Director, Vendor Management Office

The Hartford•Hartford, CT

6d•$124,000 - $186,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re determined to make a difference and are proud to be an insurance company that goes well beyond coverages and policies. Working here means having every opportunity to achieve your goals – and to help others accomplish theirs, too. Join our team as we help shape the future. The Director, Vendor Management Office is a senior leader within the Strategic Sourcing & Real Estate organization (SSRE) responsible for driving the execution and adoption of the enterprise vendor management framework within a federated operating model, where vendor managers are embedded within lines of business (LOBs) and functions. Reporting to the AVP, Vendor Management Office, the Director will take end-to-end ownership of key initiatives—working both independently and collaboratively across stakeholders to drive work through to completion. The role will focus on operationalizing standards, enabling vendor managers, driving consistent governance practices, and partnering closely with Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) and Procurement to ensure vendors are managed effectively. This role can have a hybrid or remote work arrangement. For remote consideration, candidates must be based in the Northeast region within driving distance of our Connecticut (Hartford) or New Jersey office locations. Candidates who live near Hartford will have an expectation of working in the office in alignment with our hybrid work schedule (currently three days per week, Tuesday through Thursday). Candidates who live near other office locations may have a similar expectation or may have a remote work arrangement depending on location. Remote candidates must be able to come into the CT or NJ office as business needs arise.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in vendor management, procurement, or related role within a complex corporate environment; experience in financial services or insurance industry a plus
Proven track record aggregating, analyzing, and translating vendor performance data into insights and actions
Strong problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills; able to influence across levels without direct authority
Experience developing and maintaining vendor management policies, standards, processes, roles, and responsibilities
Proficient in vendor management frameworks with a strong strategic and execution mindset
Familiarity with change management and continuous improvement methodologies
Innovative, curious mindset with an interest in modern technologies and data-driven approaches
Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed environment, working independently, taking ownership, and partnering collaboratively to drive outcomes to completion
Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience

Responsibilities

Own the execution of enterprise vendor management standards, frameworks, and tools—driving deliverables from concept through implementation in partnership with the AVP.
Drive consistent adoption of core practices, including: Vendor segmentation and tiering Performance management Governance forums and cadence Issue management and remediation practices
Serve as a primary point of contact for vendor managers—owning questions, removing roadblocks, and ensuring actions are driven to closure.
Help vendor managers interpret and apply enterprise standards in practical, business-relevant ways.
Support onboarding, training, and ongoing enablement through communities of practice, knowledge sharing, and best-practice exchange.
Partner with Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) to integrate risk considerations into vendor management practices and coordinate audit, regulatory, and issue management activities.
Partner with Procurement, Legal, Finance, and business stakeholders to resolve escalations related to vendor performance, service delivery, compliance, and improvement opportunities.
Support vendor management reporting, dashboards, and insights to drive ongoing maturity improvements across the vendor management lifecycle.
Lead cross-functional execution on initiatives and escalations—setting clear next steps, tracking progress, and driving timely completion.
Prepare materials, analysis, and recommendations for senior leadership.
Build strong working relationships across LOBs, functions, Procurement, and Risk teams.