Vendor Manager​/Professional Services Axon

Vendor Manager/Professional Services Axon 911

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

At Axon, we're on a mission to Protect Life. We're explorers, pursuing society's most critical safety and justice issues with our ecosystem of devices and cloud software. Like our products, we work better together. We connect with candor and care, seeking out diverse perspectives from our customers, communities and each other. Life at Axon is fast-paced, challenging and meaningful. Here, you'll take ownership and drive real change.

Constantly grow as you work hard for a mission that matters at a company where you matter.

Axon 911 is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Sr. Commodity Manager to join our team. This role is responsible for developing and managing strategic supplier relationships while driving performance, cost optimization, quality, and continuity across assigned commodities and vendors. The Sr. Commodity Manager will oversee the full vendor lifecycle, including sourcing, onboarding, performance management, risk mitigation, and ongoing relationship management to ensure suppliers consistently meet Axon's operational, quality, and business expectations.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with managing managed/professional services vendors, comfortable in sometimes ambiguous and changing situations, and not afraid to roll their sleeves up to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

• Develop and execute vendor and commodity management strategies that drive cost optimization, supply continuity, quality, and operational performance
• Comfortable in escalating within the established vendor/supplier escalation path when deliverables or expectations are not met
• Manage ongoing vendor relationships to optimize supplier performance, improve service delivery, and identify cost-saving opportunities
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with suppliers to ensure effective communication, collaboration, and long-term strategic alignment
• Lead sourcing activities, including vendor identification, qualification, onboarding, and lifecycle management for assigned commodities and services
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, statements of work (SOWs), service-level agreements (SLAs), and commercial terms to secure favorable business outcomes
• Manage vendor-led projects and establish scalable processes, tools, and governance models to improve project execution and accountability
• Monitor vendor performance through defined KPIs, scorecards, business reviews, and operational metrics to ensure compliance with contractual and operational expectations
• Conduct regular supplier evaluations and performance reviews to drive continuous improvement and corrective action initiatives where necessary
• Maintain centralized repositories for supplier contracts, performance metrics, project documentation, risk assessments, and compliance records
• Identify, assess, and mitigate supplier risks related to cost, quality, delivery, compliance, cybersecurity, and business continuity
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Supply Chain, Legal, Finance, Engineering, IT, and other stakeholders to align vendor strategies with organizational and deployment objectives
• Support deployment and operational teams by ensuring vendor capabilities, timelines, and deliverables align with project and customer requirements
• Lead vendor governance initiatives, including escalation management, quarterly business reviews (QBRs), and executive-level supplier engagement
• Analyze market trends, supplier capabilities, and industry benchmarks to identify opportunities for innovation, consolidation, and strategic partnerships
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across supplier processes, contract management, and operational workflows to improve efficiency and scalability
• Ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and procurement standards throughout the vendor lifecycle

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Operations, or a related field;
  Master's degree preferred
• 7+ years of experience in vendor management, managed professional services management, sourcing, supply chain, procurement, or project management roles
• Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, cross-functional stakeholders, and executive leadership
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence decisions and drive alignment across teams
• Demonstrated experience negotiating contracts, service agreements, pricing structures, and vendor performance expectations
• Strong understanding of vendor management best practices, supplier governance, risk management, and industry trends
• Ability to establish clear supplier accountability frameworks, including defined responsibilities, KPIs, SLAs, and…