Vendor Manager - Tech

Medica•Madison, WI

7h•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Vendor Manager at Medica, you will be the strategic and operational bridge between Medica and its vendors, ensuring alignment with our sourcing strategy, compliance standards, and enterprise objectives. You will be involved in and lead key aspects of Medica’s full vendor lifecycle, from selection and onboarding to performance management and offboarding, while driving innovation, mitigating risk, and creating measurable impact. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, embraces change, and is passionate about building strong partnerships. You’ll collaborate across teams, influence vendor executives, and use data to make smart decisions that improve outcomes for Medica and its members. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business or equivalent experience in related field
8+ years of experience in vendor management, BPO operations, or related fields
Proven experience managing technology vendors and contingent workforce suppliers, including SaaS platforms, cloud infrastructure, IT services, and staffing or consulting firms.
Strong understanding of technology contracts, SLAs, licensing models, consumption‑based pricing, rate cards, statements of work (SOWs), and time‑and‑materials engagements.
Strong understanding of contract lifecycle management and sourcing processes
Proven ability to lead and influence with measurable business impact
Exceptional communication and presentation skills with internal and vendor executives
Strong analytical skills with experience turning complex data into actionable insights
Collaboration & Teamwork. A true team player who believes success is a team sport and works to WIN TOGETHER
Accountability & Execution. You demonstrate ownership, courage, and tenacity to OWN IT and DELIVER IT
Have an Analytical Mindset. Well versed in using data to diagnose performance gaps, validate trends, and drive decisions (MOVE WITH DATA)
Adaptability & Growth Mindset. Embrace change, invest in continuous learning using company provided tools and external resources available to you, and you seek opportunities to LEARN, GROW AND ADAPT
Demonstrate Communication Excellence. You can present complex information clearly to executives and diverse audiences
Negotiation & Problem-Solving. Strong ability to resolve issues, manage risk, and create win-win solutions
Knowledge of third‑party risk management, cybersecurity requirements, labor compliance, worker classification risk, and co‑employment considerations.

Nice To Haves

Industry experience in healthcare, fintech, or technology (preferred)
Knowledge of compliance-heavy functions (Fraud, Payments, Compliance, Information Security) is a plus

Responsibilities

Lead the full vendor lifecycle, including onboarding, performance reviews, various renewal activities, and offboarding
Ensure timely execution of contract renewals, amendments, and terminations in collaboration with ES&P and business units
Drive contingent labor management with suppliers, including staffing vendors, system integrators, and managed service providers, covering workforce planning, onboarding/offboarding controls, rate management, and compliance.
Maintain accurate vendor records, scorecards, and performance dashboards. Monitor service delivery metrics to ensure accountability and high performance. Perform oversight of compliance with contractual obligations, SLAs, and regulatory requirements
Track and manage remediation plans, audit findings, and risk mitigation strategies
Serve as the primary liaison between Medica and vendors, fostering trust and long-term collaboration
Facilitate Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), strategic planning sessions, and vendor engagement events
Influence vendor executives (Directors, VP & C-Suite) as a trusted partner to drive innovation and continuous improvement
Analyze vendor portfolios to identify overlaps, reduce duplicative spend, and recommend consolidation opportunities to ES&P
Partner with ES&P sourcing teams on RFI/RFP/RFQ processes and contract negotiations
Develop and present reporting on savings achievements, opportunities, and service-level compliance
Lead initiatives as required requiring coordination across vendors with Medica Operations, Compliance, Product, Risk, and other teams
Translate vendor insights into actionable strategies that improve Medica experience and make recommendations when applicable
Educate Medica on vendor management best practices, tools, and policies
Use data to diagnose performance gaps, validate trends, and prioritize interventions
Run ad-hoc analyses and scenario modeling to support rapid decision-making
Partner with ES&P analytics teams to define metrics and dashboards for vendor performance