Manager, IT Vendor Relations

What's the Short Version?

The Manager, IT Vendor Relations is responsible for developing and maintaining strategic relationships with key suppliers and vendors and managing the IT Procurement Team. This role involves ensuring that vendors meet or exceed contractual obligations while delivering high-quality goods and services that align with the company's business needs. The Manager, IT Vendor Relations also plays a crucial role in negotiating contracts, resolving issues, consulting with other department on vendor related issues and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Additionally, this role will be primarily responsible for overseeing the processing of IT-related invoices by IT Procurement.

What Will You Be Doing?

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key vendors to ensure a productive and collaborative partnership.
• Monitor vendor performance to ensure adherence to service level agreements (SLAs) and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Serve as the primary point of contact for vendors, addressing any issues, concerns, or disputes promptly and effectively.
• Conduct regular reviews of vendor performance and provide feedback to drive improvements.
• Schedule, gather stakeholder feedback, and facilitate Quarterly Business Reviews (QBR's) with key strategic vendors and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain a high-level understanding of the documents that compose a complete vendor engagement including RFP, NDA, MSA, SOW, Order Forms, Pricing Schedules, and Addendums.
• Negotiate contracts with vendors to secure favorable terms, pricing, and service levels; analyze vendor pricing and contracts to ensure cost-effectiveness and value for money.
• Ensure all vendor contracts are current, compliant, and stored appropriately.
• Collaborate with legal, finance, business unit stakeholders, and procurement teams to manage contract renewals, amendments, and terminations.
• Identify potential risks associated with vendor relationships and develop strategies to mitigate these risks.
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of vendor management and purchasing professionals, ensuring alignment with the company's goals and objectives.
• Set clear performance expectations for team members, conduct regular performance evaluations, and provide constructive feedback to support their professional development.
• Ensure vendors comply with company policies, industry regulations, and best practices.
• Monitor the financial stability and compliance status of key vendors.
• Work with internal stakeholders to identify opportunities for cost savings and process efficiencies; drive initiatives to reduce costs while maintaining or improving the quality of goods and services.
• Collaborate with internal teams including procurement, finance, legal, and operations, to align vendor strategies with business goals.
• Provide regular updates to senior management on vendor performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Identify and implement best practices in vendor management.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with vendors to enhance service delivery, innovation, and cost savings.
• Stay updated on market trends, industry standards, and emerging technologies to optimize vendor relationships.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Comply with all policies and standards.

What Are We Looking For?

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management or related field or equivalent experience.
• 4-6 years experience in vendor management, procurement or supply chain management.
• Proven experience in contract negotiation and management.
• Experience in managing relationships with vendors across different industries is preferred
• Strong negotiation and communication skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple vendor relationships simultaneously.
• Proficiency in vendor management software and tools.
• Strong understanding of contract law, procurement processes and risk management.

What's Our Offer?

Salary Range: You`ll earn between $105,000 - $150,000 annually, depending on experience.

Bonus: You`ll be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus up to 15% of base salary.

Paid Time Off: You`ll accrue paid time off on a bi-weekly basis based on hours worked up to 152 hours per year to start. Employees also receive 8 paid holidays and 1 paid family day off.

Additional Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401k plan and matches $1 for $1 up to 4% of earnings, matched & vested at every pay cycle
• Life insurance
• Short/long-term disability coverage
• Paid maternity/paternity leave
• Pet insurance

What Should You Expect?

Hybrid: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Work environment is moderately quiet. Ability to work on computer for multiple hours with frequent interruptions.

SanMar's Eastpointe office is located near Seattle, WA and our standard working hours are 8:00-5:00 PST. Quarterly travel may be required.