Oliver Wyman - Head of External Data Vendor Management

Marsh McLennan•New York, NY

1d•$163,000 - $221,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Head of External Data Vendor Management leads Oliver Wyman’s strategy for managing and deriving value from its portfolio of external data and expert vendors. The role shapes vendor strategy, governance, investment priorities, and adoption so consulting teams can effectively access and use external data, research, and expertise to support high-quality client insights and outcomes. The role works across Knowledge Services, consulting teams, Technology, Procurement, Legal, Risk, Finance, practice and capability leaders, and business leadership. It oversees vendor selection and relationships, governance and service-level agreements, external data adoption and integration, budgets and performance measurement, and the use of AI and emerging technologies to improve discovery and access to data and research. It manages and develops a team of approximately 5–8 professionals across locations, setting standards for delivery, accountability, collaboration, and impact. This position is a key member of the Knowledge Services executive team and reports to that team. The position may be eligible for performance-based incentives. Oliver Wyman offers a flexible work environment and follows Marsh’s hybrid-work expectation that colleagues work in their local office or onsite with clients at least three days per week.

Requirements

At least 8 years of progressively senior experience leading External Data, Research, Knowledge, or Information Service Functions.
Enterprise-scale ownership of vendor portfolios, investment strategies, and commercial outcomes.
Demonstrated success evaluating and integrating emerging and AI-enabled capabilities, driving firm-wide adoption, and delivering measurable business value across a large, complex professional services organization.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret complex data, assess spending and vendor performance, and generate actionable insights.
Demonstrated experience managing and developing teams and fostering a collaborative working environment.
A track record of influencing senior stakeholders, navigating competing priorities, and building alignment across functions and teams.
Effective communication and relationship-building skills.
Understanding of emerging AI capabilities and their practical application in data, research, and knowledge-management environments, with the ability to evaluate opportunities that improve how information is accessed, managed, and used.

Nice To Haves

Experience gained within a consulting or professional services environment.
Strategic thinking around vendor portfolios.
AI activation experience and creative ideas around vendor management.
Ability to set a clear strategic vision for a team.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for Oliver Wyman’s external data vendor portfolio.
Evaluate and select vendors against the firm’s consulting needs, establish effective governance and service-level agreements, and build long-term vendor relationships aligned with organizational objectives.
Identify and unlock value from vendor data sources, integrate external data into existing frameworks and methodologies, and promote effective usage and data-management practices.
Evaluate emerging technologies and lead initiatives using AI and vendor capabilities to improve how consultants discover, access, and derive value from external data, research, and knowledge resources.
Develop and manage budgets for external data procurement; analyze spending patterns and vendor performance; and identify cost savings and opportunities to improve service delivery.
Use metrics and KPIs to evaluate vendor performance and return on investment and support data-driven investment decisions.
Lead, coach, and develop a team of approximately 5–8 professionals, fostering collaboration, continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and professional development while setting clear standards for delivery, accountability, and impact.
Work with the Global Head of Managed Services, regional leadership, and senior stakeholders to align data-management strategies with broader organizational goals.
Act as a trusted advisor on vendor strategy, market developments, and external data capabilities, and represent Oliver Wyman in relevant external forums and industry events.
Enable enterprise-wide adoption and self-service access to external data, including final-mile enablement that turns investment into client impact.