Senior Vendor Manager

Organization

Location

Arlington, VA

Job Description

Stand Together is a philanthropic community that helps America’s boldest changemakers tackle the root causes of our country’s biggest problems, from education to the economy, broken communities, and toxic division, among dozens of other pressing issues. We provide our partners with access to resources including funding, thought leadership, a network of peers, and a playbook for applying proven principles to transform lives and society. 
The Senior Vendor Manager is responsible for overseeing the procurement and management of vendor services for the organization. This role requires excellent negotiation skills, a keen eye for detail, and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with vendors. The Vendor Manager will work closely with various departments to ensure that vendor services meet the organization's needs and quality standards. This role has 3 direct reports.  

How You Will Contribute

  • Vendor Selection: Identify and select vendors that provide high-quality services at competitive rates.
  • Contract Negotiation: Negotiate contracts and agreements with vendors to secure favorable terms and conditions.
  • Performance Monitoring: Monitor and evaluate vendor performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and organizational standards.
  • Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors to foster collaboration and long-term partnerships.
  • Issue Resolution: Address and resolve any issues or disputes that arise with vendors in a timely and effective manner.
  • Spend Management: Manage spend related to vendor services and ensure cost-effective procurement.
  • Risk Management: Identify and mitigate risks associated with vendor services and agreements.
  • Compliance: Ensure all vendor activities comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Reporting: Provide regular reports on vendor performance, costs, savings, renewals, and other relevant metrics to senior management.
  • Best Practices: Develops policies and procedures based on expertise to establish best practices for the vendor management function.
  • Supervisor: Leads and develops a team of approximately 3 direct reports, aligns strategic vision with tactical execution, sets clear deliverables, ensures accountability, and drives successful execution.

What You Will Bring

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in vendor management, procurement, or a similar role.
  • Experience with successfully leading and managing a team.
  • Strong negotiation and communication skills.
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
  • Proficiency in vendor management software and tools.
  • Proven experience in developing and calculating metrics to monitor the progress of the vendor management function.
  • Demonstrated expertise in data analytics to identify actionable steps for advancing the vendor management function.
  • Proven experience in developing and implementing best practices for vendor management.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and vendors simultaneously.
  • Detail-oriented with a strong focus on quality and compliance.
  • Ability to effectively lead and develop a team in a Principle-Based Management (PBM) environment.
  • Enthusiasm to contribute to Stand Together's vision and principled approach to solving problems, and a commitment to stewarding our culture, which champions values including transformation and innovation, entrepreneurialism, humility, and respect. 

Stand Out Candidates Will Bring

  • Certifications: Professional certifications such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) are preferred.

What We Offer

  • Competitive benefits: Enjoy a 6% 401(k) match with immediate vesting, flexible time off, comprehensive health and dental plans, plus wellness and mental health support through Peloton and Talkspace.
  • A meaningful career: Join a passionate community of over 1,300 employees dedicated to improving lives and driving innovative solutions to complex social challenges.
  • Commitment to growth: Thrive in a non-hierarchical environment that empowers employees to discover, develop, and apply their unique talents.
  • Competitive compensation: Our approach rewards the value you create through competitive salaries and bonus opportunities, allowing you to share in the success you help drive.

Our Values: Working at Stand Together is different from many other organizations. Our culture is deeply rooted in Principle Based Management® (PBM®), a framework guided by the principles that drive human progress, such as dignity, openness, and bottom-up empowerment. PBM® empowers our employees to be entrepreneurial, to innovate, and to continually drive transformation.   
 
We believe diversity fuels creativity, broadens knowledge, and helps drive success, and that is why we’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and strive to treat all employees and applicants with honesty, dignity, respect and sensitivity.