Vendor Manager - Hybrid

Summary:

Lead the vendor performance and relationship management. Provide processes, guidance and oversight to operational teams and facilitate governance internally & externally.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Relationship Management:

• Lead the end-to-end onboarding process for new vendors - from initial engagement through go-live.
• Develop implementation timelines, ensuring readiness for operational launch.
• Create onboarding playbooks, checklists, and standard operating procedures to ensure consistency and scalability.
• Develop vendor engagement strategy, in partnership with internal teams, based on business needs, supply market dynamics, and changes in marketplace
• Align with the sourcing strategy and communicate to the business; develop and manage the relationship with the key stakeholders
• Execute vendor governance, relationship, communication, on-boarding & exit activities and multi-service provider integration (if needed) processes
• Responsible for agreeing and implementing vendor scorecards; ensures vendors are working in accordance with these and are supplying appropriate reporting
• Facilitate governance meetings between the vendor, and internal technology teams
• Leverage relationships to address current problems and work towards business objectives
• Measure internal customer satisfaction to ensure ongoing business value creation through vendor management

Performance Management:

• Defines, negotiates and reviews vendor performance metrics (KPI's, SLA's and OLA's)
• Analyzes vendor metrics and produces reporting templates tailored to the needs of the technology teams operational monitoring, strategic vendor management assessment, and for executive stakeholders
• Effectively manages performance governance forums, providing support to the technology operations team to run the periodic performance review meetings (including monthly and quarterly performance review meetings)
• Reviews performance against service levels and agrees on service improvement plans with vendors; Designs and manages improvement initiatives in collaboration with the technology teams
• Addresses and/or escalates issues and risks associated with vendor performance as appropriate

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's Degree with an emphasis in Business, IT or related field preferred OR a significant amount of directly related work experience beyond the minimum required for the position.
• 6+ years of previous experience in sourcing and procurement or related tech operations role
• Prior experience in vendor management preferred
• Strong and broad understanding of technology functions (software dev and support, infrastructure, data, information security, etc.) and various delivery methods (agile, waterfall, devops, etc.).
• Strong communication skills
• Good financial / analytical skills
• Strong decision making skills
• Strong category and general procurement background
• Knowledge of ITIL and other Performance Management standards
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work with internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize workload
• Demonstrated experience onboarding and implementing vendors across insurance functions.
• Strong understanding of the operational nuances between client-facing and non-client facing vendor engagements.
• Ability to develop implementation roadmaps, tailored to service type, process complexity and business readiness.

Compensation Range:

Pay Range - End:

We believe in fairness and transparency. It's why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you're living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more.

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Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer who welcomes and encourages diversity in the workforce. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.

We're excited about the potential people bring to Northwestern Mutual. You can grow your career here while enjoying first-class perks, benefits, and our commitment to a culture of belonging.

• Flexible work schedules
• Concierge service
• Comprehensive benefits
• Employee resource groups