Vendor Management Specialist Lead

Job Title:

Vendor Management Specialist Lead

Job Description

A mid-size manufacturing firm in South Seattle, WA is seeking a Vendor Management Specialist Lead for a 6‑month temp-to-hire opportunity. In this role, you oversee a team of vendor specialists, manage a high-volume shared inbox, and support 25-50 vendors to ensure orders are processed accurately and on time. You serve as a key liaison between vendors, customers, and production, providing timely updates, coordinating order requirements, and helping maintain smooth operations in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

+ Lead, mentor, and train a team of three vendor specialists to ensure consistent, high-quality vendor support.

+ Manage a shared email inbox daily, responding to vendor and customer inquiries in a timely and professional manner.

+ Support 25-50 vendors by serving as their primary point of contact for order status, requirements, and issue resolution.

+ Review the MRP system to confirm customer order due dates align with required delivery dates and production capabilities.

+ Verify customer purchase orders against internal work orders to ensure compliance with process requirements and accurate flow-down of all necessary information.

+ Provide continuous updates to customers on the status of their orders within the allotted four-hour response time frame.

+ Communicate with customers to request and obtain additional blueprints, drawings, or other documentation needed for processing.

+ Coordinate closely with production teams to obtain estimated completion dates (ECDs) for orders and relay this information to customers and vendors.

+ Prepare orders for shipment or transfer to other areas as needed, ensuring all documentation and requirements are complete.

+ Develop and maintain daily reports on order status and communicate key information to production and other stakeholders.

+ Work collaboratively with manufacturing and production floor personnel to address order issues and support on-time delivery.

+ Uphold high standards of customer service in all interactions, both internal and external.

Essential Skills

+ Strong customer service skills with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally via email and phone.

+ Experience in vendor management, including supporting multiple vendors simultaneously.

+ Background in a manufacturing environment, with comfort working closely with production teams.

+ Ability to manage a high-volume email inbox and prioritize responses effectively.

+ Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including managing and training team members.

+ Familiarity with MRP systems for reviewing and aligning order due dates with production requirements.

+ Attention to detail when verifying customer purchase orders against internal work orders.

+ High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED).

+ Willingness to complete pre-employment drug screening and Background check, as required for the role.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+ Customer service oriented mindset with a focus on building strong vendor and customer relationships.

+ Experience in a call center or service-focused environment.

+ Exposure to aerospace or similar highly regulated manufacturing industries.

+ Ability to create and maintain daily reports on orders and communicate findings to production.

+ Comfort working in a fast-paced setting and adapting to changing priorities.

+ Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and stakeholders at once.

Work Environment

This position is based in a manufacturing environment in South Seattle, WA, with working hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You regularly collaborate with production floor personnel and may need to walk the production floor to discuss orders and requirements. The environment can be louder than a typical office setting, and steel-toe boots may be required when on the production floor for safety.

The facility offers free parking and has recently expanded with a new second building, reflecting strong growth and a dynamic atmosphere. The role combines office-based work, such as managing email and reports, with on-site interaction with manufacturing teams, providing a blend…