Vendor Management Specialist; API & QA

At First Advantage (Nasdaq: FA), people are at the heart of everything we do. From our customers and partners to our greatest advantage — our team members. Operating with empathy and compassion, First Advantage fosters a global inclusive workforce devoted to the diverse voices that make up our talent and products. Our team members empower each other to be their authentic selves and treat all with respect, integrity, and fairness.

Say hello to a rewarding career and come join a leading provider of mission‑critical background screening solutions to some of the most recognized Fortune 100 and Global 500 brands.

In addition to broad support of global vendor management goals and objectives, the Vendor Management Specialist – API & Quality Assurance is responsible for managing a portfolio of vendors while ensuring robust quality assurance processes and proactive defect management. This role leads API discovery and coordination efforts, oversees UAT testing and feedback loops, and maintains compliance through audits, onboarding, and annual reviews.

The position requires strong collaboration with internal stakeholders and vendors, leveraging internal tools and reporting to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.

• API Discovery & Coordination:
  Identify and document vendor API capabilities;
  Coordinate integration efforts between vendors and internal technical teams;
  Ensure API functionality aligns with business requirements.
• User Acceptance Testing (UAT):
  Plan and execute UAT for vendor‑related systems and integrations;
  Collect and analyze feedback, ensuring timely resolution of issues.
• Quality Assurance & Defect Management:
  Develop and implement QA processes for vendor deliverables;
  Manage the Defect Management System (DMS), ensuring timely remediation;
  Monitor performance trends and elevate issues proactively.
• Vendor Portfolio Management:
  Oversee onboarding and compliance audits for vendors;
  Conduct annual reviews and implement remediation plans as needed;
  Maintain strong vendor relationships and ensure adherence to SLAs.
• Reporting & Analytics:
  Utilize internal tools to track vendor performance metrics;
  Provide insights and recommendations for process improvements;
  Prepare regular reports for leadership and stakeholders.
• Stakeholder
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Work closely with internal teams (Operations, IT, Governance) to align vendor activities with organizational goals;
  Act as liaison between vendors and internal stakeholders for issue resolution and strategic initiatives.
• Other related duties as assigned.

• Experience:
  
  5+ years in vendor management, QA, or technical coordination roles;
  Experience with API integrations and UAT processes.
• Expert at understanding stakeholder needs and translating them into a robust supplier management strategy, ensuring full alignment within the organization throughout the process.
• Comfortable challenging the status quo and finding innovative solutions to drive value for First Advantage; are not afraid to take the lead to get things done.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills;
  Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities;
  Proficiency in QA methodologies and defect tracking tools;
  Familiarity with vendor governance and compliance processes.
• A self‑starter who is outcome‑focused and result driven.

• Experienced professional with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in operations, vendor management or procurement‑related functions.
• Background in managing international pre‑employment screening vendor relationships is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Demonstrated capability in strategy development, relationship management, analytics, and project management are also required.

First Advantage is going through a technology transformation! We are looking for experts who are excited to work with advanced technologies and provide best‑in‑class user experiences, drive the development and deployment of scalable solutions, and smoothly guide our agile teams and clients through meaningful changes as we continue to expand our…