Vendor manager

A vendor manager oversees an organization's relationships with its suppliers and service providers. They select and onboard vendors, negotiate and manage contracts, monitor performance and service levels, resolve issues, control costs, and ensure vendors deliver the quality and value the organization needs — managing the external partners the business depends on.

The role blends relationship management with negotiation, analysis, and oversight, central to organizations that rely heavily on outside providers. Vendor managers work across industries.

The job suits organized, analytical, relationship-minded people who enjoy managing partnerships and holding vendors accountable, like the mix of negotiation and ongoing management, and want a role responsible for getting the most value and reliability from an organization's key suppliers.