Vendor Management Specialist

Vermont Mutual Insurance•Montpelier, VT

About The Position

Vermont Mutual is seeking a detail-oriented and strategic Vendor Management Specialist to manage the full lifecycle of contracting and vendor procurement. The role drafts, reviews, and negotiates vendor and partner agreements; develops scalable contracting processes; carries out third-party risk management; and coordinates across Legal, Finance, IT Security, and business teams that rely on external vendors. The ideal candidate has hands-on procurement contract experience and is comfortable building processes and structure in a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift quickly. The position manages procurement from initial requisition through vendor selection, negotiation, diligence, security assessment, and invoice payment. It also oversees vendor governance, contract records and renewals, cost and risk analysis, purchase orders, and procurement reporting. The role supports the Director of Finance, Controller, and Treasurer on special projects and performs other duties as assigned. Minimal supervision is provided by the Director of Finance, Controller, Treasurer, or other senior executives. Assignments are monitored weekly or several times a month, while many routine duties are performed independently under standard policies and procedures. This is predominantly a sedentary office position involving frequent keyboarding and computer work; physical demands are minimal and the work environment is typical of comparable organizations. The salary range is described as a good-faith estimate of base pay. The role is also eligible for incentive compensation and benefits, with individual salary determined by experience, skills, qualifications, and geographic location.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or a related field.
3–5 years of experience in vendor or contract management.
Strong negotiation, organization, and communication skills.
Experience managing contract databases and third-party risk frameworks.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with company personnel, vendors, and other external parties.
Proficiency with PC applications, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Nice To Haves

Vendor or contract management experience within the insurance or financial services industry is preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement procurement strategies aligned with company goals and regulatory requirements.
Work with departments to manage the end-to-end procurement process, from initial requisition through vendor selection, negotiation, diligence, security assessment, and invoice payment.
Analyze vendor bid and proposal cost structures to ensure competitive and favorable terms.
Manage vendor governance, including performance tracking, third-party risk assessments, due diligence, ongoing monitoring, and renewal or offboarding decisions.
Collaborate with business units and Legal to streamline contract management, identify risks, and improve contract handling.
Track contract renewals, key dates, and obligations, and maintain a current contract repository.
Work cross-functionally to identify and mitigate third-party risks involving data security, financial stability, and regulatory compliance.
Monitor market trends and pricing to identify cost-saving opportunities.
Support budgeting and forecasting by providing procurement data and insights.
Coordinate with Facilities and IT, use Oracle to create purchase orders, and monitor the status of supplies and deliveries.
Assist the Director of Finance, Controller, and Treasurer with special projects, including testing applications for automation, accounting systems, and compiling information for special reports.
Perform other duties or special projects as required or assigned.