The Vendor Manager will be responsible for the development, documentation, implementation and maintenance of vendor management processes, standards, and metrics tracking. The role is also accountable for all activities associated with effectively building and maintaining external third party partner/vendor/outsourcing relationships. Additionally, the manager is responsible for establishing and monitoring the Vendor Service Level Agreement (SLA) against contract terms for primary vendors and business partners. He/she may serve as the primary liaison between legal, project leads and other key stakeholders in the contract negotiation process. The manager will provide recommendations on decisions and selection of alternative vendors. As part of on-going responsibilities, the manager will work to facilitate regular communication concerning projects to ensure key performance indicators are achieved and maintained. The manager will act as the primary contact and will own the daily relationship/communication with business partners and vendors.

Essential Functions:
1. Facilitates regular meetings with vendors and serves as point of contact at APS for vendors.
2. Responsible for compiling and documentation of detailed process flows and policies related to vendor�s program.
3. Responsible for invoicing and contracting procedures with vendor.
4. Handles issues and conflicts as they occur and seeks to resolve them in a timely and efficient manner. Develops action plans to resolve issues.
5. Implement Vendor Management process & procedures
6. Development and maintain a centralized repository of all documents, templates, tools, processes, business requirements, contracts, and standard operating procedures related to vendor including managing version control.
7. Communicates information accurately and timely regarding new launches, redesigns, or changes to any vendor programs.
8. Provides APS internal customers with a high level of process support and customer service.
9. Supports Product Development with implementation of new programs with new and established APS vendors.
10. Identifies potential product enhancements and opportunities for improvement and communicates to Product Development. Continually works with functional owners to identify and implement improvements.
11. Monitors and trends vendor�s program usage by clients, inventory, and costs.

Education:
BA or BS Degree in business or healthcare

Experience:
Minimum of 4 years account management, and/or customer service or client management experience, business operations, contract management, direct experience communicating with vendors and clients.

Skills:

Demonstrates understanding of vendor management concepts and implementation techniques including contract negotiation and vendor performance monitoring

Excellent organizational skills and ability to work independently with limited supervision.

Ability to handle multiple priorities.

Proven project management skills, excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

Analytical skills to interpret reports and technical information to form conclusions and/or make recommendations.

Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and vendors.

Team player with demonstrated strong interpersonal skills and ability to build effective working relationships throughout all levels of the organization.

Must be solution-focused and demonstrate solid judgment.

Ability to think globally.

Experience with MS Office and Visio required.