Vendor Manager
Wichita, KS
Full Time
Experienced
LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES LOCAL TO WICHITA, KS
Headquartered in Wichita, KS AgVantis is a unique and distinct technology solutions and business services organization, providing its solutions and services to both Farm Credit Banks and Member-Owned Associations. We help navigate the complex Farm Credit regulatory environment with solutions and services that are designed by and for Farm Credit Entities to meet their unique business needs. Since our inception in August of 2001, AgVantis has and continues to develop and provide customized financial software and business services to Farm Credit Associations around the United States.
Benefits offered by AgVantis:
- Powering those who grow America
- Investment in employee development and training
- Medical, Dental, Vision coverage (HSA and FSA available)
- Outstanding 401K - automatic 3% employer contribution, plus match up to 6%
- Generous Paid Time Off, plus 10 paid holidays
- Competitive Incentive Compensation Plan
- Disability & Life Insurance
- Employee mental, physical, and financial wellness programs
- Gym Membership Discounts
- Zander Identity Theft Protection for employee and family
- Hybrid Work Schedules
POSITION SUMMARY
The Vendor Manager is responsible for overseeing relationships with third parties that supply materials and services to AgVantis. The vendors include those who provide software, including "cloud" and software as a service ("SaaS"), and professional services organizations that may implement and/or manage it. Overall, the Vendor Manager is to ensure a fair, accountable business relationship with AgVantis' vendors. Matters of vendor selection, negotiation, financial commitments, and performance management are the direct responsibility of vendor management. All these activities will be in collaboration with Product Managers, other leaders and technical staff.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
1. Leading vendor selection. The Vendor Manager, in consultation with other parts of AgVantis, will be responsible for identifying vendors based on the requirements of the organization. The Vendor Manager will contact vendors to engage them in information gathering and formal processes such as Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Proposal (RFP). The Vendor Manager may engage others at AgVantis to develop the necessary materials for these processes. The Vendor Manager is also responsible for ensuring that due diligence (financial stability, security requirements) is performed, engaging others as necessary to support this object. The Vendor Manager is the external face to vendor selection process and will be the point of contact for vendors.
2. Managing negotiations with vendors. The Vendor Manager will assist in negotiating contract terms with prospective and existing vendors. This includes the financial terms and service level agreements and any incentives and penalties for vendor performance. The Vendor Manager will consult as necessary with legal counsel to ensure that AgVantis' interests are protected in contractual agreements.
3. Signing authority for vendor agreements. The Vendor Manager will be responsible for executing all agreements with external suppliers below an established threshold. Agreements above that threshold must be executed by the President.
4. Vendor Performance. The Vendor Manager will be responsible for periodic reviews of Service Level Agreements with vendors. While not necessarily responsible for collecting the supporting data (this may be done by other AgVantis staff), the Vendor Manager will be responsible for reviewing this information, escalating issues with the vendor, and if necessary, enforcing contractual provisions related to failure to meet said service levels.
5. License Management: The Vendor Manager, supported by other teams at AgVantis, will monitor license utilization to ensure that AgVantis is not purchasing unnecessary licenses as well as remaining in compliance with the established licensing limits in vendor contracts.
OTHER FUNCTIONS
1. Implementation project management. These projects will generally be overseen by the Product Development/Support or Operations teams. While informed of these projects, the Vendor Manager will generally not be directly involved in overseeing the details of such efforts unless the vendor is unable to deliver as agreed.
2. Incident / defect management, support. The AgVantis Product Development/Support or Operations teams will engage the vendor using agreed upon procedures for support. Only in the case of unresponsiveness or unresolved issues will the Vendor Manager generally be involved.
3. Vendor Roadmap. Interactions with the Vendor regarding their roadmap and AgVantis' suggested features will be managed by Product Strategy. The Vendor Manager may be made aware of these requests but is not expected to have the detailed functional knowledge to represent AgVantis in this process.
4. Supervisory Responsibilities
5. Performs other duties and assumes other responsibilities as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education including a Bachelor's degree in supply chain, marketing, business administration, or related field, or equivalent work experience.
6+ years' experience in vendor management, procurement, or a related role.
Experience leading selection process for information technology solutions.
Strong negotiation and contract management skills with technology vendors, including SaaS solutions and Cloud hosting.
Experience implementing processes and controls that enable the measurement of vendor performance against contractual terms and service level agreements (SLAs).
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to conduct difficult conversations.
Proficiency in vendor management software and tools.
Moderate travel with overnight stays as required. The need for travel will depend upon projects.
Regular attendance is required at this job, with the ability to work a full 8-hour day. Overtime as required to meet deadlines.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
Policy manuals, procedures manuals, training manuals, computer equipment, calculator, telephone, printer, copy machine, projector, video equipment.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
MENTAL ACTIVITIES
Analyzing, calculating, comparing, consulting, coordinating, designing, documenting, editing, evaluating, interpreting, organizing, planning, presenting, reading, specifying, training.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
Hearing, kneeling, reading, repetitive motions, talking, walking, writing.
In addition to applying through this site, please follow this link to complete the application process: https://go.apply.ci/s/CA2F220000
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