Senior IT Vendor Strategy & Partnerships Lead

Spectraforce; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Spectraforce seeks an Senior Program Manager – IT Technology Vendor Management to lead strategic vendor initiatives across Tier-1/Tier-2 suppliers. This role focuses on optimizing technology investments, governance, and cost efficiency within Oakland’s hybrid office environment.

You will collaborate across Operations, Architecture, Sourcing, Finance, Legal, and IT Leadership to define requirements, monitor performance, and align spend with multi-year capital and operating plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in IT vendor management, sourcing, or technology strategy.
• Strong experience managing and optimizing relationships with Tier-1 technology suppliers.
• Demonstrated expertise in IT contracts, vendor governance, and technology lifecycle management.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex vendor relationships and restructure contractual arrangements to enhance value.
• Experience developing supplier strategies aligned with business objectives and technology roadmaps.
• Strong project management skills, including managing large-scale technology implementations and process improvements.
• Demonstrated experience in cost optimization, contract strategy, business case development, and financial analysis.
• Strong understanding of vendor-driven spend forecasts, including capital and operating expenses.
• Excellent executive communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with Tier-1 and Tier-2 technology suppliers, engaging regularly with supplier leadership.
• Manage the full lifecycle of vendor relationships, including onboarding, governance, performance reviews, and contract compliance.
• Conduct periodic supplier reviews to assess performance, document product roadmaps, and align vendor capabilities with business needs.
• Partner with Operations, Architecture, IT Leadership, and other stakeholders to define and document vendor capabilities and requirements.
• Identify opportunities to rationalize the existing technology footprint and explore emerging technologies through proofs of concept.
• Establish, monitor, and report supplier performance against KPIs, SLAs, and contractual commitments.
• Develop quantitative analyses and executive reports to drive supplier accountability and continuous improvement.
• Proactively identify and resolve operational challenges, risks, and opportunities within the vendor portfolio.
• Ensure suppliers consistently meet contractual, service, and compliance requirements while driving operational excellence and innovation.
• Develop innovative commercial models and negotiation strategies in partnership with Sourcing to support financial savings objectives.
• Conduct Total Cost of Ownership analyses, evaluating direct and indirect costs to inform vendor decisions and improve cost efficiency.
• Translate technology requirements into vendor-specific solutions aligned with multi-year capital and operating expense plans.
• Develop and present vendor spend forecasts, segmented by capital and operating expenses, to Finance and IT Leadership.
• Ensure technology investments are integrated with financial plans and enterprise priorities.
• Collaborate with Sourcing, IT, Architecture, Finance, Legal, and business teams to align vendor strategies with organizational objectives.
• Provide strategic insights and recommendations to executives while engaging effectively with technical teams and individual contributors.
• Support business case development, market analysis, value assessments, and alternative sourcing strategies.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, operational efficiency, and improved business outcomes through vendor partnerships.
• Represent vendor strategy at both executive and operational levels, adapting communication to diverse stakeholders.

Skills

Vendor management

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Contract negotiation

Strategic thinking

Financial analysis

Project management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT/Business

Master’s degree in Business or related field

Tools

SAP Ariba

Coupa

ServiceNow

GEP

Job description

Spectraforce seeks an Senior Program Manager – IT Technology Vendor Management to lead strategic vendor initiatives across Tier-1/Tier-2 suppliers. This role focuses on optimizing technology investments, governance, and cost efficiency within Oakland’s hybrid office environment.

You will collaborate across Operations, Architecture, Sourcing, Finance, Legal, and IT Leadership to define requirements, monitor performance, and align spend with multi-year capital and operating plans.