Vendor Program Consultant | Strategic Sourcing & Partner Management

🎯 Role Definition

As our Vendor Program Consultant, you will be the central pillar of our strategic partnership framework. This isn't just about managing contracts; it's about building and nurturing a high-performing ecosystem of external partners that acts as a true extension of our team. You will be empowered to design, implement, and refine the programs that govern these critical relationships. Success in this role means transforming our vendor portfolio into a strategic asset that drives cost savings, enhances operational capabilities, and fuels business growth. You will be the key liaison between our internal stakeholders and external vendors, ensuring alignment, mitigating risks, and fostering collaborative success.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Vendor Management Specialist
Senior Procurement Analyst
Program or Project Coordinator
Contract Manager

Advancement To:

Senior Vendor Program Manager
Director of Vendor Management / Strategic Partnerships
Head of Global Sourcing
Senior Manager, Business Operations

Lateral Moves:

Strategic Sourcing Manager
Senior Program Manager (Internal Programs)
Business Operations Manager
Partner Alliance Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and continuously refine a comprehensive vendor management framework, including governance policies, operational procedures, and performance scorecards to ensure program consistency and excellence.
Lead the end-to-end vendor lifecycle management process, from initial market research, sourcing, and qualification to robust due diligence, onboarding, performance monitoring, and strategic offboarding.
Orchestrate and lead regular Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and executive check-ins with strategic vendors to rigorously assess performance against Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Act as the primary escalation point for all complex vendor-related issues, applying strong problem-solving skills to mediate disputes and drive resolutions that protect business interests while maintaining positive partner relationships.
Collaborate extensively with Legal, Finance, and Information Security teams to draft, review, and negotiate complex Master Service Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), and Data Processing Addendums (DPAs) to mitigate risk and ensure full compliance.
Conduct deep-dive analysis of vendor spend, performance data, and market intelligence to identify and execute on opportunities for cost optimization, vendor consolidation, and process improvements.
Build and cultivate strong, trust-based relationships with key vendor executives and operational contacts, transforming transactional interactions into strategic, long-term partnerships.
Partner with internal business unit leaders to deeply understand their strategic objectives and translate their needs into clear vendor requirements and selection criteria.
Develop and manage a sophisticated vendor segmentation strategy to categorize partners based on their strategic importance, spend, and risk, tailoring management approaches accordingly.
Proactively monitor contractual obligations for both the company and its vendors to ensure all terms and conditions are met, tracking key milestones, deliverables, and renewal dates.
Design and manage the vendor risk management program, conducting initial and ongoing risk assessments to identify potential financial, operational, or security vulnerabilities.
Champion the adoption of vendor management best practices and technologies across the organization, providing guidance and training to internal stakeholders.
Create and maintain a centralized repository of all vendor information, contracts, performance dashboards, and relationship history to serve as a single source of truth for the organization.
Lead competitive RFx (RFI, RFP, RFQ) processes, from requirements gathering and document creation to proposal evaluation, vendor selection, and final negotiation.
Drive innovation by continuously scanning the market for new and emerging vendors, technologies, and service models that could provide a competitive advantage.
Develop and present compelling business cases to senior leadership for new vendor engagements, renewals, or strategic shifts in the vendor portfolio.
Manage the vendor onboarding and offboarding processes, ensuring a smooth transition, knowledge transfer, and secure data handling.
Track and report on the financial health of the vendor program, including budget adherence, cost savings achieved, and the overall return on investment from vendor relationships.
Serve as a subject matter expert on the capabilities and performance of the existing vendor landscape, advising business leaders on the best partners to engage for specific initiatives.
Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to ensure seamless integration of vendor services into existing business processes and technology stacks.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to answer critical business questions about vendor performance and spending.
Contribute to the organization's broader procurement and operational strategy and long-term roadmap.
Collaborate with business units and IT to translate evolving data and service needs into clear technical and operational requirements for vendors.
Participate in sprint planning, agile ceremonies, and cross-functional project teams where vendor involvement is critical.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Vendor Management Systems (VMS): Proficiency with tools like SAP Fieldglass, Beeline, Coupa, or similar platforms for managing contingent workforces and services.
Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM): Deep experience in drafting, negotiating, and managing complex commercial contracts, SOWs, and MSAs.
Strategic Sourcing & RFx Management: Expertise in running structured RFI, RFP, and RFQ processes from start to finish.
Performance Analytics: Strong ability to define, track, and analyze SLAs and KPIs using tools like Excel, Tableau, or Power BI to drive data-informed decisions.
Financial Acumen: Solid understanding of budgeting, cost analysis, TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) modeling, and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
Risk Assessment Methodologies: Knowledge of frameworks for identifying, evaluating, and mitigating third-party vendor risks (operational, financial, compliance, security).
Project & Program Management: Competency in project management principles and software (e.g., Asana, Jira, Smartsheet) to manage complex vendor initiatives.

Soft Skills

Negotiation & Influence: Proven ability to lead high-stakes negotiations and influence senior-level stakeholders, both internally and externally.
Stakeholder Management: Exceptional skill in building rapport and managing expectations with a diverse set of business leaders and cross-functional partners.
Strategic Thinking: Ability to see the big picture, connect vendor performance to business outcomes, and develop long-term partnership strategies.
Relationship Building: A natural ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative, and trust-based professional relationships.
Conflict Resolution: Adept at navigating difficult conversations, mediating disputes, and finding mutually agreeable solutions to complex problems.
Exceptional Communication: Superior written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly and concisely to a variety of audiences, including executive leadership.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Education:

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Relevant professional certifications such as Certified Vendor Management Professional (CVMP), Project Management Professional (PMP), or certifications in supply chain/procurement.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Business Administration
Supply Chain Management
Finance or Economics
Operations Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

5-8+ years of progressive experience in vendor management, strategic sourcing, partner management, or a related program management role.

Preferred:

Direct experience managing a multi-million dollar portfolio of strategic vendors, particularly in technology, BPO (Business Process Outsourcing), professional services, or marketing.
Demonstrated success in building a vendor management program from the ground up or leading a significant transformation of an existing one in a dynamic, high-growth environment.