Director of Vendor Partnerships

Supply Chimp•New York, NY

1d•$125,000 - $140,000

About The Position

We are looking for a results-oriented, strategic Director of Vendor Partnerships to join our growing team. In this critical leadership role, you will own the growth, performance, and profitability of our vendor ecosystem while leading both the Vendor Partnerships and Vendor Operations teams, ensuring strong relationships, operational excellence, and continuous value creation for the business. You will serve as the primary liaison for key vendors, drive strategic sourcing and negotiations, and ensure our product catalog remains competitive through accurate data, optimal costing, and strong availability. If you thrive on building high-performing vendor relationships, hitting aggressive KPIs, and creating strong partnerships that drive mutual success, this is an outstanding opportunity to make a direct impact on Supply Chimp’s growth. This role operates in a fast-paced and high-accountability environment. This is not a maintenance-focused role. The environment requires adaptability, ownership, and a willingness to step into problems directly. You will regularly manage shifting priorities, tight proposal timelines, supplier coordination challenges, and ambiguity across government opportunities. Success in this role requires balancing speed, accuracy, communication, and decision-making under pressure.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in supply chain negotiation and rapport-building with proven examples
5+ years of experience managing Vendor/Category teams
Ability to travel as needed to trade shows or in-person Vendor meetings (up to 10-20% job travel)
Exceptional high-level problem-solving skills with the ability to quickly analyze complex situations, identify root causes, develop creative solutions, and drive effective outcomes
Advanced communication skills (written, oral, and in-person)

Nice To Haves

Previous Inventory/Warehouse management is a plus

Responsibilities

Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with strategic vendor partners from onboarding through long-term collaboration
Lead, mentor, and develop the Vendor Partnerships and Vendor Operations teams to ensure strategic alignment and achievement of team and individual KPIs
Oversee tactical and strategic sourcing initiatives supporting Business Development, Contracting, and Program Management
Optimize sourcing strategies for both one-off purchases and repeat catalog buys
Design and implement vendor communication strategies, scorecards, and corrective action processes that promote collaboration and drive results
Analyze vendor performance data and implement continuous improvement initiatives to address gaps and elevate standards
Act as the primary escalation point for vendor issues and lead critical vendor communications and initiatives
Monitor and manage demand forecasting processes, providing timely insights to vendors to support inventory planning and availability
Collaborate cross-functionally to anticipate needs, resolve challenges, and align vendor capabilities with business priorities
Proactively identify and onboard new vendors through market research, data analysis, trade shows, and industry networks
Negotiate and secure profitable outcomes, including cost reductions, rebates, inventory terms, and catalog improvements
Support Business Development proposals through product and supply chain expertise, Letters of Supply, market basket quoting, and proposal review participation
Drive product lifecycle management strategy by ensuring scalable processes, system integrity, and alignment with business objectives
Define and drive vendor rebate program strategies aligned with revenue targets and vendor growth objectives