technology vendor relationship manager (Seattle, WA - U.S.)
About The Position
This role contributes to Starbucks’ strategic success by building, maintaining, and improving relationships with business-critical, high-value, and high-dependency technology vendors and internal stakeholders. The Technology Vendor Relationship Manager evaluates vendors for selection, ensures they meet contractual performance obligations, supports strategic objectives, and works to restore non-performing relationships. The role aligns with a designated Starbucks Technology vertical, developing knowledge of its long-term vision and managing vendors in the context of the broader technology ecosystem. Where applicable, the manager helps vendors collaborate to achieve expected business results. The role works with internal technology teams, business users, executive sponsors, vendors, and global counterparts. It leads relationship and performance reviews, manages escalations and improvement programs, monitors contract obligations, and supports vendor selection and strategy. The position is onsite four days per week.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in general business, economics, psychology, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
- Five or more years of experience in the specific field or using designated skills.
- Experience in vendor relationship management for multiple technology vendors.
- Skills in technology vendor management, interpersonal relationships and dispute resolution, technology market landscape, presentations, project management, contract management, negotiation, and analysis.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain a high commitment to quality, work independently, solve problems, and make decisive choices.
- Proven diplomacy and problem-solving skills.
- Strong critical-thinking skills, a curious mindset, and strategic agility.
- Ability to work in a high-energy, fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities
- Identify, develop, and formalize relationships with multiple vendors.
- Maintain knowledge of the assigned Technology vertical and align vendor relationships with technology and business priorities.
- Develop and lead Quarterly Business Reviews, Monthly Performance Reviews, Executive Briefings, and the Annual CTO Vendor Forum.
- Manage and measure the overall relationship between internal technology teams and vendors.
- Provide coaching, direction, and leadership to align business and operational topics.
- Assess internal technology and business satisfaction through vendor scorecards.
- Set relationship goals and advocate for continuous improvement.
- Model effective collaboration with vendors for internal teams.
- Facilitate relationships among managed vendors, executive sponsors, and technology teams.
- Manage escalation and arbitration of relationship and operational issues when other avenues fail.
- Launch and manage vendor “Get Well” programs until performance stability is achieved.
- Guide communication between the organization and managed vendors.
- Partner with global counterparts to manage global vendor relationships and support global expansion of vendors’ technologies.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of Vendor Management practices and standards.
- Influence vendor strategy using knowledge of vendors, competitors, market trends, and pricing models.
- Promote optimization, innovation, and relationships with vendors’ top thought leaders to maximize mutual value.
- Participate as a key stakeholder in Request for Proposal events, vendor evaluation and selection, and negotiation of contractual terms addressing performance and resiliency.
- Connect business objectives to vendor performance management metrics.
- Oversee contracts and hold managed vendors accountable for contractual obligations.
- Perform analysis and provide vendor reports and dashboards.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Basic and supplemental life insurance and other voluntary insurance benefits
- Short-term and long-term disability
- Paid parental leave
- Family expansion reimbursement
- Paid vacation from date of hire
- Accrued sick time
- Eight paid holidays
- Two personal days per year
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer match for eligible partners
- Discounted company stock program (S.I.P.)
- Starbucks equity program (Bean Stock)
- Incentivized emergency savings and financial well-being tools
- Upfront tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor’s degree through Arizona State University’s online program via the Starbucks College Achievement Plan
- Student loan management resources and other educational opportunities
- Backup care
- DACA reimbursement
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
