Vendor Relations Manager

Nicely Co.; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Nicely Co. is seeking a Vendor Relations Manager to strengthen responsible purchasing, vendor evaluation, inventory visibility, logistics, cost awareness, and supplier relationships.

This role will transform priorities into clear, dependable work while partnering with colleagues across functions in an early-stage company. The successful candidate will turn priorities into documented plans, own day-to-day activities, and help build scalable processes that can mature with the company.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated capability in responsible purchasing, vendor evaluation, inventory visibility, logistics, cost awareness and supplier relationships.
• Judgment and ownership appropriate for the Vendor Relations Manager scope.
• Strong written and verbal communication with both specialists and cross-functional partners.
• Ability to organize ambiguous work, make progress independently, and document decisions.
• Experience in an early-stage environment or startup is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day work across responsible purchasing, vendor evaluation, inventory visibility, logistics, cost awareness, and supplier relationships.
• Translate the priorities of the Vendor Relations Manager role into documented plans, decisions, and measurable outcomes.
• Build lightweight, repeatable processes that fit an early-stage company and can mature over time.
• Collaborate across functions to resolve dependencies and deliver complete outcomes.
• Identify risks early, recommend proportionate solutions, and escalate consequential decisions.
• Maintain accurate documentation and handle company, customer, and employee information responsibly.
• Use relevant evidence and feedback to improve quality, efficiency, and stakeholder experience.
• Communicate progress, constraints, priorities, and results clearly to affected teammates.

Skills

Vendor relations

Procurement

Inventory visibility

Logistics

Cost awareness

Supplier relationships

Communication

Education

Relevant education or certification

Tools

Procurement tools

Job description

Help build Nicely Co.'s responsible purchasing, vendor evaluation, inventory visibility, logistics, cost awareness, and supplier relationships as Vendor Relations Manager, with meaningful ownership in an early-stage company.

Position overview

Nicely Co. is seeking a Vendor Relations Manager to strengthen responsible purchasing, vendor evaluation, inventory visibility, logistics, cost awareness, and supplier relationships. This role will turn company priorities into clear, dependable work while partnering directly with colleagues across functions.Nicely Co. is an early-stage company, so this position will help create the processes and internal systems behind the work, not merely inherit a mature playbook. The successful candidate will use sound judgment, communicate tradeoffs, and operate with appropriate autonomy.Responsibilities may evolve as the company grows. This is an opportunity to influence how the Procurement & Supply Chain function develops, establish useful standards, and leave behind systems that scale responsibly.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day work across responsible purchasing, vendor evaluation, inventory visibility, logistics, cost awareness, and supplier relationships.
• Translate the priorities of the Vendor Relations Manager role into documented plans, decisions, and measurable outcomes.
• Build lightweight, repeatable processes that fit an early-stage company and can mature over time.
• Collaborate across functions to resolve dependencies and deliver complete outcomes.
• Identify risks early, recommend proportionate solutions, and escalate consequential decisions.
• Maintain accurate documentation and handle company, customer, and employee information responsibly.
• Use relevant evidence and feedback to improve quality, efficiency, and stakeholder experience.
• Communicate progress, constraints, priorities, and results clearly to affected teammates.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated capability relevant to responsible purchasing, vendor evaluation, inventory visibility, logistics, cost awareness, and supplier relationships.
• Judgment and ownership appropriate for the Vendor Relations Manager scope.
• Strong written and verbal communication with both specialists and cross-functional partners.
• Ability to organize ambiguous work, make progress independently, and document decisions.
• Comfort building systems in an early-stage environment where priorities may evolve.
• Commitment to ethical conduct, confidentiality, security, accessibility, and inclusive collaboration.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with modern methods and tools used in Procurement & Supply Chain.
• Experience in a startup, small business, or other resource-conscious environment.
• Evidence of improving a workflow, standard, product, service, or measurable outcome.
• Relevant education, certification, portfolio, or equivalent practical experience.
• Flexible work arrangements where applicable.
• Opportunity to help build an early-stage company.
• Direct impact on company growth and operating quality.
• Cross-functional collaboration and professional development opportunities.
• Significant ownership over assigned responsibilities.
• Opportunity for responsibilities to expand as the company grows.