Strategic Manager, Vendor Relations
About The Position
The Strategic Manager, Vendor Relations, provides unified leadership and direction across the Placements Liaison, Travel Liaison, and Specialist teams. This role is accountable for aligning vendor relations operations with institutional strategy, driving process improvements, and ensuring consistent compliance and service delivery across all functions. The manager serves as the bridge between tactical execution and long-term planning, overseeing daily operations while anticipating growth needs, vendor partnership evolution, and cross-departmental coordination. With responsibility for multiple functional ladders, this position balances strategic planning, operational efficiency, and staff development to advance Nightingale College’s mission of learner success.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Supply Chain, or related field (Master’s preferred).
- Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in vendor relations, operations management, or healthcare/education support functions.
- Demonstrated leadership of multi-function teams across complex, regulated environments.
- Strong vendor negotiation, contract management, and partnership development skills.
- Proven ability to balance daily operational demands with strategic planning and growth initiatives.
- Excellent communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to collaborate across diverse teams and stakeholders.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s preferred
Responsibilities
- Provide strategic oversight and operational management for the Placements Liaison, Travel Liaison, and Specialist functions within Vendor Relations.
- Partner with institutional leadership to develop and implement long-term strategies that support growth, compliance, and service quality.
- Standardize processes, reporting, and performance measurement across all Vendor Relations sub-divisions.
- Guide and support supervisors and assistant managers in their respective areas, ensuring alignment and accountability.
- Serve as the escalation point for high-risk vendor, learner, or compliance issues that span multiple sub-divisions.
- Oversee vendor relationship management, contract adherence, and negotiations in collaboration with Procurement and Legal teams.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives, identifying technology, workflow, and vendor solutions to increase efficiency and scalability.
- Develop staffing models, succession planning, and professional development programs to build resilient and high-performing teams.
- Ensure compliance with all institutional, regulatory, and site-specific requirements related to learner credentialing, travel, placement, and kit distribution.
- Collaborate with academic, clinical, and experiential learning teams to anticipate vendor needs and align operational support.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
