VMO Business Partner

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The VMO Business Partner manages a portfolio of IT vendors, leads negotiations and contract activities, ensures vendor performance aligns with contractual commitments, and advances vendor management practices across Harvard University. The role works closely with procurement colleagues, service owners, financial partners, and other stakeholders, and reports to the Director, IT Vendor Management & Operations.

The position supports HUIT’s enterprise-wide vendor management strategy and promotes vendor management best practices across the university. It combines contract and relationship management with financial and performance analysis, stakeholder collaboration, and process improvement. The work is hybrid, with onsite work as needed with advance notice; the employee must live in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or Rhode Island. Onsite work takes place in an office setting.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• At least 7 years of relevant vendor management, procurement, IT contracting, or related experience.
• Strong negotiation, influencing, and vendor relationship-building skills.
• Working knowledge of IT products, services, infrastructure, software, cloud technologies, and licensing structures.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and strong analytical and Excel skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, lead projects, and work in a complex, decentralized environment.
• High degree of integrity, professionalism, and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with SaaS, cloud contracting, data security, and compliance topics.
• Experience using ITSM tools, procurement systems, contracting tools, or analytics platforms.
• MBA, master’s degree, or CPSM certification.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support negotiations for complex IT agreements, including software license agreements, SaaS agreements, SLAs, statements of work, and professional services agreements.
• Structure, draft, and review contracts to support favorable pricing, strong terms, and risk mitigation.
• Represent Harvard in discussions with external vendors about contract terms, conditions, and performance.
• Partner with Strategic Procurement, OGC, Risk Management & Audit Services, Financial Administration, Information Security, Digital Accessibility, and other subject-matter experts to ensure compliance with university policies and requirements.
• Maintain vendor documentation, contract records, SLAs, KPIs, and performance dashboards.
• Manage an assigned portfolio of IT vendors as the primary relationship owner.
• Conduct regular vendor business reviews to evaluate performance, resolve issues, and align on future objectives.
• Monitor performance against contracts, address service gaps, escalate issues, and drive vendor accountability.
• Identify opportunities for vendor-driven innovation and value creation.
• Support financial and operational analytics related to vendor spend, performance trends, SLA compliance, risks, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Analyze purchasing patterns and develop category-level insights to support strategic decisions.
• Support cost-reduction initiatives and evaluate alternative sourcing or solution options.
• Collaborate with service owners, business partners, and technical teams to understand needs and align vendor support.
• Participate in defining and implementing HUIT’s enterprise-wide vendor management strategy.
• Lead and contribute to VMO initiatives, process improvements, and standardization efforts across HUIT.
• Promote vendor management best practices across the university.
• Stay current on emerging technologies, vendor capabilities, market trends, and contracting models.
• Provide mentoring or guidance to colleagues, as applicable.
• Abide by the Harvard University IT Code of Conduct.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage starting on day one.
• Retirement plans with university contributions.
• Wellbeing and mental health resources.
• Support for families and caregivers.
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition assistance and reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits, discounts, and campus perks.

What This Job Offers

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