Strategic Vendor Lead

** Job Description*
* Oversee critical vendor partnerships supporting OCI data center operations. This role serves as the single-threaded owner for vendor performance, compliance, commercial management, and operational execution across strategic service providers supporting hyperscale cloud infrastructure environments.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in vendor lifecycle management, contract governance, operational performance management, and cross-functional stakeholder coordination within mission-critical environments such as data centers, construction, utilities, facilities, or regulated enterprise operations.

This position plays a key role in protecting uptime, ensuring operational continuity, optimizing vendor performance, and driving accountability across Oracle's expanding global infrastructure footprint.

** Skills & Competencies*
* + Strong commercial and contract negotiation acumen.

+ Confident conflict resolution and escalation management capabilities.

+ Data-driven mindset with strong operational reporting and analytical skills.

+ Ability to build trusted relationships with executive stakeholders and strategic vendors.

+ High attention to detail with disciplined execution and accountability.

+ Strong collaboration skills across technical and non-technical teams.

+ Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, rapidly scaling environments.

** Why Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)?*
* ** Global Impact at Scale*
* Help shape the operational reliability and scalability of one of the world's fastest-growing hyperscale cloud platforms.

** Mission-Critical Operations*
* Work in technically rigorous environments where operational excellence, uptime, safety, and precision execution are foundational.

** High-Performance Culture*
* Join a team that values accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and disciplined operational execution.

** Career Growth & Mobility*
* Oracle offers extensive opportunities for long-term career development, internal mobility, leadership growth, and technical advancement across global infrastructure operations.

** Responsibilities*
* ** Key Responsibilities*
* ** Vendor Strategy & Relationship Management*
* + Serve as the primary owner for strategic vendor relationships supporting OCI data center operations.

+ Develop, strengthen, and maintain high-performing partnerships with national and regional vendors to ensure consistent service delivery and operational excellence.

+ Lead end-to-end vendor lifecycle activities including vendor sourcing, onboarding, performance management, governance, renewal planning, and offboarding.

+ Foster collaboration between vendors and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment with operational objectives, safety standards, and service expectations.

** Contract & Commercial Management*
* + Support development, negotiation, implementation, and governance of Master Service Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

+ Ensure contractual obligations, service expectations, and compliance requirements are clearly defined and operationalized.

+ Partner closely with Procurement, Legal, Finance, and Operations teams to resolve commercial issues and drive contract optimization opportunities.

+ Leverage enterprise and national agreements to improve cost efficiency, standardization, and vendor scalability across regions.

** Performance & Operational Excellence*
* + Drive vendor accountability through structured performance reviews, escalation management, and corrective action planning.

+ Analyze operational trends and vendor performance data to identify risks, service gaps, and continuous improvement opportunities.

+ Utilize digital vendor management and reporting systems to track performance, contracts, compliance status, and operational deliverables.

** Cross-Functional Coordination*
* + Coordinate execution activities across Site Operations, Engineering, Construction, Procurement, Finance, Legal, Security, and Compliance teams.

+ Provide concise, data-driven reporting and executive updates to site leadership and regional stakeholders.

+ Support operational readiness initiatives and vendor coordination activities for new deployments, expansions, and infrastructure projects.

** Minimum Qualifications*
* + 5+ years of experience in vendor management, supplier relationship management, procurement, facilities operations, construction operations, or related operational leadership roles.

+ Experience managing vendors within critical infrastructure, hyperscale data center, utilities, construction, manufacturing, or regulated enterprise environments.

+ Strong understanding of contract governance, SLA management, KPI development, and vendor performance oversight.

+ Ability to read, interpret, and manage contracts, RFPs, technical scopes of work, and service specifications.

+ Experience managing escalations, operational risk, and vendor issue resolution in fast-paced environments.

+ Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills with the…