Vendor Manager - Retail industry

Vendor Manager - Retail industry
Vendor Manager - Retail industry

The location of the role is Paddington, London (hybrid working).

The duration of the contract is 6 months.

The pay rate on offer is 450 - 500 per day.

The client is a multinational high-street retailer.

Job purpose

The Vendor Manager plays a crucial role in ensuring the effective and efficient management of the business' Online vendor ecosystem, aligning vendor strategies with business objectives to deliver measurable value. This role is responsible for designing and implementing robust vendor management processes, optimising cost efficiencies, and enhancing vendor performance. By establishing governance frameworks and performance tracking mechanisms, the Vendor Manager ensures transparency and accountability in vendor operations, facilitating informed decision-making and driving value creation through harmonisation of the vendor ecosystem.

Key accountabilities and measures

• Vendor Management Processes and ways of working: Develop and implement robust processes and methodologies to ensure optimal cost efficiency and strong vendor performance.
• Vendor Performance and Governance framework: Define and establish an effective tracking mechanism and performance management framework for M&S Online vendors. Set up and manage a central governance forum, such as Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), to present key performance highlights, monitor vendor performance dashboards, assess risks, and facilitate critical decision-making.
• License management: Design and implement comprehensive processes for proactive license management, including timely planning and execution of re-negotiations, approval flows, and compliance checks. Identify cost-saving opportunities through initiatives such as license harvesting, re-negotiations, or adjustments to the mix of license types. Challenge incoming license requests to ensure cost alignment and prevent unnecessary expenditure.
• Vendor Landscape Analysis and Recommendations: Conduct in-depth, ad-hoc analysis of the vendor landscape to provide actionable insights and recommendations to the Portfolio team and Online LT. Identify opportunities for improvement and optimisation within the vendor ecosystem, enhancing value delivery and efficiency.
• Stakeholder management: Promote awareness of the vendor management capability and its strategic importance within M&S Online among relevant stakeholders. Foster alignment on expected outcomes, accountabilities, and responsibilities to ensure clear sponsorship and buy-in from all key parties.
• Standardisation of Vendor Management Data: Establish and maintain a comprehensive, up-to-date contract master data repository to track essential information, including contract ownership, value, expiry dates, and termination notices. Develop and sustain a vendor tiering model to enable a prioritised, transparent, and consistent approach to vendor management.

Key skills

• Extensive experience in managing vendor relationships and contracts, including negotiation, performance tracking, and ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to systematically and logically analyse complex situations, identify root causes, resolve issues, and anticipate potential implications or risks.
• Highly motivated self-starter with a strong focus on delivering tangible value to the business. Capable of working independently while driving results.
• Proven ability to mobilise, design, and implement new operating models and ways of working, ensuring alignment with evolving business needs and successful cross-team collaboration.
• Supportive and team-focused mindset, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation across the department.
• Strong skills in managing and influencing a diverse range of stakeholders. Deep understanding of business priorities and the ability to align vendor management practices with strategic goals.
• Proven track record in establishing, managing, and enhancing vendor management governance frameworks to support effective decision-making and mitigate risks.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication abilities, with extensive experience engaging with stakeholders at all levels to ensure alignment and clarity.
• A forward-thinking and adaptable approach, responsive to changing priorities. Demonstrates resilience and the ability to perform effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to tailor approaches within structured frameworks to deliver measurable business results efficiently.
• High ethical standards and respectful towards values and opinions. Ambitious and passionate about their work and thrives with challenges.
• A broad, strategic perspective with the capability to distil relevant information for effective decision-making and long-term planning.
• Familiarity with tools for process optimisation, dashboard creation, reporting, and team collaboration. Advanced proficiency in MS Office Suite, particularly PowerPoint.
• Understanding of the retail industry, including its trends and challenges, is advantageous.