Vendor Management Specialist

Progress Residential • Charlotte, NC

5d

About The Position

Your career has a home here. Ready to make an impact with a dynamic, forward-thinking company? As a leading property manager of single-family rental homes nationwide, we take great pride in creating an enjoyable living experience for our residents – and an empowering, people-first culture for our team members. That’s why, for two years in a row, our employees have voted Progress a certified Great Place to Work®. Why join Progress? As the demand for professionally managed rental homes continues to grow, so do the opportunities at Progress. We’re looking for passionate professionals who are ready to grow with us, make a difference and be part of something meaningful. Want to learn more? Text “ProgressJobs” to 25000 to chat with Kate, our AI Recruiting Assistant. She can help you explore open roles, apply, and answer your questions in real time. POSITION PURPOSE The Vendor Management Specialist (VS) is the support mechanism for the Operations team to ensure their market’s needs are identified and filled as it relates to the vendor relationship, including cost and service performance. The VS will be the main contact point for vendors within their responsible markets and will partner with their Operations team to own the overall Progress Relationship with the Vendor Network. (Note the day-to-day order management falls the Operations leadership in the MSA.) The VS with coordination of the Operations team will work with MSA and will be responsible for the vendor’s capabilities to address market requests/concerns, serve as a point for vendor communication and analyze relevant metrics pertaining to the vendor relationship. They will also help to ensure all vendors have a solid understanding of Progress Residential business practices required to perform satisfactorily as a preferred service vendor.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in direct management of contracted vendor relationships, including training, coaching, education of vendors on business processes (e.g., invoicing, preferred supplier program participation, etc.), compliance auditing, service issue resolution
• At least an Associate’s degree in business or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Gathers, analyzes, and draws practical conclusions from data, as well as communicates those data findings to others in a manner that translates appropriately to the respective target audience.
• Proven track record of being able to successfully manage multiple vendor relationships and associated work concurrently in an organized manner in a time-sensitive environment
• Previous experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and property management software
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products including Excel (e.g., pivot tables, and VLOOKUPS, etc.); Word (e.g., basic document formatting, etc.); and Outlook (e.g., message composition/formatting, meeting scheduling, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to write with clarity to a variety of stakeholders
• Ability to travel extensively locally to meet vendors at project homes. This role will also travel 2-6 times per year for training and team-building opportunities.

Nice To Haves

• Work experience involving the construction or home renovation industries
• Previous experience with Salesforce CRM and Yardi Vendor Café

Responsibilities

• Continually assess and understand overall vendor capacity, including but not limited to geography, capabilities, and number of technicians/crews, and the measurement of the performance of their assigned market and vendors.
• Coordinates and prioritizes with Vendor Onboarding in their execution of these workflows sourcing and onboarding vendors through the compliance and onboarding process.
• Leverages well-developed in-person and distance relationship-building strategies to effectively manage the business lifecycle of all contracted service organizations with a critical component of maintaining an effective vendor performance feedback loop from the respective regional Operations teams (or regional leaders) -- NOTE: In cases where a vendor(s) is/are not meeting expectations, the incumbent may be required to provide coaching for improvement, formal vendor disciplinary action(s), or ultimately terminate the relationship.
• Mediates escalated issues from regional Operations teams and/or contracted service vendors for the appropriate resolution that serves the long-term needs of Progress Residential and its customers
• Uses experience and tradecraft to recommend process and system improvements to leadership, Assist is solution development and participate in deployment including leading change w/in the vendor network.
• Utilize score carding, metrics and reporting to suggest improvements in vendor
• Assists in ensuring vendors have the appropriate level of understanding and awareness of Progress Residential business standards (e.g., preferred materials vendor programs, invoicing process, quality expectations, etc.) to maximize the likelihood of success vendor. This includes but is not limited to addressing vendor concerns, upholding quality standards, and reviewing vendor performance.

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation - Including performance-based bonuses that reward your contributions.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package - Medical, dental, vision, parental leave, 401(k) with company match and more.
• Generous Time Off – Enjoy PTO based on tenure, 13 paid holidays and 1 floating holiday.
• Ongoing Learning and Development - Quarterly summits, town hall meetings and continuous training to support your professional growth.
• A Culture that Celebrates You - We believe in collaboration, recognition and having fun while doing important work.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees