Technology Vendor Manager - IT Labor

American Express•Phoenix, AZ

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. From delivering differentiated products to providing world-class customer service, we operate with a strong risk mindset, ensuring we continue to uphold our brand promise of trust, security, and service. Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express. How will you make an impact in this role? Looking to join a team at American Express in our Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) organization that is dynamic, fast paced and forward looking? We are currently growing our Technology Vendor Management (TVM) team to ensure our most critical third-party relationships deliver optimal value, resilience, and risk management at an enterprise scale. You will perform a key role for this team by working closely with industry-leading IT Labor & Professional Service providers to drive best-in-class terms, performance, and adherence to contractual terms. You will also partner with internal teams within Global Supply Management, General Counsel's Office, and Technology to identify, define, and report on the contractual elements of our agreements as well as supporting all procurement activities. This role will report to the Director of Vendor Management – IT Labor & Cloud and will be based in Phoenix, AZ. We are looking for a candidate with a strong background in vendor contracts, procurement and overall relationship management. The successful candidate will have the talent and experience needed to develop effective strategies to achieve optimal performance and value while maintaining strong partnerships.

Requirements

Experience with sourcing/procurement activities either as a customer or supplier, with specific emphasis on Statements of Work (e.g. T&M, fixed-bid, milestone-based).
Bachelor’s degree and 5-7 years' experience managing vendor contracts.
Comfort working in a hybrid environment (3x per week in office).

Nice To Haves

Finance/Portfolio analysis experience for CBAs.
Proven experience building strong partnerships both internal and external.
Ability to challenge the status quo while maintaining trusted vendor and stakeholder relationships.
Experience leading large-scale negotiations and/or transformation projects.

Responsibilities

Draft Request for Proposals (RFPs) and commercial models for IT labor engagements (T&M, fixed-price, milestone-based, and managed services).
Gather and translate customer requirements into clear terms, pricing structures, and performance expectations for all contract amendments and renewals.
Negotiate contractual terms and conditions in accordance with benchmarking guidelines and company standards.
Interpret contractual language to support stakeholder inquiries, issue resolution, and dispute management.
Act as a Third-Party Relationship Manager (TRM) with an understanding of vendor engagement in alignment with business partner strategies and/or advising best practices to a Third-Party Relationship Manager (TRM).
Lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with key vendor partnerships.
Define and track performance metrics to support all required Third-Party Lifecycle Management (TLM) requirements.
Monitor vendor compliance with security, risk, regulatory, and workforce policies.
Engage with external research and advisory firms to stay current on market trends, pricing benchmarks, and emerging risks.
Develop points of view on optimal sourcing strategies, vendor mix, and delivery models.
Provide executive-ready presentations for senior leadership.
Act as the primary liaison between vendors and delivery teams.
Advise leaders on vendor capabilities and suitability for different types of work with the goal of influencing strong outcomes while constructively challenging decisions that introduce cost, risk, or inefficiency.

Benefits

Competitive base salaries
Bonus incentives
6%25 Company Match on retirement savings plan
Free financial coaching and financial well-being support
Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits
Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need
20+ weeks paid parental leave for all parents, regardless of gender, offered for pregnancy, adoption or surrogacy
Free access to global on-site wellness centers staffed with nurses and doctors (depending on location)
Free and confidential counseling support through our Healthy Minds program
Career development and training opportunities