The Role
Reporting into the Head of Technology Business Operations Excellence (TBOX), this role is responsible for managing a small established team of vendor management professionals, and uplifting the practice, tooling and processes to support the ongoing capability for vendor and partner management across Technology. The role will be responsible for managing all Technology partner and vendor requirements, owning the contractual, commercial and operational working relationships with vendors to ensure effective delivery of committed products, services and solutions. This includes the ongoing governance and reporting of performance against defined metrics, as well as proactively identifying opportunities for realising greater value and savings from these relationships.
This is a critical function for SEEK Technology given the importance of maintaining and driving strategic value from vendor relationships in achieving SEEK’s growth ambitions.
Key Responsibilities
Define and manage policies and processes for vendor management functions. Collaborate with business units and partners to align or implement these policies and processes (e.g. Procurement, Finance, Risk).
Provide leadership and set the strategic direction, mission and vision for the vendor management capability in alignment with the strategic and operational objectives of the technology organisation and the broader enterprise.
Develop organisational design and functional roles and responsibilities for technology vendor management.
Collaborate with internal partners, such as Technology and business resources, Sourcing, Finance and Procurement, to develop criteria and standard methodologies for vendor selection.
Assist procurement teams in optimizing negotiation cost-effectiveness and ensuring vendor management policy and practice compliance, including defining service levels and assigned tasks.
Establish internal and external policies, standards and processes for vendor interaction.
Develop processes and tools for use in vendor management, including vendor tracking, analytics and performance management tools.
Serve as the leadership-level point of contact between the vendors and internal customers consuming vendor services and solutions.
Manage vendor relationships as the key point of contact between specified vendors and the business. Serve as a point of escalation for vendor issues and disputes and drive those issues to resolution.
Manage the communication process with vendors, including what information should be communicated, when and by whom, to ensure that appropriate leverage is preserved.
Manage the collection, consolidation and communication of reporting and data on vendor contracts, performance, risk and relationships to key customers and vendors.
Coordinate with asset management resources to assist in the management and tracking of software/hardware assets and consumption of cloud-based entitlements.
Segment and rationalise the vendor portfolio so that appropriate focus can be applied to the most strategically important vendor relationships/engagements.
Manage/oversee the creation and maintenance of a repository of vendors in a contract management database or similar solution to track key engagement achievements (expirations, renewals).
Oversee the measurement and reporting of vendor performance, including the development of evaluation tools based on customer needs, and the creation of scorecards and dashboards that will accurately present this data.
Partner with other areas of the business (procurement, finance) to track and report on vendor financial viability, business continuity, and corporate and regulatory compliance.
Collaborate with team members in the APAC Technology function to build knowledge of standard methodologies in vendor and contract management.
The Team
This role will have an existing team of two (2) vendor management professionals reporting into it. It sits within a newly established function called Technology Business Operations Excellence (TBOX) which has the remit of driving operational excellence across Technology, leveraging vendor relationships, transparency & reporting, and a team focused on uplifting innovation and collaboration.
Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Significant experience in successfully leading a team in the management of vendors/third parties, including, but not limited to, policies, performance, vendor risk, relationships, contracts (including negotiations), and issue and dispute resolution.
Demonstrated ability to build a team and processes from zero. That includes optimise people processes and implement tooling to simplify and standardise.
Broad knowledge of the IT industry and the products and services provided by technology vendors.
Excellent grasp of contract management and negotiation, striving for situations that provides great outcome with the deal for all parties
Solid grasp of financial concepts, such as depreciation schedules, capitalisation, return on investment, and total cost of ownership.
Understanding of the vendor life cycle (sourcing, procurement, vendor management), and how internal roles interact and operate throughout the duration of vendor engagements.
High degree of professionalism in all areas (communication, approach, style).
Highly developed diplomacy, influencing, negotiation and conflict management skills.
Successfully manage stressful situations and handle tight timelines/competing demands.
Experience developing vendor strategies for cross-geographical business areas or organisations, with an appreciation for different cultures.
Ability to partner at all levels of the organisation internally and externally.
Other Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Highly analytical; puzzle-solving - Detail orientated with a solid focus on quality. Ability to handle large amounts of information and ambiguity.
Senior presence and comfort interacting with both internal and vendor senior leadership. Effectively resolve customer issues/ complaints.
Positive ‘can-do’ attitude and willing to go extra miles to solve a problem.
Relationship skills that will facilitate positive vendor behaviours, establish healthy new engagements and deepen existing ones.
Demonstrated continuous innovation and growth in teams and constantly looking for “better” ways.
