Marketing Manager, Vendor Relations

H.W. Kaufman Financial Group, Inc.

Farmington Hills, MI

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Bid Analysis, Billing, Brokerage, Budget Management, Budgeting, Chargebacks, Consulting, Continuous Improvement, Contract Negotiation, Cost Control, Customer Experience, Expense Analysis, Expense Management, Marketing, Mortgage Lending, Negotiation Skills, Online Marketing, Operations Management, Outbound Marketing, Pricing, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Procurement Management, Product Programs, Program Evaluation, Promotional Products, Purchasing/Procurement, Risk Management, Sourcing Strategy, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), Supply Chain, Time Management, Underwriting, User Interface/Experience (UI/UX), Vendor/Supplier Evaluation, Vendor/Supplier Management, Vendor/Supplier Planning, Vendor/Supplier Relations, Vendor/Supplier Sourcing, eCommerce
LOCATION
Farmington Hills, MI
POSTED
30+ days ago

The Marketing Manager, Vendor Relations owns the companys promotional products, corporate gifting, and branded apparel function. This role is responsible for strategy and execution within this domain, including vendor management, sourcing, program development, and system optimization. Acting as a key partner to marketing and business stakeholders, this individual drives cost-effective, scalable solutions while ensuring high-quality brand representation and a seamless internal customer experience.

Responsibilities

  • Own the end-to-end promotional products and corporate gifting function, including vendor strategy, product selection, and program development
  • Develop and evolve sourcing strategies to support marketing programs, events, and employee engagement initiatives
  • Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance program effectiveness
  • Build, manage, and grow a network of vendors for promotional items, corporate gifts, and branded apparel
  • Lead vendor negotiations, securing competitive pricing, service levels, and deliverables
  • Evaluate vendor performance and drive continuous improvement
  • As assigned, work with other areas of marketing on RFPs, vendor evaluations, and contract negotiations
  • Design and execute company-wide client gifting programs 23 times annually
  • Own the lifecycle and curation of gifting selections available through the internal platform
  • Proactively develop new programs to meet evolving marketing and business needs
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for marketing teams and executives for all promotional, apparel, and gifting needs
  • Consult with stakeholders to recommend solutions aligned with brand, budget, and program goals
  • Influence decision-making across teams to ensure consistency and efficiency
  • Own and continuously improve the online marketing procurement/shopping system
  • Manage integrations with external vendors for global fulfillment to offices and clients
  • Enhance user experience, product availability, and operational efficiency
  • Manage spend within the promotional and gifting category
  • Oversee billing and chargebacks to business units
  • Track budgets, analyze spend, and identify cost-saving opportunities
  • Partner with fulfillment vendors to ensure timely, accurate global delivery
  • Monitor order execution, inventory (if applicable), and service levels
  • Resolve issues and ensure a high-quality end-user experience

Qualifications

  • Bachelors degree in Marketing, Supply Chain, Business, or related field
  • 58+ years of experience in procurement, marketing operations, vendor management, or related field
  • Strong negotiation and vendor management experience
  • Experience managing budgets and procurement or e-commerce systems preferred
  • Ability to operate independently and own a functional area

About Our Company

H.W. Kaufman Group is a powerful global network of companies dedicated to shaping the future of insurance. With over 2,000 dedicated professionals across an extensive network of over 60 offices around the world, we lead by offering innovative solutions that are at the forefront of the industry. We are privately and family owned and thus free from the influence of Wall Street. This allows us the ability to adapt to constantly fluctuating market conditions. From brokerage, underwriting and real estate to claims, loss control and risk management services, our depth of services is unrivaled. Equal Opportunity Employer The H.W. Kaufman Group of companies is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other status or condition protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. In addition, Kaufman will make reasonable accommodations to known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified person with a disability, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.

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About the Company

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H.W. Kaufman Financial Group, Inc.

Internationally recognized for its and drive and expertise, Burns & Wilcox is the flagship company within H.W. Kaufman Financial Group and North America’s leading independently owned insurance wholesale broker and underwriting manager. Burns & Wilcox makes securing coverage for the hard-to-place easy, with proficiency across a broad range of disciplines supported by our unrivaled brokerage and underwriting experts.

This is not your typical insurance company. Our employees do not get to work on the same thing day in and day out. When someone needs coverage for the unique, the unusual, or the unconventional, they come to us. Leave the mundane auto and life insurance programs to someone else. We’re specialists. Our employees deliver insurance for everything from kidnapping and ransom to high-speed racing boats, skyscrapers and professional athletes. We even insure extreme sporting events including world famous skiers and athletes performing mid-air twists and turns down a man-made snow hill in the warm streets of California. Our team can write, insure, and finance specialty insurance policies that other companies cannot handle. With over 40 offices across the US and Canada, we’re one of the largest independent wholesalers in North America.

INDUSTRY
Insurance
FOUNDED
2008
WEBSITE
http://www.burnsandwilcox.com/