Strategic Vendor & Contract Manager

Vermont Mutual Insurance Group; Montpelier (VT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Vermont Mutual Insurance Group is seeking a detail-oriented Vendor Management Specialist to own contracting and vendor procurement from drafting to negotiation, build scalable processes, and lead third‑party risk management. You’ll connect Legal, Finance, IT Security, and other teams relying on external vendors.

The ideal candidate has hands-on procurement contract experience, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and enjoys building process and structure from the ground up.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in vendor or contract management, preferably within the insurance or financial services industry.
• Strong negotiation, organization, and communication skills.
• Experience managing contract databases and third-party risk frameworks.
• Excellent interpersonal skills providing the ability to work effectively with other company personnel, as well as vendors and others outside the company.
• Proficient with PC applications, including Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement procurement strategies aligned with company goals and regulatory requirements.
• Own end-to-end procurement process from requisition through vendor selection, negotiation, diligence, security assessment, and invoice payment.
• Analyze vendor bids and proposals to ensure favorable terms.
• Oversee vendor governance, performance tracking, risk assessment, and renewal or offboarding decisions.
• Collaborate with Legal to streamline contract management and identify risks.
• Track contract renewals, key dates, and maintain a current contract repository.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to third‑party relationships, including data security and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor market trends and pricing to identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Support budgeting and forecasting with procurement data and insights.
• Coordinate with Facilities and IT to create purchase orders and monitor supplies and deliveries
• Assist senior Finance leaders with special projects and reporting.

Skills

Vendor management

Contract negotiation

Procurement processes

Cross-functional collaboration

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance

Tools

Contract databases

Third‑party risk frameworks

Job description

Vermont Mutual Insurance Group is seeking a detail-oriented Vendor Management Specialist to own contracting and vendor procurement from drafting to negotiation, build scalable processes, and lead third‑party risk management. You’ll connect Legal, Finance, IT Security, and other teams relying on external vendors.

The ideal candidate has hands-on procurement contract experience, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and enjoys building process and structure from the ground up.