Vendor Performance Manager to drive technology visibility, cost efficiency and opportunity through contract optimization and vendor negotiations. The Vendor Performance Manager partners closely with the Business Technology and DDWI Leadership teams to enhance operational effectiveness by identifying and eliminating redundant systems, optimizing contract renewals, coordinating software upgrades, and reducing technical debt across the organization's technology portfolio.
This full-time hybrid position is located at our corporate headquarters in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.What You'll do:
- Serve as the primary point of contact to liaise with both our Managed Services Provider, NorthWinds Technology Solutions, and all other existing technology vendors and service providers.
- Build and maintain vendor relationships to ensure service quality and alignment with organizational needs.
- Evaluate vendor performance using SLAs, KPIs, and user feedback and providing reporting/insights.
- Coordinate vendor onboarding, risk assessments, and ongoing reviews.
- Direct and ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
- Responsible for creating a single source of truth to track, manage, and optimize all technology contracts, subscriptions, and licensing agreements, in partnership with NorthWinds and business owners.
- Assist in coordinating contract renewals, renegotiations, and terminations to achieve cost savings and favorable terms.
- Track software versions, usage, ownership, and lifecycle status.
- Identify costly, redundant, or underutilized applications and recommend consolidation or elimination.
- Identify and shepherd initiatives to reduce software spend and improve ROI.
- Analyze licensing models and usage trends to optimize costs.
- Support budgeting and forecasting activities related to technology vendor spend.
- Partner with technology teams and business owners to ensure accurate documentation and system ownership accountability.
- Track and report on technical debt reduction initiatives.
- Determine and implement processes, policies and procedures required to meet department objectives.
- Work closely with Business Technology, Finance, Legal, Operations and NorthWinds teams to achieve organizational objectives.
- Support audits, compliance reviews, and risk management efforts.
- Identify vendor-related risks, including assisting with vendor escalations and resolution.
This position does not offer immigration sponsorship.