The Senior Manager of Vendor Management is responsible for leading strategic supplier relationships, overseeing vendor performance, and ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and compliance standards. This role manages a team of vendor management professionals and partners cross-functionally to optimize value, mitigate risks, and drive operational excellence across the vendor lifecycle.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development and execution of vendor management strategies in alignment with enterprise procurement and business goals.
- Establish and manage relationships with key suppliers, acting as the escalation point for critical issues and negotiations.
- Oversee vendor performance management processes, including scorecards, service-level agreements (SLAs), and continuous improvement plans.
- Collaborate with Legal, Finance, and Risk to ensure all vendor contracts meet regulatory, financial, and risk management standards.
- Guide and mentor a team of vendor management specialists and managers, supporting their professional development and performance.
- Drive vendor consolidation, cost savings, and innovation through strategic sourcing and supplier engagement.
- Monitor market trends and risks related to key vendor categories and proactively adapt strategy.
- Develop and report on KPIs related to vendor performance, risk, and value delivery to senior leadership.
- Vendor Performance & Compliance : Ensure strategic vendors meet service-level agreements (SLAs) and contractual obligations, with minimal compliance or risk issues.
- Value Delivery & Cost Optimization : Drive measurable savings and value through contract negotiations, vendor consolidation, and supplier innovation.
- Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Collaboration : Maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and ensure vendor solutions align with business needs.
- Team Leadership & Development : Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing vendor management team with clear goals and growth paths.
- Risk & Governance Management : Proactively identify and mitigate vendor-related risks through robust governance, due diligence, and monitoring processes.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field (Master’s preferred).
- 8–10 years of relevant experience in vendor or supplier management, with at least 3 years in a leadership capacity.
- Strong negotiation, contract management, and risk assessment skills.
- Proven experience managing vendor relationships in a complex, cross-functional environment.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
- Familiarity with procurement tools and vendor management systems (e.g., SAP Ariba, Coupa).
- Fluent English , fluency in additional European languages is a big plus.
Leadership Competencies
- Strategic Thinking
- Decision Making and Accountability
- Team Leadership and Talent Development
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Change Management
What do we offer
- Competitive salaries based on your professional experience
- Fast growing international company with stable employment
- Annual vacation and 1 additional day off on your birthday
- Mental Wellbeing Program – providing you and your immediate family members with free and confidential mental and physical health support services for a wide range of personal and work-related issues.
- Opportunities for advancement, further trainings (over 650 courses on soft and hard skills on our e-learning platform) and coaching
- Free English and German language classes
- Referral Program with attractive incentives
- Flexible working hours and hybrid or fully remote work