Vendor & Procurement Manager

First Business Bank•Des Plaines, IL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

First Business Bank is seeking a Vendor & Procurement Manager to oversee vendor relationships, support procurement operations, and help ensure effective management of third-party providers across the organization. Reporting to the Chief Risk Officer, this role partners closely with Finance, Legal, IT, Operations, and business leaders to support vendor performance, control costs, maintain compliance, and improve procurement processes. The ideal candidate will have experience managing supplier relationships, coordinating contract renewals, supporting third-party risk activities, and identifying opportunities to improve purchasing efficiency and vendor value.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business administration, finance, accounting, risk management, or a related field.
5+ years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier management, third-party risk management, procure-to-pay, finance operations, or a related discipline.
Demonstrated experience leading complex sourcing initiatives and commercial negotiations.
Strategic sourcing, category management, competitive bidding, commercial negotiation, and supplier-performance management.
Contract lifecycle management and ability to identify matters requiring Legal or specialist review.
Financial and spend analysis, budgeting, and cost-benefit analysis.
Executive and Board-level written and verbal communication.
Advanced Excel and reporting or visualization tools.

Responsibilities

Manage relationships with key vendors and suppliers across the organization.
Coordinate contract renewals, pricing reviews, and vendor negotiations.
Identify opportunities for cost savings, vendor consolidation, and process improvements.
Monitor vendor performance and facilitate periodic business reviews.
Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure vendor services align with business needs and expectations.
Support sourcing initiatives, competitive bid processes, and supplier evaluations.
Coordinate vendor onboarding, due diligence, and ongoing monitoring activities.
Maintain vendor records, contracts, risk assessments, and supporting documentation.
Partner with Risk, Compliance, Legal, Finance, and IT teams to ensure vendor management requirements are met.
Support audits, regulatory examinations, and remediation efforts related to third-party relationships.
Ensure vendor activities are conducted in accordance with company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
Support and continuously improve procurement and purchasing processes.
Coordinate vendor setup, purchasing requests, invoice approvals, and contract administration activities.
Collaborate with Finance on purchasing workflows, payment processes, and spend tracking.
Assist with budgeting, vendor spend forecasting, and expense management.
Help maintain effective internal controls related to procurement and vendor management.
Develop and maintain reports related to vendor spend, contract status, supplier performance, and procurement activity.
Analyze purchasing trends and identify recommendations for improving efficiency and reducing costs.
Track and report key vendor management metrics.
Provide meaningful insights to department leaders to support informed business decisions.

Benefits

Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision plans
Competitive compensation, with a focus on professional development and internal mobility
Paid vacation time (15 days minimum per year)
Paid sick leave (6 days per year)
1 day paid volunteer time
10 paid holidays (annually)
Paid parental leave
401(k) program with company matching, plus additional profit sharing contribution
Performance based annual incentive program
Free and confidential Employee Assistance Program
Wellness programs
Education Assistance Program
Employee Stock Purchase Program