Description :
The Vendor Manager position is an integral role within the Vendor Management Office (VMO) that support Information Technology's (IT) strategic relationship with Vendors and Service Providers.
A Vendor Manager is responsible for their respective portfolio to ensure the creation of successful, measurable, and sustainable business outcomes with valued vendors, while mitigating risk.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the management of Vendors providing Managed Services,
Project Delivery, IT Software, Hardware, Cloud, SaaS, and Data Subscriptions. This includes facilitating IT's end?to?end renewals process and new Product / Subscription Orders.
An effective Vendor Manager can provide commercial and contractual recommendations to IT Management support IT's strategic and digital objective while minimizing risk.
Role Description :
The specific accountability will be as a team member for the Core Optimization Program but reporting directly to the Senior Manager of the IT Vendor Management office.
The scope of Core is looking at the implementation of
full suite of products supporting our future ERP, along with all of the existing applications that need to connect to SAP supporting end?to?end business processes.
This role will be dedicated to Core providing proactive engagement with the various streams on their requirements and then bringing those requirements back through IT, engaging appropriate resources and vendors and working through all the processes to contract execution.
The individual will work under the
framework that is in place today in the Vendor Management Office and work closely along side those Team members, and our partnering Supply Chain Management Team members.
The timelines for the Core Optimization Program are very tight and they expect the individual to adhere to schedule, activity requirements, and progress expectations.
From an IT perspective this critical role ensures IT
fully understands the requested changes and impacts to contracts and support planning for future sustainment costs. You are the front end of the IT VMO in this role supporting the Program and will drive towards successful outcomes expected from the Office.
Governance & Relationship Management :
- Manage the vendor relationship and steward our contracted governance process including JMC, JEC, QBR and Executive Briefings
- Facilitate process to measure vendor Performance on Managed Services and projects.
- Maintain relationship with vendors related to product / services roadmaps, capabilities, escalations & inquiries.
- Provide engagement and support for IT & CPMO stakeholders with respect to vendor proposals, new service offerings and support.
- Engagement
- Initial point of contact for existing and new vendor engagement on service offerings, product orders, renewals & project capability
- Facilitate engagement with Supply Chain Management (SCM) for demand planning and prioritization.
- Manage the IT renewals process and coordinate with Business Partner and Service Owner inputs for software rationalization.
- Manage vendor escalations and performance issues on contracted services.
- Work with IT stakeholders on long term planning and road mapping for our technology environments by engaging respective vendors on capability.
- Support the Portfolio Management process and CPMO execution process.
- Coordinate vendor demos in support of technology selection
- Collaborate with IT / CPMO / SCM on sourcing strategy decisions for managed services and project capability.
Commercials :
- Support Supply Chain Management in commercial negotiations
- Consult with Strategy & Planning office for inputs to the IT budget.
- Consult with IT stakeholders on purchasing strategies for projects, quotes, and pricing.
- Provide guidance on sourcing / purchasing of IT hardware & services.
- Understand commercial implications of vendor software / services offerings.
- Validate MSA rate cards for Statements of Work / Change Orders
- Coordinate audit and compliance initiatives with vendors and IT stakeholders
Additional Responsibilities :
- Ensure IT vendors deliver according to commitments and contracts; oversee vendor compliance and performance management, including analysis of cost and quality.
- Report on vendor compliance and performance based on established SLAs; manage vendor scorecards and dashboards for operations and management.
- Create and maintain price benchmarks to drive the best price from vendors.
- Identify savings opportunities for renewals, software licensing, and services. Follow through with vendors and stakeholders to obtain identified savings.
- Support the Service Owners in their respective portfolios (Managed Services - ERP, Applications, Infrastructure, End User Computing, Cyber Security)
- Creating and updating monthly management reports, financial tracking of progress against budget and planning
- Assist with contract schedule development, negotiations, changes, reviews, and terminations.
- Previous experience understanding and maintaining financial forecast, budgets, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
- Review and process Statements of Work, Change Orders, and other project documentation in support of lifecycle contract management
- Manage contracts and relationships to maximize value creation and costs for software licensing, maintenance, and service offerings.
- Communicate through email, individual interview, group meetings, and presentations to end users, management, developers, and vendors.
Key Competencies :
- Builds Trust : You honor your word by doing what you say you are going to do.
- Implementation / Execution : You are good at organizing and managing multiple priorities and / or projects by using appropriate methodologies and tools.
- Innovate : You introduce innovative ideas and processes which improve performance and productivity for the VMO
- Problem Solving : You are an analytical person with the ability to encourage others in collaborative problem solving. Acting as both a broker and consultant regarding resources, you engage others in problem solving without taking over.
Role Essentials :
- 15+ years' experience in IT or Supply Chain Management
- Written and verbal communication skills
- Proven researching ability.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, IT, Finance, or a related field
- Expert knowledge of IT contracts and negotiation of complex and multi?year agreements