Vendor Manager

Vendor Manager

Job Purpose:

The Vendor Manager will be responsible for developing and owning the strategy for a category, and working with a high performing vendor management team. Within this role the individual will have the opportunity to establish and maintain strong vendor partnerships, manage category profitability, optimize pricing, and identify means to improve the customer experience. This is a seasoned business leader with a broad skillset which demonstrates analytical capability, excellent business judgment, strong vendor management and negotiations skills, deep curiosity to uncover how things work.

Roles and Responsibilities:

- Vendor Managers are responsible for managing inputs (selection, in-stock), category or brand financials, pricing and promotion management, auditing and analysis of data at granular levels, vendor escalations and concise communications.

- Dive Deep into inputs and understand the downstream impact of changes to pricing, selection, and convenience for multiple subcategories.

- Owns the P & L for multiple brands/subcategories; develops plans that drive revenue and margin improvement.

- Creates strategic and prioritized vendor business plan that maximizes margins and customer experience.

- Vendor Managers are responsible for growing selection, improving terms and cost structures, building long-term relationships with vendors for the sub categories/brands assigned.

- Focuses on strategic holdout or challenging vendors to increase selection.

- Drives strategic negotiations to deliver top- and bottom-line category growth for sub-categories/brands.

- Creates opportunities for growth, customer acquisition for multiple sub-categories.

- Vendor Managers are expected to demonstrate customer and category knowledge, be an advocate for a quality customer experience, and understand the competition and industry.

- Vendor Managers are responsible for long term growth opportunities and risk identification, planning, communication and partnering with internal teams.

- Vendor Managers are expected to demonstrate a deep understanding of tools and become advocates for tool enhancements.

- Vendor Managers are responsible for knowledge management, development of self and others, and recruiting.

As such, we expect a Vendor Manager to do the following on a regular basis:

- 1. Regular engagements with brands including in-person meetings on a monthly basis.

- 2. Weekly and monthly review to inspect movements/trends on customer input metrics (selection, customer demand (GV) coverage).

- 3. Annual and season negotiations with brands.

- 4. Highlighting escalating issues with brands, competitors to internal leaders and brand leadership.

- 5. Ensuring vendor experience issues are addressed promptly - these could be around access to information/data, payments, MIS reports, promotion plans, etc.

- 6. Planning for events and promotions including getting support from brands.

Job Specifications:

- Education: MBA.

- Experience: Relevant: 5+ years of experience doing one of several roles: quantitative/financial analysis, retail buying, retail planning & allocation, product/project management, pricing, marketing or e-commerce.

- Proficiency in Excel, Proven analytical skills and highly numerate.

- Proven Negotiation Skills.

- Proven experience leading teams & cross-functional projects.

- Influencing abilities and vendor management experience.

- Ability to think and react in a high-energy, fast-paced environment.

- Ability to operate simultaneously and effectively in both tactical and strategic modes.

- A willingness to roll up sleeves to get things done.

- The position requires an individual who can work autonomously in a demanding and often ambiguous environment, with strong attention to detail and effective prioritization.