategic vendor relationships that are critical to business operations.
This position does not provide employment pursuant to the terms of a STEM OPT Training Plan.
ResponsibilitiesCore Responsibilities- Support the management of strategic supplier relationships by fostering collaboration between internal stakeholders and vendor organizations to achieve business objectives
- Monitor vendor performance against contractual obligations, service level agreements (SLAs), key performance indicators (KPIs), operational level agreements (OLAs), and experience-based measures
- Develop, analyze, and distribute vendor scorecards, performance reports, trends, and dashboards to support operational and executive governance reviews
- Coordinate and facilitate vendor governance meetings, including agenda development, documentation of action items, issue tracking, and follow-up on commitments
- Assist in the review and interpretation of contract terms, statements of work, amendments, and service level schedules to ensure compliance and alignment with business requirements
- Track vendor risks, issues, escalations, audit findings, and remediation activities, ensuring timely resolution and communication to stakeholders
- Analyze vendor financial information, invoices, credits, contractual adjustments, and consumption-based services to validate accuracy and contractual compliance
- Partner with Supply Chain, Legal, Cybersecurity, and business stakeholders to support sourcing initiatives, vendor assessments, and contract lifecycle management activities
- Identify opportunities for service improvement, innovation, automation, and cost optimization through analysis of vendor performance and industry best practices
- Prepare executive presentations, briefing materials, and management reports that summarize supplier performance, risks, achievements, and recommendations for corrective action
QualificationsRequired Education/Experience- Master's Degree and a minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience or
- Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience or
- Associate's Degree and a minimum of 4 years of relevant work experience or
- High School Diploma/GED and a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience
Preferred Education/Experience- Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Information Technology, Finance or a related field and a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in vendor management, supplier relationship management, contract management, procurement and/or business financial analysis
Relevant Work Experience- Experience working with external service providers, vendors, managed service providers (MSPs), consulting firms, or strategic suppliers, preferred
- Understanding of vendor governance, supplier performance management, and contract administration practices, preferred
- Experience analyzing and interpreting performance metrics, SLAs, KPIs, and service reports, preferred
- Experience preparing executive-level reports, presentations, and management communications, preferred
- Ability to plan, organize and lead meetings along with translating functional to technical information, preferred
- Ability to develop documentation that will be consumed by users of diverse backgrounds and skills, preferred
Skills and Abilities- Demonstrated analytical skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision making skills
- Develops and delivers effective presentations
Licenses and Certifications- Driver's License Required
Physical Demands- Sit or stand to use a keyboard, mouse, and computer for the duration of the workday
- Ability to read small print and symbols
Additional Physical Demands- The selected candidate will be assigned a System Emergency Assignment (i.e., an emergency response role) and will be expected to work non-business hours during emergencies, which may include nights, weekends, and holidays.
