Vendor Management Specialist Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title:
Vendor Management Specialist Lead

Job Description

A mid-size manufacturing firm in South Seattle, WA is seeking a Vendor Management Specialist Lead for a 6‑month temp-to-hire opportunity. In this role, you oversee a team of vendor specialists, manage a high-volume shared inbox, and support 25–50 vendors to ensure orders are processed accurately and on time. You serve as a key liaison between vendors, customers, and production, providing timely updates, coordinating order requirements, and helping maintain smooth operations in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and train a team of three vendor specialists to ensure consistent, high-quality vendor support.
• Manage a shared email inbox daily, responding to vendor and customer inquiries in a timely and professional manner.
• Support 25–50 vendors by serving as their primary point of contact for order status, requirements, and issue resolution.
• Review the MRP system to confirm customer order due dates align with required delivery dates and production capabilities.
• Verify customer purchase orders against internal work orders to ensure compliance with process requirements and accurate flow-down of all necessary information.
• Provide continuous updates to customers on the status of their orders within the allotted four-hour response time frame.
• Communicate with customers to request and obtain additional blueprints, drawings, or other documentation needed for processing.
• Coordinate closely with production teams to obtain estimated completion dates (ECDs) for orders and relay this information to customers and vendors.
• Prepare orders for shipment or transfer to other areas as needed, ensuring all documentation and requirements are complete.
• Develop and maintain daily reports on order status and communicate key information to production and other stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with manufacturing and production floor personnel to address order issues and support on-time delivery.
• Uphold high standards of customer service in all interactions, both internal and external.

Essential Skills

• Strong customer service skills with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally via email and phone.
• Experience in vendor management, including supporting multiple vendors simultaneously.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment, with comfort working closely with production teams.
• Ability to manage a high-volume email inbox and prioritize responses effectively.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including managing and training team members.
• Familiarity with MRP systems for reviewing and aligning order due dates with production requirements.
• Attention to detail when verifying customer purchase orders against internal work orders.
• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED).
• Willingness to complete pre-employment drug screening and check, as required for the role.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Customer service oriented mindset with a focus on building strong vendor and customer relationships.
• Experience in a call center or service-focused environment.
• Exposure to aerospace or similar highly regulated manufacturing industries.
• Ability to create and maintain daily reports on orders and communicate findings to production.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced setting and adapting to changing priorities.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and stakeholders at once.

Work Environment

This position is based in a manufacturing environment in South Seattle, WA, with working hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You regularly collaborate with production floor personnel and may need to walk the production floor to discuss orders and requirements. The environment can be louder than a typical office setting, and steel-toe boots may be required when on the production floor for safety.

The facility offers free parking and has recently expanded with a new second building, reflecting strong growth and a dynamic atmosphere. The role combines office-based work, such as managing email and reports, with on-site interaction with manufacturing teams, providing a blend of administrative and operational responsibilities.

We reserve the right to pay above or below the posted wage based on factors unrelated to sex, race, or any other protected classification.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program