Vendor Relations Manager

The Vendor Relations Manager will play a pivotal role in the scoping, sourcing, contracting, and ongoing management of operational expense vendor partners. These partners perform essential services throughout Southwest Key’s real estate portfolio. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring services meet the organization’s needs by carefully reviewing the necessity and scope of work, as well as evaluating the quality and completion of work provided by vendors.

Essential Functions:

• Support the scoping, sourcing, contracting, and ongoing management of operational expense vendor partners.
• Execute program objectives, creating project timelines and project management, status reports, vendor recognition, savings tracking, and vendor evaluation plans.
• Develop and maintain dashboards or reports that provide visibility into vendor performance and program success.
• Represent program to internal stakeholders when needed.
• Assist Contract Administrators in the development of accurate and necessary Scopes of Work.
• Ensure services meet organizational needs by reviewing the necessity and scope of work.
• Conduct thorough vendor evaluations to assess quality and completion of work.
• Maintain effective communication with service providers to foster positive relationships.
• Ensure that all vendor activities align with organizational standards.
• Monitor conflicts of interest and develop vendors to meet organizational needs.
• Travel extensively to ensure projects are necessary and complete.
• Develop strong ties to the UM VP of Real Estate position and oversee fleet management.
• Maintain relationships with suppliers across various categories and regions.
• Develop internal relationships with Contract Administrators, Legal Teams, Property Managers, and Security Personnel to determine allowability, allocability, and reasonableness of costs.
• Invoice Management: Ensure accurate and timely reconciliation of vendor invoices, reviewing discrepancies and resolving issues promptly. Implement best practices for invoice management to streamline payment processes and maintain comprehensive records. Collaborate with finance and accounting departments to ensure proper coding and allocation of expenses and support financial audits and compliance requirements.

Other Functions:

• Preferred Fleet Management experience for commuter cars, passenger vans, and non-CDL vehicles

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to foster positive relationships with vendors.
• Experience in vendor evaluation and management.
• Ability to travel extensively as required by the role.
• Experience in fleet management is highly desirable.

Physical Demands:

Must be able to read, write, and communicate verbally and in writing to express and exchange ideas. While performing the responsibilities of this job, the employee must be able to access all components of workstation and other office equipment. Frequent typing, writing, bending, and twisting. Must be able to lift to ten pounds. Must be able to drive either personal or company vehicle.

Work Environment:

The work environment for this position is a combination of field and office setting requiring flexibility. The position involves engagement with team members, stakeholders, and programs. May also include engaging directly with youth. A fast-paced and dynamic environment with many unscheduled interruptions. Frequent travel may be required to reach various locations within our service locations. Frequent computer use at workstations for extended periods of time. Public contact position requiring appropriate business apparel.