Associate Director, Vendor Management - Office & Travel

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP•New York, NY

3d•$200,000 - $250,000

About The Position

This role will oversee the Firm’s vendor management function, which consists of 6-9 vendor management professionals and will collaborate closely with an internal IT Department vendor management function and the Office of the General Counsel. The vendor management function currently facilitates Firm third-party vendor strategic sourcing, contract administration, purchasing and supplier relationship management initiatives. This role will lead initiatives to enhance policies, controllership and capabilities within the vendor management function. In addition, this role will oversee the outsourced travel management company and group hotel bookings. This role will be a key point of contact between the Firm's leadership team, business services stakeholders, the vendor management team and the travel management team, reporting directly to the Director of Business Operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited university required in Supply Chain, Business, Economics, Management, or related field
7+ years of management experience
10+ years of procurement / vendor management experience
Experience working with outsourced support staff
Strong interpersonal, leadership and communication skills
Demonstrated project management and change management skills
Self-starter with the ability to prioritize in a multi-tasking environment
Expertise in vendor contract management, negotiations, and ongoing relationship management
Flexibility, time management and ability to prioritize tasks and deadlines
Critical thinking and solution-oriented mindset
Commitment to superior quality and accuracy
Willingness to learn and adapt to change
Experience creating and presenting analysis for business decisions
Strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work effectively with a strong customer service mindset
Experience using Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint

Nice To Haves

Masters degree preferred

Responsibilities

Procurement & Vendor Management Strategy Design and implement a firm-wide procurement program, unifying purchasing activities across business functions, and third party resources
Collaborate internally and with third party resources to develop standardized procurement processes and policies (intake, sourcing, contracting, renewals, and vendor management) to improve visibility and efficiency across the Firm
Drive the Firmwide communication and rollout of procurement, travel policies and procedures and ensure effective policy enforcement
Execute vendor management strategies and special projects aligned with Firm leadership priorities
Promote vendor management goals and initiatives to Firm leadership and key stakeholders
Lead contract management, sourcing, financial negotiations, and ongoing relationship management with vendors
Own vendor contracting activities across sourcing, intake, contracting, renewals, and performance management
Proactively identify opportunities to enhance or expand the scope of vendor services
Oversee the Firm’s travel program, including management of the outsourced travel management company
Lead contracting with hotels for Firm-sponsored events and group bookings
Coordinate group hotel bookings with the travel management team and internal stakeholders, including event sponsors and the Client Development and Engagement team
Ensure seamless execution, cost efficiency, and alignment with Firm travel and event policies
Serve as a key point of contact between Firm leadership, the Office of the General Counsel, IT, Client Development and Engagement, Finance, Real Estate, Knowledge & Innovation, Project Management Office, and the outsourced travel management company and other third-party resources
Collaborate with internal and third-party resources to develop standardized procurement and vendor management processes, improving visibility, efficiency, and consistency across the Firm
Build strong working relationships and act as a liaison to identify, address, and resolve operational and change management challenges
Proactively evaluate procurement and vendor management technologies to drive process improvements, efficiency gains, and scalability
Drive change management and stakeholder adoption of new procurement processes through clear communication, training, and implementation support
Build a scalable operating model that evolves with the Firm’s growth and changing technology landscape
Oversee development and implementation of measurement tools and reporting to track vendor performance, outcomes, and efficiency
Ensure outsourced provider service delivery meets Firm standards and contractual obligations
Oversee the vendor management team to ensure effective service delivery and operational excellence