Vendor Relations & Strategy Manager

Job Overview The Vendor Relations & Strategy Manager – Canadian Operations is a key individual contributor responsible for managing and optimizing a broad vendor network across the Canadian market, with an immediate focus on SAAQ and provincial Ministry partnerships. The role serves as the primary liaison between Wheels and our Canadian vendor base, including licensing and compliance offices, dealerships, repair shops, and other third‑party service providers, ensuring vendor performance aligns with operational expectations and service level agreements.

The successful candidate will be fluent in English and preferably Canadian French, located in the Greater Toronto Area, and will be based out of our Mississauga office. The position requires regular travel within Canada (20–30%) to foster in‑person relationships and drive operational accountability.

Key Responsibilities – Essential Functions

Vendor Management

Establish and execute the vendor management framework across all outsourced service categories in Canada.

Serve as the primary relationship manager for Canadian Ministries (e.g., SAAQ), dealerships, repair facilities, and more.

Collaborate with cross‑functional stakeholders (Operations, Procurement, Legal, etc.) to assess category maturity, conduct gap analyses, and shape future state operating models.

Lead initiatives to drive performance improvements and align vendor services with Wheels’ business goals.

Use dashboards and BI tools to collect, analyze, and visualize vendor KPIs, driving decisions around vendor allocation and strategic prioritization.

Set performance review cadence and facilitate vendor business reviews to identify risks, address issues, and promote a culture of continuous improvement.

Support vendor identification, onboarding, contract negotiation (in partnership with Procurement), and lifecycle management.

Ensure compliance with internal controls, regulatory standards, and contractual SLAs.

Make vendor volume allocation recommendations based on performance trends and data insights.

Process Improvement

Identify and implement opportunities to streamline internal and vendor‑facing processes.

Lead or support continuous improvement events (e.g., Kaizen) in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

Partner with IT to develop enhancements to tools and systems that support vendor performance tracking and reporting.

Provide actionable insights through both quantitative and qualitative analysis to inform vendor strategy and operational decisions.

Communication and Stakeholder Collaboration

Present vendor performance and strategic recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.

Partner with internal teams to promote use of top‑performing vendors and support escalations as needed.

Represent Wheels with professionalism and integrity in vendor interactions.

Serve as a subject matter expert on vendor management in the Canadian market.

Leadership Responsibilities This is an individual contributor position.

Competencies – Skills

Strong relationship‑building and negotiation skills with a customer‑centric mindset.

Experience working with provincial and federal agencies (e.g., SAAQ) is highly desirable.

Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and BI reporting applications (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).

Demonstrated ability to drive vendor strategy using performance metrics and analytics.

Strong business acumen and ability to collaborate and influence across cross‑functional teams.

Ability to travel throughout Canada (approximately 20–30%).

Education and Experience

8+ years of experience in vendor management, supplier relations, or operational program management, preferably in automotive, logistics, or fleet services.

Preferred: Bilingual (English and Canadian French) – fluent written and verbal communication required in both languages.

Job Specifications – Physical Demands and Work Environment Work Environment: This position is in Mississauga, Ontario and operates in a professional office environment.

Position Type/Standard Schedule: Full‑time, Monday through Friday.

Travel: Regular travel (approximately 20–30%) is expected.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee must regularly talk and hear and use hands and fingers to operate call center tools.

Disclaimer Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits We’re proud to offer a competitive salary, extended health, dental and vision care, virtual health, paid time off, paid holidays, retirement with company match, exclusive discount programs, wellness programs, and more.

Pay Range:

$136,400–$191,000

The base salary range for this position is listed above. This position is eligible to participate in the annual incentive plan which is based on company performance and individual performance. Compensation ranges are based on several factors including geographic location. Final offer amounts are determined on a case‑by‑case basis.

EEO Statement Wheels is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer and administers all personnel practices without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or domestic partnership status, disability, protected veteran status or military status, genetic information, or any other category protected under applicable law. Wheels is committed to taking affirmative steps to promote the employment and advancement of minorities, women, persons with disabilities and protected veterans.

Wheels is a drug‑free workplace. All employment is contingent on successful completion of drug and background screening.

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