Procurement/Vendor Relations Manager
About the Role
The Procurement & Vendor Relations Manager is responsible for driving vendor strategy, cost efficiency, and operational support across the organization. This role oversees vendor selection, contract negotiation, procurement strategy, and revenue forecasting while also managing sponsorships, vendor education, and onboarding programs to strengthen the overall network.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement procurement strategies that balance cost, quality, and operational efficiency.
- Collaborate with Finance and Operations to analyze spend data and identify cost-saving opportunities.
- Standardize procurement policies and ensure compliance across all business units.
- Lead RFPs and competitive bidding processes to secure high-value partnerships.
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard vendors that align with organizational goals.
- Negotiate and manage contracts to ensure long-term value and performance.
- Monitor vendor performance, service quality, and pricing on an ongoing basis.
- Build and maintain strong, mutually beneficial vendor relationships.
- Oversee rebate, incentive, and revenue-sharing programs.
- Forecast vendor-related income and identify opportunities to enhance profitability.
- Leverage data insights to drive margin and performance improvements.
- Manage vendor onboarding, product testing, and system integrations.
- Lead pilot initiatives and process enhancements to support scalability.
- Develop vendor marketing and education initiatives to drive adoption.
- Coordinate vendor participation in events, sponsorships, and promotional activities.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to share vendor success stories and best practices.
- Ensure adherence to brand standards, compliance requirements, and operational policies.
- Provide consistent reporting and communication to internal stakeholders.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Operations, or Supply Chain Management.
- 3–5 years of experience in vendor management, procurement, or sourcing.
- Proven track record in negotiation, forecasting, and vendor relations.
- MUST HAVE FRANCHISE, RETAIL, OR MULTI-UNIT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS EXPERIENCE
- Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
- Strategic thinker with strong financial and operational acumen.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, project management tools (Asana, Trello), and vendor/ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Coupa).
- Familiarity with design and marketing tools (Canva, Adobe Suite) is a plus.
- Highly organized, adaptable, and focused on driving continuous improvement.
- Collaborative and results-oriented, with the ability to influence across teams.