Data Center Vendor Specialist

Salute • Abilene, TX

9d • Onsite

About The Position

Salute is hiring a Vendor Specialist to manage relationships between Salute, its customer, and suppliers at an on-site data center in Barstow, Texas. Candidates must live in or relocate to or near Barstow; relocation assistance is available if eligible. The position maintains the vendor management program under the direction of the Director of Vendor Management, with a dotted-line relationship to the Data Center Critical Facilities Manager of Engineering. It covers the contractor relationship lifecycle, including vendor identification, assessment, onboarding, KPI tracking, finance coordination, contract renewals, and offboarding. With limited direct supervision, the specialist upholds integrity in business relationships and maximizes the value of contracts.

The role supports vendor contracting and administration, financial coordination, compliance, reporting, and communications between vendors and internal teams. The work is predominantly performed in a climate-controlled corporate office. Hours are Monday through Friday during standard business hours, with flexibility to include evenings, weekends, and holidays. The site operates 24 hours, and some positions may require irregular hours, overtime, alternating shifts, outdoor work in extreme weather, or work in hazardous environments, as specified in the offer letter.

The salary range is $73,000 to $75,000. The company offers health, dental, and vision insurance; an HSA; gym discounts; mental health resources; discounted group life and AD&D and short- and long-term disability coverage; a 401(k) with employer matching; PTO and paid holidays; and parental leave. Relocation assistance may be available if eligible.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, legal studies, finance, or a related area of study.
• At least four years of related work experience; property management, supply chain management, accounting, or vendor management experience is preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Outlook.
• Familiarity with strategic sourcing processes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, organization, and customer-service skills.
• Good grammar and content-creation skills, with the ability to take accurate notes and translate them into actions.
• Ability to handle multiple simultaneous tasks under pressure while maintaining professionalism and strong customer service.
• Composure and a calm demeanor under pressure.
• Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail.
• Flexibility and ability to respond to changing circumstances and expectations.
• Strong work ethic and integrity, with the ability to work effectively and independently.
• Must be willing to submit to a full criminal background check; results may or may not bar employment in accordance with applicable law.
• Must work on-site in or near Barstow, Texas; candidates who are not local must be willing to relocate.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM™) certification.
• Experience developing new processes for quality and efficiency.
• Experience in facilities management, critical facilities, or data centers.

Responsibilities

• Ensure contract requests align with company guidelines, operational needs, and sound financial judgment.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive vendor database, including contact information, services, and performance records.
• Track and report purchase orders and vendor invoicing activity.
• Coordinate with Finance on prebilling confirmations and related inquiries, where applicable.
• Administer department contracts, including the contract repository and expiration tracker.
• Evaluate internal requests for vendor relationships, guide stakeholders through vendor onboarding, and provide comparative analysis to support unbiased contract-awarding decisions.
• Coordinate with Compliance and Legal on requested changes to standard contract language, maintaining documentation and version control.
• Review and align payables and receivables with active vendor contracts in coordination with the Account Coordinator and Finance Team; ensure tracking and communication between Vendor Management and Finance.
• Support site budgeting and forecasting by providing current tracker data and historical documents.
• Serve as the site team's central resource for vendor management contract procedures, concepts, policies, and changes.
• Collaborate with vendor management leadership to execute, renew, and terminate vendor contracts in accordance with internal policies and stakeholder needs.
• Complete administrative work, including financial metrics, reporting, reconciliations, audits, and regulatory compliance.
• Facilitate communication between vendors and internal departments to address and resolve issues or concerns.
• Maintain strong client and vendor relationships, including relationships with preferred suppliers.

Benefits

• Eight company-paid holidays, two floating holidays, and PTO.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; enrollment is available starting on Day 1, with coverage beginning the first of the month after 30 days of employment.
• Employee Assistance Program available to all employees.
• 401(k) with immediate 100% vesting, a 3% employer match, and a 50% match on the next 2%.
• Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Mental health resources.
• Gym discounts.
• Discounted group legal services, home and auto insurance, pet insurance, and identity theft protection.
• Discounted group life and AD&D insurance.
• Discounted group short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Parental leave.
• Relocation assistance, if eligible.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level