Director I Vendor Support & Relations

Ahold Delhaize•Pleasant Hill, CA

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands – Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Our associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more. The Director - Vendor Support and Relationship Management will be responsible for developing and implementing vendor management strategies that support the business objectives of Ahold Delhaize USA (ADUSA). This role will oversee the Vendor Support & Relations Mgt team within the Vendor Management Organization (team will consist of 4 Managers and 35+ team members) while developing & maintaining positive and productive relationships with internal stakeholders and external vendor partners. They are responsible for ensuring that the organization's vendor partnerships are well-managed, and vendor performance meets or exceeds expectations. This role will collaborate with every department within all ADUSA entities to optimize vendor-related processes, resolve issues, and drive overall vendor satisfaction across the end-to-end Procure to Pay ecosystem. Accountable for managing an annual Admin budget of approximately $6M. Our flexible/ hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations and 2 remote days. Our core office locations include Salisbury, NC, Quincy, MA, Carlisle, PA, Scarborough, ME, Hyattsville, MD

Requirements

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis until the end of their appointment
Bachelor's degree in business administration, Accounting, Supply Chain Management or related field
8+ years proven leadership experience in vendor management, supplier relations, procurement, or related field
6+ years demonstrated success leading people/teams
Strategic thinker with robust negotiation, influencing, and conflict resolution skills.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to interact with vendors and internal stakeholders effectively.
Analytical mindset with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
Familiarity with vendor risk assessment and mitigation.
Knowledge of contract management and legal aspects related to vendor agreements.
Strong interpersonal & relationship management skills for building, fostering, and maintaining positive and strong professional relationships with VMO team members, vendors and internal business partners.
Excellent customer service skills to optimize ADUSA business reputation.
Detail-oriented and well-organized, capable of managing multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.
Proficiency in using various software tools, including MS Office suite and vendor management platforms.
Strong oral & written communication & presentation skills with keen ability to influence others toward a common goal.
Ability to adapt to changing business needs and work well in a team-oriented environment.
Demonstrated success working in a fast-paced environment handling multiple priorities with aggressive deadlines.
Requires travel – typically 10-20%

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree
Accounting knowledge (Accounts Payable/Receivable, etc.)
Experience in grocery retail/category management
Familiarity with both DA and AUSA existing systems and processes
ME/NC/PA/SC

Responsibilities

Engage teams across the entire Procure-to-Pay ecosystem to accelerate innovation & drive change to optimize vendor-related activities, enhance overall vendor relations and achieve greater business outcomes.
Establish performance metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate vendor performance, address any areas of concerns and promptly escalate critical issues to senior management.
Continuously drive opportunities to optimize vendor management processes without compromising quality or service levels.
Serve as the escalation point of contact for vendor communications, negotiations, and conflict resolution.
Accelerate team development by understanding and leveraging team strengths and making the most of diverse talent.
Build team capabilities through effective execution of team talents & strategies.
Reinforce the sense of purpose within the team and actively engage in ongoing conversations to connect individual and team purpose across all Procure-to-Pay functions.
Coordinate with internal teams to provide support and guidance on vendor-related matters.
Oversee the resolution of vendor-related issues, ensuring timely and effective solutions.
Identify and assess potential risks associated with vendor relationships & implement risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
Monitor vendor compliance with industry regulations and company policies.
Additional job duties may be assigned as needed to meet the needs of the business and support our values.