Manager of Vendor Relations & Product Development
The Manager of Vendor Relations and Product Development will lead the creation of a scalable vendor management framework, identify new business opportunities, and align vendor capabilities with long-term product and organizational strategy. The role is responsible for leading the sourcing, negotiation, and management of vendor partnerships, while overseeing the end-to-end process of product development. This role serves as a key liaison between vendors, internal stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to ensure high-quality, cost-effective, and timely product delivery. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, a deep understanding of consumer behavior, and the ability to interpret data to make informed decisions.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement a comprehensive vendor management framework to standardize onboarding, performance evaluation, risk management, and compliance tracking.
- Identify, qualify, and onboard new vendors aligned with strategic business goals, diversification needs, and emerging market trends.
- Lead contract negotiations with a focus on long-term value creation, risk mitigation, and strategic alignment.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors and suppliers.
- Ensure all vendor relationships maintain optimal terms for pricing, and service-level agreements (SLAs).
- Monitor vendor performance, conduct regular reviews, and implement corrective actions when needed.
- Collaborate with legal and product compliance teams to ensure compliance with policies and regulations.
- Lead the product development lifecycle from concept through launch, in collaboration with design and product teams.
- Manage timelines, resources, and budgets for new product initiatives.
- Ensure products meet quality standards, market requirements, and brand positioning.
- Facilitate communication between internal teams and external partners to ensure consistent execution.
- Create and maintain the Snow Commerce product roadmap aligned with revenue and margin targets.
- Define product assortment utilizing a best-in-class vendor network.
- Analyze unit economics to ensure our pricing strategy delivers company margin goals and is market competitive.
Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Product Development or related field
- 5+ years of experience in vendor management, sourcing, or product development
- Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional projects and meet deadlines.
- Excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
- Intermediate to advanced computer proficiency in Microsoft Excel.