Vendor Management Coordinator

Western National Insurance; Edina (MN); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Western National Insurance is seeking a Vendor Management Coordinator to enhance their vendor management program. This role includes responsibilities such as vendor onboarding, monitoring contracts, and maintaining relationships with vendors. They value strong organizational skills, with a preference for candidates holding a bachelor’s degree. This position supports flexible work environments and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

401(k) Plan with matching

Paid Time Off

100% company-paid tuition reimbursement

Wellbeing Program

Flexible work environment

Qualifications

• Prior experience in a customer-focused or administrative position required.
• Experience working between internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Supports vendor management including portfolio maintenance and vendor performance tracking.
• Facilitates due diligence and onboarding processes for vendors.
• Creates purchase orders and manages invoice processes for IT.

Skills

Organization

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Description

Who are we?

Western National Insurance Group is a private mutual insurance company with over 120 years of experience serving customers' property-and-casualty insurance needs in the Midwestern, Northwestern, and Southwestern United States. Known as “The Relationship Company,” we define success as a measure of the relationships we’ve built over time. In everything that we do, we know that delivering a friendly and helpful interaction makes for a better experience for everyone involved. That’s the power of “nice”. At Western National, nice is something we work to bring to every person and organization with whom we partner and serve.

Does this opportunity interest you?

Western National is seeking a Vendor Management Coordinator to join our team!

The individual in this role will have the opportunity to provide support for the vendor / supplier management program. The individual in this role will provide support for internal sourcing, financial, and security requirements around vendor engagements and operational requirements.

What are the responsibilities and opportunities of this role?

• Supports best practices in the creation, expansion, and ongoing management of a global vendor portfolio, which includes vendor contacts and escalation paths, contracts and service orders, maintenance and support renewals, vendor spend, and vendor performance tracking.
• Monitors and manages the vendor management inbox for contract-related communications, including renewal notices, legal correspondence, and RFPs. Routes items to appropriate team members or leadership and assigns follow-up tasks in the contract management system, as directed.
• Facilitates the due diligence and onboarding process of potential vendors and supports the offboarding of vendors. Supports activities, including entering vendor information in the contract management system and inactivating vendors in the system, as needed.
• Creates purchase orders and obtains appropriate approvals in accordance with established procurement procedures.
• Manages the IT invoice process and related inbox, including tracking incoming invoices, routing for necessary approvals, and ensuring timely and accurate processing.
• Utilizes the vendor management platform to add, maintain, track, and organize third-party vendor information and documents to ensure data accuracy and consistency.
• Develops and maintains strong working relationships with vendors and provides excellent service to internal and external partners.
• Maintains strong working relationships with vendors and provides excellent service to internal and external partners.
• Performs activities for vendor management processes, standards, metrics tracking, and reporting.
• Manages contract renewals and procurement of hardware and software that are less complex and have small spend.
• Assists in identifying and documenting process requirements for improved operational efficiencies.
• Applies knowledge to help solve problems of limited scope and complexity.
• Chooses from established alternative approaches to find a solution.
• Makes suggestions to improve work methods and procedures.
• Consistently acts according to our customer experience standards, including responding quickly, maintaining a positive attitude, building rapport, demonstrating empathy, managing the customer’s expectations, using the proper communication channel for the situation, and taking ownership to ensure the customer’s issue is resolved.
• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned.

Requirements

What are the must-have qualifications for a candidate?

• Prior experience in a customer focused or administrative position required (vendor / service provider management experience preferred).
• Experience working between internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient use of various core systems, office and computer equipment, and software packages.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; experience in lieu of degree acceptable.

What will our ideal candidate have?

• Demonstrated organizational skills with the ability to prioritize responsibilities and meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated with the ability to learn new concepts, technologies, and processes.
• Demonstrated basic decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of purchasing, procurement, and contract management.
• Experience with databases and legal or billing documentation.

Compensation overview

The targeted hiring range for this role is $28.60 - $37.73, hourly. However, the base pay offered may vary depending on the job-related knowledge, skills, credentials, and experience of each candidate as well as other factors such as the scope and location of the role. Candidates looking for compensation outside of the posted range are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on their individual qualifications and / or may be considered for other positions.

Culture and Total Rewards

Western National has long been known as “The Relationship Company” and caring for our employees is part of that relationship commitment. We value connectiveness, empowerment, and accountability, and we believe that our employees are our biggest asset.

Currently ranked as the 41st largest private company by revenue in Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal), Western National has earned accolades year-over-year as an employer of choice and garnered multiple awards for wellness in the workplace. Western National has also been named a Top Workplace by the Star Tribune for the past four consecutive years. In addition, the Group is consistently recognized as a Ward’s 50 property-and-casualty insurance company for its outstanding financial results.

Western National offers full-time employees a significant Total Rewards Package, including:

• Medical insurance plan options and other standard employee benefits, including dental insurance, vision benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and more!
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) Plan (participants are eligible for 100% matching on the first 6% of their contributions)
• Wellbeing Program, including onsite fitness studio
• Paid Time Off – including holiday, vacation, and volunteer
• 100% company-paid tuition reimbursement for approved job-relevant coursework and access to The Institutes (Risk and insurance education)
• Paid parental leave
• Bonus opportunities

Western National believes in supporting balance between work and life by providing a flexible work environment, which includes a variety of hybrid and remote work arrangements designed to balance individual, job, department, and company needs.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Western National provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.