Senior Vendor Manager

Stand Together is a philanthropic community that helps America’s boldest changemakers tackle the root causes of our country’s biggest problems, from education to the economy, broken communities, and toxic division, among dozens of other pressing issues. We provide our partners with access to resources including funding, thought leadership, a network of peers, and a playbook for applying proven principles to transform lives and society. 

Stand Together seeks an experienced Senior Vendor Manager to strengthen its vendor management, strategic sourcing, and procurement approach, with a focus on SaaS and technology partnerships.

The Senior Vendor Manager will oversee the full vendor management lifecycle, from sourcing and contract negotiations to performance management, risk mitigation, and relationship development. This individual will collaborate closely with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure vendor partnerships deliver measurable value, support business objectives, and maximize the impact of organizational resources.

Serving as a senior individual contributor, this individual will play a key role in advancing the organization's vendor management function by developing scalable processes, influencing strategic decisions, optimizing spending, and driving continuous improvements that enhance operational efficiency and vendor performance.

How You Will Contribute

Vendor Sourcing & Strategic Procurement

- Lead the sourcing, evaluation, selection, and management of vendors, with an emphasis on SaaS, software, and IT service providers.

- Partner with internal stakeholders to assess business needs, evaluate vendor solutions, and develop effective, cost-conscious procurement strategies.

- Negotiate contracts, renewals, licensing agreements, and pricing structures to secure favorable terms and maximize organizational value.

Vendor Performance & Relationship Management

- Build and maintain strong vendor relationships that foster collaboration, accountability, and long-term value.

- Establish and monitor vendor performance metrics, service-level agreements (SLAs), and key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure service quality and contractual compliance.

- Proactively identify and resolve vendor performance issues, contractual disputes, and service delivery challenges.

Spend Optimization & Risk Management

- Analyze vendor spending, contract terms, and software licensing utilization to identify cost-saving opportunities and maximize the value of organizational investments.

- Assess and mitigate vendor-related risks, including contractual, financial, operational, and compliance considerations.

- Collaborate with Legal, Finance, Technology, and other internal teams to ensure vendor agreements and practices align with organizational policies and applicable requirements.

Vendor Management Strategy & Continuous Improvement

- Develop and implement scalable vendor management policies, processes, and best practices to strengthen efficiency, consistency, and accountability.

- Establish reporting frameworks and dashboards to monitor vendor performance, spending, contract renewals, cost savings, and other key metrics.

- Leverage data and analytics to identify trends, guide procurement decisions, and drive continuous improvement.

- Serve as a subject matter expert and strategic advisor on vendor management, providing actionable recommendations to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

- Lead cross-functional initiatives to optimize vendor partnerships, strengthen procurement practices, and drive organizational alignment without direct reporting authority.

What You Will Bring

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in vendor management, procurement, strategic sourcing, or a related field.
• Strong expertise in SaaS and IT procurement, including software licensing models, subscription agreements, vendor negotiations, and technology sourcing strategies.
• Proven success negotiating complex vendor contracts, securing favorable terms, and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• Demonstrated experience building, improving, or transforming vendor management functions through process improvements, standardized practices, and performance-measurement frameworks.
• Strong analytical skills, with experience using vendor performance metrics, spend analysis, and reporting tools to inform decisions and identify improvement opportunities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and collaborate effectively across business functions.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives, driving process improvements, and achieving results without direct reporting authority.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities, with experience managing multiple vendor relationships, contracts, and competing priorities.
• -Ability to apply Principle-Based Management (PBM) to drive results, foster collaboration, and create value for others.
• Enthusiastic about contributing to Stand Together's vision and principled approach to problem-solving, and committed to stewarding our culture, which champions values including transformation and innovation, entrepreneurialism, humility, and respect.

Stand Out Candidates Will Bring

• Professional certifications such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM).
• Experience leading vendor management transformation initiatives, implementing scalable solutions, and driving organizational change.
• Experience managing complex SaaS and technology vendor portfolios, including enterprise licensing agreements and strategic vendor negotiations.

What We Offer

• Competitive benefits: Enjoy a 6% 401(k) match with immediate vesting, flexible time off, comprehensive health and dental plans, plus wellness and mental health support through Peloton and Talkspace.
• A meaningful career: Join a passionate community of over 1,300 employees dedicated to improving lives and driving innovative solutions to complex social challenges.
• Commitment to growth: Thrive in a non-hierarchical environment that empowers employees to discover, develop, and apply their unique talents.
• Competitive compensation: We reward the value you create with competitive salaries and bonus opportunities, so you can share in the success you help drive.

Our Values: Working for an organization within the Stand Together philanthropic community is different from many other places. The culture is deeply rooted in Principle Based Management® (PBM®), a framework guided by the principles that drive human progress, such as dignity, openness, and bottom-up empowerment. PBM® empowers employees to be entrepreneurial, to innovate, and to continually drive transformation.   

We believe diversity fuels creativity, broadens knowledge, and helps drive success.  That is why we’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and strive to treat all employees and applicants with honesty, dignity, and respect.