Senior Technology Vendor Manager

Overview:

TekWissen is a global workforce management provider headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan that offers strategic talent solutions to our clients worldwide.

Job Title: Senior Technology Vendor Manager
Location: Chicago, Los Angeles, CA, Nashville, TN, NYC, San Francisco, CA
Duration: 6 Months
Job Type: Temporary Assignment
Work Type: Onsite

Overview
We are seeking an experienced Senior Technology Vendor Manager to lead operational and strategic aspects of client's vendor ecosystem. This role is critical to managing the end-to-end lifecycle of key technology vendors-balancing cost optimization, contract governance, risk mitigation, and relationship management.
You will drive negotiations for fair savings & contract terms, performance, accountability, and value across a portfolio of complex vendors supporting infrastructure, software, cloud services, emerging tech, broadcast and ad sales platforms. You will collaborate with senior stakeholders in Technology, Finance, Legal, Risk, and Procurement to deliver best-in-class vendor partnerships aligned with corporate goals.

Key Responsibilities
Vendor Strategy & Governance (5%)
Own and enhance the vendor governance framework across the tech organization.
Lead Business Reviews (QBRs) with strategic vendors to drive value, performance, and innovation.
Establish and track KPIs, SLAs, and performance metrics for ongoing vendor evaluation.
Contract Management & Negotiation (80%)
Manage end-to-end contract lifecycle: drafting, reviewing, redlining, execution, and renewal.
Drive contract negotiations, ensuring terms are commercially favorable and risk appropriate.
Collaborate with Legal and Sourcing to align contracts with internal standards and regulatory requirements.
Stakeholder & Vendor Engagement (10%)
Act as the primary point of contact between the business and assigned vendors.
Work cross-functionally with Technology, Security, Finance, and Procurement to align vendor performance with internal goals.
Serve as a point of escalation for vendor-related issues and drive resolution with urgency and diplomacy.
Risk, Compliance & Optimization (5%)
Lead vendor risk assessments in partnership with Security and Risk Management.
Ensure compliance with internal policies and relevant external regulations (e.g., SOX, GDPR).
Identify opportunities for cost savings, consolidation, or service optimization through strategic sourcing initiatives.

Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in business, Supply Chain, Technology, or related field.
7+ years of experience in vendor management, IT procurement, or contract negotiation.
Strong understanding of technology domains (cloud, SaaS, telecom, infrastructure, etc.).
Proven experience managing multi-million-dollar vendor relationships.
Track record of leading contract negotiations, governance strategies and cross-functional business reviews.
Ability to handle a large volume of simultaneous deals in various stages (30 to 40).

Preferred Skills
Experience with enterprise tools like Salesforce, Asana, Oracle, SAP, or similar platforms.
Familiarity with vendor risk management frameworks and financial due diligence.
Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
High emotional intelligence and the ability to manage senior-level stakeholder relationships and vendor partnerships.
Experience working in media or entertainment industry is a plus.

Success Metrics
Delivery of cost savings and contract efficiency improvements.
Strong internal stakeholder satisfaction.
Improved vendor performance and innovation delivery.
Timely and compliant contract lifecycle execution.