Director, IT Vendor Liaison

Transamerica•Cedar Rapids, IA

11h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Vendor Liaison is a strategic leader responsible for overseeing the lifecycle of IT third-party technology vendors, ensuring alignment with Enterprise Technology goals, optimizing vendor performance, and mitigating risk. This role partners closely with IT leaders, procurement, finance, risk, and legal teams to drive value, innovation, and compliance across the vendor ecosystem.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in in business administration, operations management, or applicable field, or equivalent experience.
10+ years of relevant experience, including five years working directly with vendors.
Thorough knowledge of vendor management best practices and industry trends.
Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing to a broad audience.
Project management, organization and prioritization skills to handle multiple projects.
Decision-making and problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience in vendor management, IT sourcing, or technology procurement.
Proven leadership in managing complex vendor ecosystems within large-scale IT environments.
Strong negotiation, financial acumen, and contract management skills.
Familiarity with ITIL, COBIT, or other IT governance frameworks.
Experience with TBM (Technology Business Management) principles is a plus.
Executive presence with strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Analytical mindset with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive strategic outcomes in a fast-paced environment.
Extensive knowledge of accounting functions (e.g. reporting, investments, insurance products,), technology or operations, depending on governance support role.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the Technology-wide vendor management strategy for IT services, software, infrastructure, and outsourcing.
Establish governance frameworks for vendor selection, onboarding, performance monitoring, and offboarding in partnership with global risk and strategic sourcing teams.
Lead vendor scorecard development and quarterly business reviews to ensure service delivery, SLAs, and KPIs are met.
Partner across enterprise functions to ensure performance and governance frameworks are supportive of organizational guiderails and goals.
Foster strategic partnerships with key vendors to drive innovation, cost savings, and continuous improvement.
Act as a point of escalation to resolve vendor disputes and support issue resolution.
Collaborate with procurement and legal to negotiate contracts, renewals, and amendments.
Monitor and forecast vendor spend and identify cost optimization opportunities.
Support IT teams in defining objective terms and expectations for vendors that align execution with expected outcomes.
Ensure vendors comply with regulatory, cybersecurity, and data privacy requirements.
Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation plans for critical vendor relationships in alignment with third-party risk management.
Partner across enterprise functions to ensure that global standards and expectations are enforced while representing Enterprise Technology in processes and ways of working.
Partner with IT service owners, finance, and business stakeholders to align vendor pool and capabilities with technology roadmaps.
Lead vendor-related transformation initiatives, including outsourcing transitions and vendor consolidation.

Benefits

Competitive Pay
Bonus for Eligible Employees
Benefits Package
Pension Plan
401k Match
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Tuition Reimbursement
Disability Insurance
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Employee Discounts
Career Training & Development Opportunities
Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service.
Ten (10) paid holidays per year (typically mirroring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holidays).
Be Well Company holistic wellness program, which includes Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars
Parental Leave – fifteen (15) days of paid parental leave per calendar year to eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth, placement of an adopted child, or placement of a foster care child.
Adoption Assistance
Employee Assistance Program
Back-Up Care Program
PTO for Volunteer Hours
Employee Matching Gifts Program
Employee Resource Groups
Inclusion and Diversity Programs
Employee Recognition Program
Referral Bonus Programs