Lead - Vendor Management

Freshworks•San Mateo, CA

1d•$105,000 - $130,000

About The Position

Freshworks is looking for a Lead - Vendor Management to join and help transform the Procurement team. This person will be responsible for helping mature and develop a scalable vendor management process. The Vendor Management function supports supplier onboarding, contract routing and triaging of sourcing requests. Over time the role will expand into further operational improvements in the procurement process such as vendor compliance, company standards, vendor financial stability, risk assessments and contract management. This is an opportunity to help direct the future of the Freshworks vendor management program, collaborating cross functionally with Sourcing and other internal stakeholder partners.

Requirements

5+ year’s experience in vendor management or procurement
Experience in establishing work processes, quality, productivity standards and policies/procedures in procurement.
Experience and understanding of the full P2P processes.
Knowledge of procurement tools and processes.
Ability to show strong communication and collaboration capabilities.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the operational onboarding for new vendors, ensuring they follow company requirements
Support internal stakeholders and suppliers on a smooth onboarding process.
Manage the operations of contract routing
Alignment in procurement for consistent contract management
Providing support for internal business stakeholder engagement with the procurement team
Triaging of sourcing requests so it routes through the proper process.
Ensure all active vendors maintain up-to-date documentation, including insurance certificates, NDAs, diversity certifications, and compliance records.
Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) tailored to different vendor tiers.
Design and implement supplier scorecards to track delivery performance, quality, and cost competitiveness.
Perform continuous risk assessments on the supplier base, identifying potential vulnerabilities (financial, geographical, operational, or geopolitical).
Develop and maintain contingency plans (dual-sourcing strategies, safety stock targets) for critical suppliers to ensure business continuity.
Keep internal stakeholders informed of supply market trends and external risks that could impact business operations.
Track contract expiration dates and proactively initiate renewal or re-sourcing discussions with internal stakeholders.