Director, Strategic Vendor Management

Ladders; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement & Savings Plan

Emergency back-up care

Job summary

Ladders in Santa Monica seeks a Director of Strategic Vendor Management to shape our vendor strategy and governance. You will lead senior relationships with key service providers, drive performance roadmaps, and ensure disciplined management of enterprise partnerships.

This role partners with internal stakeholders to resolve escalations and improve processes, delivering measurable value. Collaborative leadership and strong negotiation, budgeting, and governance expertise are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years in vendor management, procurement, or related fields.
• Experience managing complex vendor relationships and enterprise initiatives.
• Strong governance framework development and strategic planning skills.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and forecast financial performance.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Familiarity with vendor management technologies and process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as executive relationship owner for key service providers.
• Develop long-term vendor strategies and performance roadmaps.
• Establish vendor scorecards, KPIs, and standards.
• Lead quarterly business reviews and executive vendor meetings.
• Resolve service disruptions and operational challenges.
• Direct the Vendor Management Office and oversee governance processes.
• Monitor travel vendor performance and resolve escalations.

Skills

Vendor management

Procurement

Strategic planning

Governance

Budget forecasting

Communication

Negotiation

Relationship management

Vendor management software

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree

Tools

Vendor management software

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Director, Strategic Vendor Management to join the team of a leader in the Legal & Accounting space.

This role will shape the organization’s vendor strategy, strengthening governance and performance across critical external partnerships. You will serve as a senior leader for key service providers, aligning operational execution with business priorities while driving accountability, service quality, and continuous improvement. The position also partners closely with internal stakeholders to resolve escalations, improve processes, and support disciplined management of enterprise vendor relationships.

Location: Santa Monica, CA - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $220,000 – $250,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Serve as the executive relationship owner for key service providers
• Develop long-term vendor strategies and performance roadmaps
• Establish vendor scorecards, KPIs, and standards
• Lead quarterly business reviews and executive vendor meetings
• Resolve service disruptions and operational challenges
• Direct the Vendor Management Office and oversee governance processes
• Monitor travel vendor performance and resolve related escalations

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 10+ years of experience in vendor management, procurement, or related fields
• Experience in complex vendor relationships and enterprise initiatives
• Strong strategic planning and governance framework development skills
• Proven ability to manage budgets and forecast financial performance
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills
• Familiarity with vendor management technologies and process improvements

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement & Savings Plan
• Emergency back-up child and adult care
• Paid vacation, sick time off, and holidays
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities
• Employee recognition and reward programs
• Employee wellness and assistance programs
• Employee discounts and perks

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.