Vendor Management Lead

Eliassen Group; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Eliassen Group seeks a vendor management leader for a hybrid role in Hartford, CT to drive the execution of enterprise vendor management standards. The role requires 8+ years of experience in procurement or vendor management, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to influence without direct authority. Responsibilities include overseeing vendor performance, onboarding, and collaboration with stakeholders. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in vendor management, procurement, or related roles.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to analyze and translate vendor performance data into insights.

Responsibilities

• Own execution of enterprise vendor management standards.
• Drive adoption of core practices like vendor segmentation.
• Serve as primary contact for vendor managers to resolve issues.

Skills

Vendor management

Procurement

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Communication

Change management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

Job description

Overview

Hybrid 3 days onsite in Charlotte, NC. Our client seeks a vendor management leader to drive execution and adoption of an enterprise framework across a federated model. The role will operationalize standards, enable vendor managers, and strengthen governance in partnership with Third Party Risk Management and Procurement. The position requires data-driven insights, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to influence without direct authority. The leader will advance reporting, forums, and remediation practices to improve vendor performance and risk alignment. This is a full-time, permanent opportunity, offering a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. Qualified applicants must be willing and able to work on a W-2 basis.

Responsibilities

• Own execution of enterprise vendor management standards, frameworks, and tools from concept through implementation in partnership with the AVP.
• Drive adoption of core practices, including vendor segmentation and tiering, performance management, governance forums and cadence, and issue management and remediation.
• Serve as primary point of contact for vendor managers by resolving questions, removing roadblocks, and ensuring action closure.
• Interpret and apply enterprise standards in practical, business-relevant ways for vendor managers.
• Support onboarding, training, and enablement through communities of practice, knowledge sharing, and best-practice exchange.
• Partner with Third-Party Risk Management to integrate risk considerations and coordinate audit, regulatory, and issue management activities.
• Collaborate with Procurement, Legal, Finance, and business stakeholders on escalations related to performance, service delivery, compliance, and improvement opportunities.
• Support reporting, dashboards, and insights to improve maturity across the vendor management lifecycle.
• Lead cross-functional execution on initiatives and escalations by setting next steps, tracking progress, and driving timely completion.
• Prepare materials, analyses, and recommendations for senior leadership.
• Build strong working relationships across lines of business, functions, Procurement, and Risk teams.

Experience Requirements

• 8+ years in vendor management, procurement, or related roles within a complex corporate environment; financial services or insurance experience is a plus.
• Proven ability to aggregate, analyze, and translate vendor performance data into insights and actions.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills with influence across levels without direct authority.
• Experience developing and maintaining vendor management policies, standards, processes, roles, and responsibilities.
• Proficiency with vendor management frameworks with strategic and execution focus.
• Familiarity with change management and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Innovative, curious mindset with interest in modern technologies and data-driven approaches.
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed environment, work independently, take ownership, and partner collaboratively to drive outcomes to completion.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.