Supplier Relationship Manager

Western Governors University•Salt Lake City, UT

6d•$97,100 - $145,600

About The Position

The Supplier Relationship Manager will build and maintain positive relationships with third party suppliers to monitor and manage supplier performance, as well as collaborate with internal stakeholders to drive and deliver upon strategic sourcing and transformation plans. This role will influence change in a highly matrixed organization while ensuring timelines and objectives of departmental strategies and initiatives are met. This role will identify trends to drive informed decision making and address challenges and recommend innovative solutions at the account and national levels. The Supplier Relationship Manager will also be tasked with developing and executing managed service agreements.

Requirements

Exceptional relationship management skills and ability to influence decisions at executive leadership levels
Demonstrated ability to lead strategic and organizational change delivering intended results and outcomes
Strong executive-level communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively navigate and mediate conflict and foster direct dialog with suppliers, external clients, employees, account partners, and internal business teams.
Strong analytical skillset and critical thinking (i.e., ability to compile, interpret and analyze data to make fact-based recommendations and decisions)
Ability to organize, coordinate, and direct team activities and results
Ability to recognize and execute on opportunities to leverage resources for better outcomes
Ability to build relationships and influence at all levels
Ability to be an agent of change in a rapidly changing environment
Excellent organizational and project management skills, including the ability to effectively handle multiple tasks and pay attention to detail
Sound judgment and decision-making skills in sometimes charged high stakes environments
Communicates to improve and promote teamwork, decision-making, and problem solving. Listens and responds effectively to the reactions and positions of others and encourages the expression of diverse ideas and opinions. Adjusts message and style to fit the audience. Provides timely and helpful feedback. Communicates appropriately to win support with all audiences.
Works cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives. Represents own interests while being fair to others and their areas. Partners with others to get work done. Credits others for their contributions and accomplishments. Gains buy-in, trust, and support of others.
Deals comfortably with the uncertainty of change. Effectively handles risk. Can decide to act without the total picture. Is calm and productive, even when things are up in the air. Deals constructively with problems that do not have clear solutions or outcomes. Is confident under pressure. Handles and manages crises effectively. Maintains a positive attitude despite adversity. Bounces back from obstacles and setbacks. Grows from hardships and negative experiences.
Has a strong outcomes-based orientation. Persists in accomplishing objectives despite obstacles and setbacks. Has a track record of successfully succeeding goals. Pushes self and helps others to achieve results. Has a continuous improvement mindset.
Forms teams with appropriate and diverse mixes of styles, perspectives, and experience. Establishes common objectives and a shared mind-set. Creates a feeling of belonging and strong team morale. Shares wins and rewards team efforts. Fosters open dialogue and collaboration among the team. Creates a team that works well cross-functionally.
Learns quickly when facing new situations. Experiments to find new solutions. Takes on challenges of unfamiliar tasks. Extracts lessons learned from failures and mistakes. Expands knowledge base through ongoing curiosity.
Bachelor's Degree in a related field
7 years of experience managing key, complex third-party supplier relationships
Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager.

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree in a related field

Responsibilities

Provides supplier management lifecycle oversight of critical and complex third-party relationships.
Monitors and manages the performance of their supplier portfolio to ensure agreed upon deliverables and service level commitments are met.
Establishes clear expectations, defines key performance indicators (KPIs), and regularly evaluates supplier performance against these benchmarks.
Maintains open communication lines with suppliers to address any issues or discrepancies promptly.
Tracks and reports supplier deliverables and service level agreements, ensures accountability, mitigates potential risks, and upholds the organizations standards of quality and timeliness.
Performs as a functional bridge amongst external suppliers as well as internal stakeholders, collaborating across the organization to coordinate the planning and execution of short- and long-term outcomes and projects to meet client and company current and future needs.
Creates, documents, and facilitates internal change management processes and routines to introduce and drive adherence to supplier management operational rigor and routines, creating conditions for success by removing obstacles, and championing evolution of how work is delivered.
Proactively assesses and analyzes supplier operations to identify any potential risks that may impact the organization’s performance, business continuity, brand, reputation, and security.
Uses quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends in issues and create strategies and recommendations for improvement and resolution.
Identifies process improvements that will result in positive outcomes for all stakeholders.
Fosters partnerships with suppliers, the broader Procurement team members, and internal business stakeholders to foster collaboration and to identify and recommend improvement opportunities.
Researches business strategies and recommends best practices and changes in technology related to the performance of Academic Program initiatives.
Ensures overall quality, consistency, and functionality of all work by team members to ensure a high level of performance and engagement from all team members in each functional group.
Establishes appropriate performance metrics for direct reports and ensures accountability.
Works with cross-functional teams regarding contract, billing, validity, and escalated issues.
Ensures compliance with policies and procedures pertaining to supplier relations by Academic Program employees.
Works with team members and other internal stakeholders to conduct regular supplier business reviews.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare
health savings account and flexible spending account
basic and voluntary life insurance
disability coverage
accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages
legal and identity theft coverage
retirement savings plan
wellbeing program
discounted WGU tuition
flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave