Director, IT Vendor Liaison

Transamerica•Cedar Rapids, IA

2d•$156,000 - $178,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Enterprise Technology (formerly Global Technology Services) is a global organization within Transamerica. We provide dedicated support to Transamerica and we bring all of Aegon's business units together through the use of technology. We provide the backbone - the infrastructure - for how everything works. We’re creating the company’s AI environment, building a flexible ‘cloud experience’ for internal hosting services, designing frameworks for data governance and management, and ensuring the security and stability the company’s technology. In short, we enable the business units to move more quickly and deliver to our clients in the best possible way. Whether customers are interested in insurance products or annuities or financial services, we're here to ensure they don't have to worry whether their information is safe. The people we employ are incredibly diverse, both in terms of backgrounds and skill sets. There are over 1,000 of us representing a dozen or so nationalities and located in the UK, the US, the Netherlands, and Hungary, Spain, and Hong Kong. Our global teams are comprised of experts in the areas such as application development, information security, infrastructure services, data & analytics, risk & controls, procurement, program management, and architecture. With the breadth of functions within Enterprise Technology, individuals can pursue a wide variety of careers, and we have a focus on supporting employees’ development. In particular, our Talent Marketplace enables colleagues to take on gigs to broaden their experience and try out different responsibilities, which can be extremely rewarding. The most important quality in the people who join us is curiosity. A lot of what we do is problem solving, requiring colleagues to take what they know and apply it to new situations. We have many mature processes, but we’re always looking for opportunities to improve, so we want people who are naturally inquisitive and confident enough to challenge the way we do things. Technology is constantly, rapidly changing – we need you to help us continue to change with it. Job Description Summary: The Director, Vendor Liaison is a strategic leader responsible for overseeing the lifecycle of IT third-party technology vendors, ensuring alignment with Enterprise Technology goals, optimizing vendor performance, and mitigating risk. This role partners closely with IT leaders, procurement, finance, risk, and legal teams to drive value, innovation, and compliance across the vendor ecosystem.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in in business administration, operations management, or applicable field, or equivalent experience.
10+ years of relevant experience, including five years working directly with vendors.
Thorough knowledge of vendor management best practices and industry trends.
Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing to a broad audience.
Project management, organization and prioritization skills to handle multiple projects.
Decision-making and problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience in vendor management, IT sourcing, or technology procurement.
Proven leadership in managing complex vendor ecosystems within large-scale IT environments.
Strong negotiation, financial acumen, and contract management skills.
Familiarity with ITIL, COBIT, or other IT governance frameworks.
Experience with TBM (Technology Business Management) principles is a plus.
Executive presence with strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Analytical mindset with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive strategic outcomes in a fast-paced environment.
Extensive knowledge of accounting functions (e.g. reporting, investments, insurance products,), technology or operations, depending on governance support role.

Responsibilities

Strategic Vendor Oversight Develop and execute the Technology-wide vendor management strategy for IT services, software, infrastructure, and outsourcing.
Establish governance frameworks for vendor selection, onboarding, performance monitoring, and offboarding in partnership with global risk and strategic sourcing teams.
Performance & Relationship Management Lead vendor scorecard development and quarterly business reviews to ensure service delivery, SLAs, and KPIs are met.
Partner across enterprise functions to ensure performance and governance frameworks are supportive of organizational guiderails and goals.
Foster strategic partnerships with key vendors to drive innovation, cost savings, and continuous improvement.
Act as a point of escalation to resolve vendor disputes and support issue resolution.
Contract & Financial Management Collaborate with procurement and legal to negotiate contracts, renewals, and amendments.
Monitor and forecast vendor spend and identify cost optimization opportunities.
Support IT teams in defining objective terms and expectations for vendors that align execution with expected outcomes.
Risk & Compliance Ensure vendors comply with regulatory, cybersecurity, and data privacy requirements.
Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation plans for critical vendor relationships in alignment with third-party risk management.
Cross-Functional Partnership and Leadership Partner across enterprise functions to ensure that global standards and expectations are enforced while representing Enterprise Technology in processes and ways of working.
Partner with IT service owners, finance, and business stakeholders to align vendor pool and capabilities with technology roadmaps.
Lead vendor-related transformation initiatives, including outsourcing transitions and vendor consolidation.

Benefits

Compensation Benefits
Competitive Pay
Bonus for Eligible Employees
Benefits Package
Pension Plan
401k Match
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Tuition Reimbursement
Disability Insurance
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Employee Discounts
Career Training & Development Opportunities
Health and Work/Life Balance Benefits
Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service.
Ten (10) paid holidays per year (typically mirroring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holidays).
Be Well Company holistic wellness program, which includes Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars
Parental Leave – fifteen (15) days of paid parental leave per calendar year to eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth, placement of an adopted child, or placement of a foster care child.
Adoption Assistance
Employee Assistance Program
Back-Up Care Program
PTO for Volunteer Hours
Employee Matching Gifts Program
Employee Resource Groups
Inclusion and Diversity Programs
Employee Recognition Program
Referral Bonus Programs