Sr. Vendor Relations Specialist II

Pacific Life Insurance Company; Newport Beach, Charlotte (CA, NC); On-site; CAD 178,000 - 217,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Parental leave

401k matching

Job summary

Pacific Life Insurance Company in Newport Beach, CA or Charlotte, NC seeks a Sr. Vendor Relations Specialist to manage vendor partnerships and drive performance.

You will lead communications, monitor SLAs, and collaborate with IT, data teams, and operations to optimize vendor support and cost efficiency.

The role requires 5+ years of related experience and a 4-year degree; base pay ranges from $124,830 to $152,570 with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in vendor relations or IT vendor management.
• Strong customer service mindset and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal guidance.
• Understanding of outsourcing pricing models.
• Experience with IT vendors and data analytics.

Responsibilities

• Foster strong vendor partnerships and act as liaison.
• Lead vendor performance monitoring and SLA adherence.
• Coordinate weekly/monthly performance meetings.
• Ensure contract and invoicing compliance.
• Collaborate with data teams to analyze vendor data.
• Support cross-functional teams on vendor initiatives.

Skills

Customer service

Independent worker

Communication

Leadership

Analytical skills

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Job Description:

Providing for loved ones, planning rewarding retirements, saving enough for whatever lies ahead – our policyholders count on us to be there when it matters most. It’s a big ask, but it’s one that we have the power to deliver when we work together. We collaborate and innovate – pushing one another to transform not just Pacific Life, but the entire industry for the better. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do. Pacific Life is more than a job, it’s a career with purpose. It’s a career where you have the support, balance, and resources to make a positive impact on the future – including your own.

We’re actively seeking a talented Sr. Vendor Relations Specialist in our Newport Beach, CA or Charlotte, NC office.

• This role is on-site. You’ll work at our Newport Beach, CA or Charlotte, NC office.

Vendor Relationship Management

• Cultivate and nurture strong working relationships with vendors to foster productive and collaborative partnerships.

• Act as liaison between company and vendors, ensuring clear communication and mutual understanding as appropriate for the relationship.

• Drive moderately complex initiatives, bringing in new perspectives to solve business problems with a goal of improving customer experience and operational efficiency.

• Provides guidance for the documentation of procedural changes in partnership with the Knowledge Management team to support vendor processing and related Pacific Life processes as needed.

• Proficient knowledge in supporting Technology areas ranging from Incident Management, SaaS, Cloud and Hybrid Environments, Data Centers, IT Operations and more.

Performance Monitoring

• Lead vendor performance monitoring to identify trends and implement changes as appropriate.

• Identify areas for improvement and collaborate with vendors and senior team members to implement necessary changes.

• Collaborate with internal teams to identify and communicate vendor opportunity trends that support our strategic goals.

• Lead weekly/monthly vendor performance calls, as assigned to discuss performance metrics, improvements, and feedback, leading as necessary.

• Keep track of service level agreements (SLAs) and quality standards with vendors to ensure that commitments are met and exceeded when possible.

• Establish best practices, ensuring contract/invoicing compliance, maintain pricing oversight and adherence to fee approval limits.

Communication and Service Support

• Serve as primary point of contact for vendor inquiries, addressing questions and resolving day-to-day issues as appropriate with minimal guidance form senior team members.

• Foster open lines of communication to promote transparency and effective collaboration.

• Provide timely responses to vendor-related inquiries, maintaining a high level of professionalism and accuracy.

• Keep vendors informed about relevant initiatives, changes, and updates that impact the vendor relationship.

• Partner closely with internal teams to enhance the vendor experience and address any challenges collaboratively.

• Works closely with Data teams to leverage, interpret, and apply sound analytics to internal and external data sources to support informed decision making.

• Ensures all assigned initiatives adhere to Ops project oversight expectations; Stakeholder needs and business requirements vetted and documented, business impacts evaluated, project outcomes/ decisions tracked and communicated; Keeps tasks in line with project scope through completion; Collaborates effectively with business partners across enterprise to gain consensus and ensure long term sustainability while meeting objectives; Feedback sought and/or provided to measure and evolve shape work quality.

• Viewed as the SME by the Business Operations area on any assigned vendor relationships and is highly regarded as a key partner in managing the day-to-day operations. Feedback received from Business Operations should be reflective of this partnership, criticality of this role and ability to drive outcomes with our vendors.

• Visible and active participant in any issues related to the assigned vendor relationships with an eye towards identifying and communicating ways in which business operations can run more effectively/efficiently within the context of the vendor engagement.

The experience you bring

5+ years relevant experience, demonstrating the following:

• Strong desire to deliver a superior customer service experience.

• Ability to work independently with minimal instruction, guidance, and direction from others.

• Ability to communicate in writing moderately complex thoughts and ideas, verbally and in writing.

• Proficient in Life insurance and Annuity operations activities and strong understanding of various outsourcing pricing models.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office with aptitude for Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint

• Solid understanding of project management processes/methodologies.

• Experience working in the IT sector and/or managing IT vendor relationships.

• Strong analytics skills.

• Strong critical thinking skills.

• Proficient Leadership skills- ability to prioritize and manage completing priorities.

• 4-year degree or equivalent experience.

You can be who you are.

People come first here. We’re committed to an inclusive workforce. Learn more about how we create a welcoming work environment at www.pacificlife.com. What’s life like at Pacific Life? Visit Instagram.com/lifeatpacificlife.

#LI-TM1

Base Pay Range:

The base pay range noted represents the company’s good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of posting. The actual compensation offered to a candidate will be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to experience, qualifications and geographic location. Also, most employees are eligible for additional incentive pay.

$124,830.00 - $152,570.00

Your Benefits Start Day 1

Your wellbeing is important to Pacific Life, and we’re committed to providing you with flexible benefits that you can tailor to meet your needs. Whether you are focusing on your physical, financial, emotional, or social wellbeing, we’ve got you covered.

• Prioritization of your health and well-being including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Wellbeing Reimbursement Account that can be used on yourself or your eligible dependents

• Generous paid time off options including: Paid Time Off, Holiday Schedules, and Financial Planning Time Off

• Paid Parental Leave as well as an Adoption Assistance Program

• Competitive 401k savings plan with company match and an additional contribution regardless of participation

You Can Be Who You Are

We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces the authenticity of all employees, partners and communities. We support all employees to thrive and achieve their fullest potential.

What’s life like at Pacific Life? Visit Instagram.com/lifeatpacificlife

EEO Statement:

Pacific Life Insurance Company is an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer, M/F/D/V. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact a Human Resources Representative at Pacific Life Insurance Company.