Senior IT Vendor Manager

Source Group are currenlty looking to Hire an experienced and dynamic Freelance Senior IT Vendor Manager to join our IT and Services team. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing strategically a variety of critical technology and services vendors. This includes managing contracts, performance, risks and relationships.

This is a Freelance position for an intial 12 months. Succesful candidates must be able to relocate or currenlty be living in Switzerland.

Day to Day duties:

• Vendor Relationship Management: Develop and maintain strong relationships with key IT vendors, acting as the primary point of contact. Foster collaborative partnerships to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
• Contract Negotiation and Management: Lead the negotiation of vendor contracts, ensuring favourable terms and conditions. Oversee the contract lifecycle, including renewals, amendments, and terminations.
• Performance Monitoring: Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate vendor performance. Implement corrective actions as needed to address performance issues or non compliance.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate risks associated with vendor relationships. Develop and implement risk management strategies to ensure continuity of services and minimize potential disruptions.
• Cost Optimization: Continuously assess and optimize vendor-related costs. Identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements without compromising service quality.
• VM Framework implementation: co-create a VM Framework of standards and practises to equip IT leaders, IT Product Managers and IT vendor managers with the tools and processes to manage IT vendor strategically.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with internal stakeholders, including IT, finance, legal, and procurement teams, to ensure seamless vendor management processes. Provide regular updates and reports to senior leadership.
• Market Analysis: Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and market conditions. Conduct market analysis to identify potential new vendors and innovative solutions.
• Compliance and Governance: Ensure that all vendor agreements comply with relevant regulations, policies, and standards. Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of vendor contracts and performance metrics.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in IT vendor management, a background in procurement, strategic IT sourcing or a related role would also be considered, with most recent experience being in Vendor Management. 
• Proven track record of successfully managing vendors in very interdependent environment (i.e. ability to navigate, influence, negotiate with stakeholders with diverging interests, priorities, managing ambiguity).
• Proven track record negotiating complex contracts and to successfully renew partnerships with IT vendors while being in lock-in situation or with limited leverage.
• Proven track record to challenge constructively, to influence and to negotiate with internal stakeholders.
• Knowledge of IT infrastructure, software, and services, as well as industry best practices in vendor management, to be able to help implement/co-create standards and practices for IT Vendor Management.