Vendor Relations Specialist

SupplyCore•Rockford, IL

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

SupplyCore is a Certified Small Business federal contractor to the Department of Defense (DoD) and General Services Administration (GSA), prioritizing support for Military, allies, and Government customers worldwide. In partnership with an expansive supply chain, they provide products and services enabling mission completion and readiness. The Vendor Relations Specialist will analyze data to identify expanded supplier opportunities, communicate SupplyCore’s offerings, and cultivate key industry partnerships to drive growth in specialized defense sectors like tactical vehicles, aviation platforms, and replacement parts, as well as greenfield projects. This role involves researching and evaluating prospective suppliers, conducting outreach, analyzing market trends, developing strategies for high-value supplier relationships, and maintaining a pipeline of potential partners. The specialist will also provide market analysis reports, manage vendor relationships through established processes, collect necessary documentation, coordinate with internal stakeholders, and catalog supplier information using platforms like CRM/Salesforce. Intermittent travel, not exceeding 10%, is expected for trade shows and team strategy sessions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in supply chain, logistics or related field.
2-4 years of applicable experience in defense industry supply chain or vendor relations.
Knowledge of tactical wheeled and tracked vehicles and components preferred; interest or additional knowledge of aviation platforms a plus.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be able to engage in and exchange communication with others in all situations.
Highly meticulous and organized to execute multiple projects at once, adhering to deadlines.
Strong research skills with ability to identify and evaluate potential suppliers and OEMs in specialized markets.
Self-driven and proactive in nature with demonstrated ability to develop and nurture business relationships.
Ability to work independently, and with a sense of urgency.
PC proficiency in Microsoft Suite products (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.).

Nice To Haves

Interest or additional knowledge of aviation platforms.

Responsibilities

Research & identify prospective suppliers in the relevant sectors to strategically position SupplyCore for growth.
Evaluate potential suppliers against defined criteria to ensure alignment with quality standards and business requirements.
Conduct outreach and initial introduction with targeted suppliers to establish best value relationships.
Analyze market trends and supply chain data to identify growth opportunities in the assigned segment or sector.
Develop and execute strategies to cultivate relationships with high-value suppliers within Weapon Systems supply chain.
Create and maintain a pipeline of potential supplier partners aligned with SupplyCore’s growth objectives and relevant to organization’s contracts.
Provide reports and analysis of relevant market segments to support business development initiatives.
Follow established vendor management processes and frameworks to onboard, nurture, and support vendor relationships, control costs, manage risks and maximize efficiency.
Collect required documentation (e.g. quality certifications, compliance certifications).
Work with supply chain to review performance and escalate issues as needed.
Coordinate with internal stakeholders in sales, operations and marketing to identify supply needs and match them with appropriate supplier capabilities.
Collect and catalog comprehensive information on supplier capabilities, manufacturing processes and product offerings within operational platforms like CRM/Salesforce.
Utilize CRM/Salesforce and proprietary software at the advanced user level.
Perform other vendor relations duties as assigned.