Vendor Relationship Management Specialist

About the role

Are you passionate about building strategic supplier relationships, driving vendor performance, and creating value through effective vendor management? We are looking for an experienced Vendor Relationship Management Specialist to lead and manage the full vendor lifecycle, from registration and onboarding to performance management and continuous improvement. The successful candidate will play a critical role in strengthening supplier relationships, enhancing vendor performance, mitigating risks, and supporting procurement excellence across the organization.

Manage the end-to-end vendor registration, qualification, and onboarding process. Verify vendor documentation and compliance requirements. Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure timely approvals and onboarding readiness. Maintain governance and compliance throughout the onboarding lifecycle.

Conduct market research to identify potential suppliers and expand the organization's vendor base. Source, assess, and prequalify vendors based on business requirements. Analyze market trends, supplier capabilities, and industry opportunities. Support the implementation of supplier segmentation and vendor categorization strategies.

Develop and manage vendor performance evaluation frameworks. Monitor supplier performance through KPIs, SLAs, scorecards, and performance reviews. Identify performance gaps and implement corrective action plans. Drive supplier performance improvement initiatives and continuous development programs.

Maintain a centralized and accurate vendor database. Ensure data integrity, classification, and governance standards are maintained. Manage vendor records, segmentation, onboarding status, and supplier information within ERP systems. Produce reports and dashboards to support management decision-making.

Serve as the primary point of contact for vendor-related matters. Build strong relationships with suppliers, contractors, and service providers. Facilitate effective collaboration between vendors and internal departments. Support strategic supplier relationship management initiatives.

Conduct vendor due diligence, assessments, and risk reviews. Monitor vendor compliance and risk mitigation activities. Manage supplier disputes and performance-related issues. Support audits and ensure adherence to procurement policies and governance requirements.

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field. Minimum 6 years of experience in procurement and contracts, with strong experience in vendor registration and vendor management processes. Strong knowledge of ERP systems, document management tools, and Microsoft Office applications. Excellent communication, negotiation, stakeholder management, and interpersonal skills. Ability to work independently and effectively manage multiple priorities. Fluency in English (written and spoken).

Candidates with experience in government, semi-government, regulatory, or public-sector environments will be highly regarded.