Vendor Manager
About The Position
The Vendor Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the firm’s vendor relationships, ensuring that vendors meet contractual obligations, pricing commitments, service standards, and performance expectations. This role serves as the primary liaison between the firm and its vendors, providing governance, transparency, and consistency across vendor engagements. The Vendor Manager drives continuous improvement in vendor performance, manages vendor risk, supports the contract lifecycle, including assistance with contract negotiations and RFPs, and collaborates closely with Financial Services, IT, Operations, department leaders, the General Counsel, and other internal stakeholders. This role also leads business review processes to assist with vendor procurement and to ensure vendors deliver high-quality, timely, and cost-effective services aligned with firm objectives.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or a related field.
- Five or more years of experience in vendor management, contract administration, procurement, or a related role; experience in a law firm or professional services environment preferred.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex vendor relationships and performance programs.
- Strong working knowledge of contracts, commercial terms, and vendor governance best practices.
- Proven ability to build collaborative relationships while holding vendors accountable to contractual commitments.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience working with senior leadership.
- Highly organized with strong prioritization, time management, and attention to detail.
- High degree of professional ethics, judgment, and accountability.
- Proficiency with vendor and contract management systems and Microsoft Office applications.
Responsibilities
- Manages and maintains productive, professional relationships with existing and prospective vendors and service providers.
- Serves as the primary point of contact for vendor communications, inquiries, escalations, and issue resolution.
- Establishes, monitors, and reports on vendor performance metrics related to quality, timeliness, service levels, and contractual compliance.
- Develops, implements, and manages vendor performance improvement plans as needed.
- Leads vendor business reviews to evaluate performance, discuss trends, and drive corrective actions and continuous improvement.
- Identifies service gaps or performance risks and recommends mitigation strategies or alternative vendors where appropriate.
- Reviews vendor contracts, amendments, renewals, pricing structures, and service terms to ensure alignment with firm policies, approvals, and objectives.
- Partners with the firm’s General Counsel or outside legal counsel, as appropriate, on contract language, compliance considerations, and vendor risk management.
- Collaborates with Financial Services to support accurate pricing, billing, and timely payment processing.
- Monitors vendor pricing changes and cost drivers; conducts cost-benefit analyses and presents findings to firm leadership.
- Negotiates appropriate solutions as required for sustainable quality services.
- Maintains organized and up-to-date records of vendor contracts, performance data, pricing approvals, and communications within vendor management systems.
- Prepares and distributes vendor performance reports, scorecards, and trend analyses for internal stakeholders.
- Ensures consistent vendor onboarding, qualification, and compliance processes are followed.
- Supports ongoing enhancement and efficient use of vendor management and contract management tools.
- Collaborates with internal teams to align vendor activities with business needs and firm priorities.
- Supports negotiations in a professional, collaborative manner to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Identifies opportunities for process improvement, operational efficiency, and value creation across vendor relationships.
- Provides guidance and subject matter expertise on vendor management practices and performance standards.
Benefits
- A full range of medical, financial and/or other benefits dependent on the position will also be offered.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
