vendor relations lead, Center of Excellence

Starbucks Coffee Company•Seattle, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Governance & Frameworks Design and maintain enterprise governance for MSPs (operating cadence, QBR templates, scorecards, escalation paths, risk/compliance checkpoints). Define and continuously improve SLA/KPI standards and performance measurement methodologies. Stand up and facilitate the Vendor Management Council and cross‑functional governance routines. Vendor Relationship & Performance Management Own executive‑level relationships with MSP leadership; create joint account plans and action registers. Lead performance reviews, corrective action plans, and executive readouts; ensure measurable improvements and transparency. Benchmark performance across vendors and lines of service; foster best‑practice sharing. Commercial & Contracting Partnership Partner with Strategic Sourcing/Legal on contract strategy, renewals, rate cards, and commercial negotiations; provide market insights and scenario analysis. Monitor commercial health (spend, variance, savings, credits); ensure adherence to commercial terms and value‑realization goals. Portfolio Strategy & Optimization Maintain the MSP portfolio strategy (vendor segmentation, consolidation/expansion recommendations, capability mapping). Lead RFP/RFI processes in partnership with Procurement; drive competitive selection and healthy vendor economics. Conduct risk assessment and diversification planning across vendors and regions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances. ~~~~ Build executive materials (portfolio health, risk, roadmap, investment asks); brief senior leaders regularly. Champion a vendor‑management Center of Excellence; enable business units with playbooks, training, and toolkits. Coach peers and partners on effective vendor behaviors and outcomes.

Requirements

7+ years in vendor management, strategic sourcing, or management consulting, with direct ownership of large MSP relationships
Proven experience establishing and operating vendor governance frameworks
Strong executive presence and stakeholder influence; skilled in performance storytelling using data
Commercial acumen and experience supporting negotiations and contract strategies

Nice To Haves

MBA or relevant advanced degree
certifications (e.g., CPSM, CPM, PMP) a plus

Responsibilities

Design and maintain enterprise governance for MSPs (operating cadence, QBR templates, scorecards, escalation paths, risk/compliance checkpoints)
Define and continuously improve SLA/KPI standards and performance measurement methodologies
Stand up and facilitate the Vendor Management Council and cross‑functional governance routines
Own executive‑level relationships with MSP leadership; create joint account plans and action registers
Lead performance reviews, corrective action plans, and executive readouts; ensure measurable improvements and transparency
Benchmark performance across vendors and lines of service; foster best‑practice sharing
Partner with Strategic Sourcing/Legal on contract strategy, renewals, rate cards, and commercial negotiations; provide market insights and scenario analysis
Monitor commercial health (spend, variance, savings, credits); ensure adherence to commercial terms and value‑realization goals
Maintain the MSP portfolio strategy (vendor segmentation, consolidation/expansion recommendations, capability mapping)
Lead RFP/RFI processes in partnership with Procurement; drive competitive selection and healthy vendor economics
Conduct risk assessment and diversification planning across vendors and regions
Build executive materials (portfolio health, risk, roadmap, investment asks); brief senior leaders regularly
Champion a vendor‑management Center of Excellence; enable business units with playbooks, training, and toolkits
Coach peers and partners on effective vendor behaviors and outcomes

Benefits

Partners have access to short-term and long-term disability, paid parental leave, family expansion reimbursement, paid vacation from date of hire, sick time (accrued at 1 hour for every 25 hours worked), eight paid holidays, and two personal days per year.
You will also have access to backup care and DACA reimbursement.
This list is subject to change depending on collective bargaining in locations where partners have a certified bargaining representative.
If you are working in CA, CO, IL, LA, ME, MA, NE, ND or RI, you will accrue vacation up to a maximum of 120 hours (190 in CA) for roles below director and 200 hours (316 in CA) for roles at director or above.
For roles in other states, you will be granted vacation time starting at 120 hours annually for roles below director and 200 hours annually for roles director and above.

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