Vendor Manager

Sammons Financial Group • West Des Moines, IA

2d

About The Position

Develops, manages, and fosters relationships with vendors providing complex and/or high value services and goods, including performance monitoring and feedback, contract audit, and complex escalations.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in a business-related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred
• 5-8 years’ experience in a procurement environment, including 2 years in a vendor management role preferred
• Ability to manage complex, vendor relationships and influence senior stakeholders.
• Advanced knowledge of procurement and contract management principles, contract law, and contract language, terms and conditions
• Advanced business acumen, judgment, and decision-making skills
• Advanced ability to manage multiple vendor relationships, and negotiate contractual terms
• Advanced analytical and financial evaluation skills
• Advanced acumen in vendor risk assessment and performance management practices
• Excellent organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, and relationship building skills
• Ability to identify process improvements and implement practical solutions
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with fluctuating priorities and deadlines
• Proficiency with sourcing and contract management systems
• Ability to mentor and train team members in previous level roles
• May be required to travel to a company office or location other than your normal workplace for trainings, meetings, conferences or to support business needs.

Responsibilities

• Manage vendor relationships and serve as the primary point of contact with vendors providing complex and/or high value goods and services, including:
• Leading the due diligence and evaluation process for potential new vendors
• Monitoring and auditing vendor performance, service level statistics and scorecards, compliance, contractual obligations, conducting root cause analyses, providing vendors with feedback and direction, and developing and implementing remediation plans
• Responding to vendor requests for information
• Serve as the second-tier triage and resolution contact for escalated and/or complex vendor service, administration, billing, and communication issues
• Serve as a SME liaison with sourcing team on the RFP/RFI/RFQ processes, including reviewing and approving complex Statements of Work, contract amendments, renewals, and amendments in collaboration with legal partners and business stakeholders.
• Provide vendor management leadership with performance, spend, and compliance results, insights, and recommendations.
• Provide SME input and recommendations on SFG vendor management policies, practices, procedures, tools and systems; collaborate with vendor management team on process implementation, oversight, documentation, and maintenance.
• Provide training, mentorship and SME support to teammates in previous level vendor management teammates.

Benefits

• Sammons Financial Group offers a competitive benefit package that includes: Health, Dental, Vision, Company Paid Retirement, PTO and Holiday Pay.
• Our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a 100% company-funded retirement plan, so you can save for retirement without contributing a penny of your own paycheck.
• Healthy balance between work and personal lives. Friday afternoons off all year long, competitive PTO, and generous number of paid holidays.
• Our incentive program for defined goals subject to eligibility and performance. Monetary rewards are based on individual and/or overall company performance.
• Colleagues who support one another, model our core values, and drive our healthy, high-performing culture.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees