Lead, Vendor Governance Consultant; Hybrid: Madison, WI​/Waverly, IA

Job Purpose

This position drives day‑to‑day execution of the enterprise Strategic Vendor Governance (SVG) office, ensuring vendors deliver contracted value, meet performance expectations, and support business, financial, and risk objectives.

• Strategic Governance & Operating Model
  • Operationalize the Strategic Vendor Governance framework, performance standards, escalation models, and cadence of reviews.
  • Utilize the criteria defined for strategic vendor designation and ensure consistent application across the enterprise.
  • Execute the ongoing portfolio review process to validate strategic vendor designation, recommend reclassification where appropriate, and support transition of ongoing management to business partners.
  • Drive consistent execution of roles, decision rights, and accountability across Procurement, IT, and business partners.
• Vendor Performance & Value Realization
  • Oversee enterprise level performance management for strategic vendors, including SLAs, KPIs, outcomes, and value realization.
  • Hold vendors accountable to transformation roadmaps, innovation commitments, and performance‑linked commercial terms.
  • Run disciplined, outcome‑driven business reviews with top vendors, ensuring consistency and delivery of actionable insights, risks, and recommendations.
  • Accountably manage third‑party engagements for key strategic vendors, including ongoing risk assessments and due‑diligence activities.
• Financial & Commercial Management
  • Partner with Procurement and Finance to track savings, benefits realization, and commercial commitments.
  • Identify opportunities for cost optimization, demand management, and value leakage remediation.
  • Support contract renewals and renegotiations with fact‑based performance and financial insights.
• Risk, Compliance & Issue Management
  • Proactively identify vendor‑related risks (operational, financial, regulatory, concentration, performance).
  • Advance, implement, and monitor robust risk mitigation plans and corrective action strategies in collaboration with cross‑functional partners.
  • Execute structured issue resolution and escalation processes for strategic vendor issues including performance failures, financial disputes, and material risk events.
  • Ensure governance alignment with regulatory expectations and Third‑Party Risk Management (TPRM) frameworks, partnering with Risk and Compliance teams to support audits and examinations.
• Stakeholder Leadership & Influence
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to business leaders, providing oversight and guidance to ensure vendor performance and behaviors align with contractual commitments and enterprise governance expectations.
  • Drive a culture of partnership, accountability, and data‑driven decision making between internal teams and vendors.
  • Coach and mentor governance analysts.
• Note:
  
  The above statement of duties is not intended to be all inclusive and other duties will be assigned from time to time.

• Bachelor’s degree required (Business, Finance, Supply Chain, IT, or related field); MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in vendor governance, procurement, sourcing, or outsourced services within regulated industries.
• Demonstrated experience leading governance for large, complex vendors (IT services, BPO, managed services).
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including contract interpretation, savings tracking, and benefit realization.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience operationalizing governance or vendor management frameworks.
• Experience supporting regulatory exams and audits.
• Strategic thinking and executive presence.
• Vendor performance and relationship management.
• Financial analysis and value realization.
• Risk identification and escalation management.
• Change management.

• Base Salary Range: $ - $.
• Eligibility for an annual incentive (bonus) plan.
• Benefits include medical, dental, vision, employee assistance program, life insurance, disability plans, parental leave, paid time off, 401(k), and tuition reimbursement.

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