IT Vendor Management and Contracts Lead

Rockwell Automation•Mayfield Heights, OH

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The IT Vendor Management and Contracts Lead will establish and lead an enterprise capability focused on maximizing the value and performance of strategic technology vendor relationships. The role develops the IT Vendor Management strategy and operating model, establishes governance and performance standards with executive-level agreement, and leads strategic vendor reviews and escalations. It aligns partners across IT and non-IT functions, including Procurement, Finance, Legal, Enterprise Architecture, Cybersecurity, Risk, and IT Asset Management. The position calls for commercial judgment, technology experience, and leadership. It manages vendors holistically across contracts, costs, performance, relationships, risk, and outcomes, serving as an intermediary among the organization, technology vendors, and company partners. The role reports to the Director of IT Business Operations and Results Delivery Office and is hybrid, based at either the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, or Cleveland, Ohio office.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience.
Legal authorization to work in the United States; employment visa sponsorship is not available for this opening.
Experience in IT vendor management, supplier relationship management, IT strategic sourcing, contract management, and technology procurement.
Track record of meeting measurable goals related to savings and revenue.
Expertise managing complex, high-value technology vendor relationships.
Experience with technology agreements involving software, SaaS, cloud, hardware, telecommunications, IT services, managed services, or professional services.
Knowledge of commercial negotiations, pricing models, statements of work, service levels, renewals, contractual commitments, and performance remedies.
Experience establishing vendor scorecards, indicators, governance forums, executive reviews, and corrective-action plans.
Ability to analyze financial, contractual, operational, performance, asset-use, and risk data.
Experience collaborating with Procurement, Finance, Legal, Cybersecurity and Risk, Enterprise Architecture, IT Operations, and business leadership.
Contract negotiation, facilitation, conflict-resolution, and partner-management skills.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, finance, information technology, engineering, computer science, or a related field.
Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement the IT Vendor Management strategy, charter, operating model, governance framework, and performance standards.
Establish vendor segmentation based on business criticality, relationship potential, spend, risk, performance, and strategic relevance.
Develop vendor strategies aligned with IT, business-unit, and enterprise technology roadmaps.
Lead executive business reviews, strategic vendor reviews, commercial reviews, performance reviews, and escalation meetings.
Partner with IT Strategic Sourcing on sourcing strategies and negotiations with strategic vendors, including spending thresholds, renewals, pricing, statements of work, service levels, and contract changes.
Establish and operate the IT vendor contract-governance process to ensure new agreements, renewals, statements of work, and material contract changes are assessed against CIO-approved Vendor Contract Standards and applicable Design Authority requirements before approval.
Ensure software, SaaS, cloud, managed-service, technology-service, and developer agreements receive a documented conformity assessment, including documentation of deviations from Design Authority principles and detailed design.
Document, review, escalate, and approve material deviations through the appropriate governance process.
Establish controls, reporting, and evidence demonstrating compliance with Vendor Contract Standards, including contract-clause adoption, Design Authority assessments, approved deviations or exceptions, remediation actions, and upcoming renewals.