IT Vendor Relationship Manager

Blackbaud; United States; Hybrid; USD 77,700 - 104,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Remote-flexible workforce

401(k) program with employer match

Tuition reimbursement program

Job summary

Blackbaud is seeking an IT Vendor Relationship Manager responsible for managing vendors throughout their lifecycle, leading strategic sourcing engagements, and collaborating with various teams to meet business needs. This role demands strong contract negotiation skills and a solid background in procurement.

The ideal candidate will have over five years of experience in a SaaS environment and be adept in financial analysis and stakeholder engagement. Benefits include flexible working options and comprehensive insurance benefits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of procurement or vendor management experience in a SaaS organization.
• Strong understanding of sourcing methodology and cost modeling.
• Proficient in risk management and issue resolution.

Responsibilities

• Manage vendor engagements and oversee contract lifecycles.
• Lead RFx processes and supplier evaluations.
• Deliver cost savings and service level improvements.

Skills

Procurement or sourcing experience

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Risk management skills

Project management

Tools

ERP/procurement systems

Contract lifecycle platforms

Excel

Job description

About the Role

The IT Vendor Relationship Manager manages the full lifecycle of vendor engagements within specialist categories and leads Strategic Sourcing engagements, collaborating with business leaders, finance and technical staff to identify requirements, conduct financial analysis, manage vendor selection, negotiate contracts, statements of work, deliverables and rates, and monitor vendor performance against contracts and SLAs, including escalations and vendor off‑boarding.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead RFx processes (RFI/RFP/RFQ), supplier evaluations, and award decisions.
• Analyze market trends, supplier cost structures, and total cost of ownership (TCO).
• Partner with stakeholders to align sourcing plans with business needs and budgets.
• Deliver cost savings, service level improvements, and risk reduction.
• Lead commercial negotiations in partnership with Legal and Finance.
• Own contract lifecycle: redlines, renewals, amendments, and performance obligations.
• Ensure contract terms reflect business, compliance, and risk requirements.
• Maintain awareness of renewal timelines and proactively initiate renegotiations.
• Act as the primary relationship owner for strategic and high‑impact vendors.
• Develop and track vendor scorecards, SLAs, and KPIs.
• Lead regular business reviews and escalations.
• Identify vendor consolidation, innovation, or restructuring opportunities.
• Collaborate with Cyber, Legal, and Compliance teams to assess and manage third‑party risk.
• Ensure adherence to internal sourcing policies and external regulatory requirements.

What we’ll want you to have

• 5+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing or vendor management, preferably in a SaaS organization.
• Proven experience leading contract negotiations and supplier governance.
• Strong understanding of sourcing methodology and cost modeling.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication, and analytical skills.
• Familiarity with ERP/procurement systems and contract lifecycle platforms.
• Broad working knowledge of compute, storage and networking components.
• Strong results‑focused approach, with the ability to achieve and exceed goals while maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency.
• Excellent organization and planning abilities, effectively managing multiple projects and priorities to ensure timely and successful completion.
• Skilled in negotiation and conflict management, adept at resolving issues and fostering positive relationships with stakeholders.
• Proficient in risk and issue management, identifying potential challenges and implementing strategies to mitigate risks and address issues promptly.
• Committed to process management and improvement, continuously seeking opportunities to enhance workflows and optimize performance.
• Utilizes metrics and analysis to drive decision‑making, leveraging data to inform strategies and measure success.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, advanced Excel skills, and strong interpersonal and relationship skills.
• Able to work flexible hours as required by business priorities.

Compensation

The starting base pay is $77,700.00 to $104,500.00.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Remote‑flexible workforce.
• Wellness Programs.
• 401(k) program with employer match.
• Flexible paid time off.
• Generous parental leave.
• Donations for Doers.
• Pet insurance, legal and identity protection.
• Tuition reimbursement program.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Blackbaud is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.