Lead Vendor Management Advisor (Flex Office/Home)

Position Compensation Range:

Pay Rate Type:

Compensation may vary based on the job level and your geographic work location. Relocation support is offered for eligible candidates.

The Lead Vendor Management Advisor is accountable for the strategic labor sourcing life cycle for Tier 1 suppliers, including spend analytics, market & demand analysis, supplier evaluation and selection, negotiations, contracting, supplier risk, performance management, and relationship management in compliance with corporate policies and standards. You will be responsible for executing a sourcing project portfolio based on established category strategies to enable the business unit to successfully achieve its objectives. You will serve as the project manager for the entire sourcing event utilizing the expertise of other roles in the organization to deliver results. You will report to the Senior Manager, Vendor Management.

In this flex office/home role, you will be expected to work a minimum of 10 days per month from one of the following office locations: Madison, WI 53783; Boston, MA 02110; Denver, CO 80112; Eden Prairie, MN 55343; Keene, NH 03431; St. Joseph, MO 64507; Phoenix, AZ 85034

Internal candidates are encouraged to apply regardless of location and will be considered based upon the needs of the role.

Relocation Support Offered for Eligible Candidates

Primary Accountabilities

• You will develop and present proposed supplier strategies to business partners and sponsors, obtains approvals and aligns sponsorship and resources needed to move project into active execution.
• You will lead cross functional teams to successful outcomes ensuring business value is quantified, optimized, and fully realized.
• You will serve as the primary contact between the company and Tier 1 suppliers, defines strategies to maximize the effectiveness of the relationship, mitigate risk, create enhanced value, assure timely identification and resolution of performance issues and compliance with contract requirements through regular business and executive reviews.
• You will lead the entire sourcing process for Tier 1 suppliers including labor supplier selection (RFx), negotiations, establishing contract terms and conditions, facilitating contract renewals, and execute with excellence by applying project and change management best practices (e.g. scope, deliverables, timeline, communication, risk mitigation) in order to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes aligned with business objectives.
• You will serve as a subject matter expert for assigned supplier contracts.
• You will assure compliance with contract approval process and adherence to contract standards.
• You will assist and support stakeholders in contract management from award to completion or termination.
• You will provide reporting to business unit leaders including supplier spend, sourcing project activity, risks, opportunities and results. Executive-level dashboards will include actionable data, performance metrics and supplier scorecards.

Qualifications

• Requires specialized expertise in labor sourcing, procurement, and vendor management specifically managing highly visible, complex, and strategic supplier relationships.
• Extensive knowledge of strategic sourcing practices including spend analytics, market intelligence, RFx execution, and contract negotiation.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of vendor management practices including performance management and relationship management techniques.
• Demonstrated experience leading large, cross functional, complex projects.
• Extensive knowledge and experience applying contract negotiation techniques.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of goods and services contract terms.
• Solid knowledge and understanding of preparing reports, charts and presentations.
• Demonstrated experience relationship building, consulting, guiding strategic business decisions, and using data to solve problems.

#LI-Hybrid

Additional Job Description and Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional Experience:Demonstrated experience in negotiating with and managing large IT professional services vendors.
• Executive Interaction:Proven experience working with senior-level executives, managing substantial vendor relationships, and negotiating complex contracts.
• IT Professional Services Sourcing and Procurement:Expertise in sourcing, procurement, and vendor management focused on IT professional services.
• Strategic Sourcing and Vendor Management:Extensive knowledge of strategic sourcing practices and vendor management techniques.

We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the requirements listed above. Skills can be used in many different ways, and your life and professional experience may be relevant beyond what a list of requirements will capture. We encourage those who are passionate about what we do to apply!

We provide benefits that support your physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing. You will have access to comprehensive medical, dental, vision and wellbeing benefits that enable you to take care of your health. We also offer a competitive 401(k) contribution, a pension plan, an annual incentive, 9 paid holidays and a paid time off program (23 days accrued annually for full-time employees). In addition, our student loan repayment program and paid-family leave are available to support our employees and their families. Interns and contingent workers are not eligible for American Family Insurance Group benefits.

We are an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws pertaining to non-discrimination, non-harassment and equal opportunity. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.