Vendor Management Lead

Vendor Management Lead

BCforward is currently seeking a highly motivated Vendor Management Lead for an opportunity, Spring, TX (Hybrid)!

Position Title: Vendor Management Lead

Location: Spring, TX

Anticipated Start Date: 02/10/2025

Please note this is the target date and is subject to change. BCforward will send official notice ahead of a confirmed start date.

Expected Duration: 12+ months contract + Renewable

Job Type: [FULL TIME (>%3D40 HRS WEEKLY) [CONTRACT], [Remote]

Pay Range: $45-$46/hr only on W2

Please note that actual compensation may vary within this range due to factors such as location, experience, and job responsibilities, and does not encompass additional non-standard compensation (e.g., benefits, paid time off, per diem, etc.).

Job Description:

The Software Vendor Management Lead oversees software renewals, new software procurement, and relationship management with stakeholders such as global procurement, business units, and IT leaders. This role ensures that all software procurement processes align with the company's operational needs, budgetary goals, and compliance requirements. The Lead will manage vendor contracts, assess vendor performance, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to optimize the software utilization. This role requires exceptional verbal and written communication and strong organizational and time management skills.

Roles & responsibilities:

• Shall manage critical software and labor vendor management activities, including software renewals, annual budgeting, and spending management.
• Contributes to the IT and business team's understanding, tracking, and forecasting of software licenses by collaborating with the teams and clearly explaining the software license agreements and management processes and procedures
• Partner with Global Procurement organization to ensure that new or renewal contracts are closed on time by participating in internal stakeholder conversations, vendor meetings, contract negotiations, and contract finalizations.
• Responsible for issuing vendor purchase orders and resolving invoicing/payment-related matters. Monitor spending against contracts to ensure cost-effective software usage.
• Act as the primary point of contact for assigned software vendors regarding any related issues, including escalations, compliance, audit, and certification-related matters.
• Assist management in leading, training, and developing employees to better understand and utilize software licensing processes, procedures, and tools.
• Identify value/ savings opportunities, processes, and best practices.
• Analyze spending data of assigned software vendors, work with IT and business stakeholders to understand future growth/optimization opportunities, and participate in a budgeting cycle every year.
• Establish strategic relationships across the business units and IT leaders to ensure active and early participation in supplier-related matters, including renewals.
• Ability to create effective license positions for Tier 1 publishers using SAM tools such as SNOW, including but not limited to uploading purchase orders, creating licenses and performing software optimization
• Thorough understanding of various Tier 1 vendor license models (Microsoft, Oracle, VMware, Microfocus, Adobe, Workday, SFDC, SAP etc.) and the ability to interpret software contracts/EULAs
• Driving small projects to optimize or reduce software install base.
• Produce regular reports on vendor performance, cost efficiency, and software utilization.
• Contributes to the continuous improvement of software licensing processes and procedures in a constructive, measurable manner.
• Drive significant cost savings and cost avoidance by proactively identifying new opportunities through optimal utilization, avoiding duplicate software using SAM tool.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with software vendors, including security risks, contract breaches, and compliance issues.
• Communicates IT standards and policies to the businesses, functions, geographies, and IT delivery suppliers/partners.
• Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to ensure all vendor agreements comply with industry standards and legal requirements.
• Identifies leverage opportunities where IT can provide cost-effective, standard solutions to meet the needs of multiple business/function/geography organizations.

Preferred Skills:

• Minimum five years of recent experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or vendor management, with a focus on software and SaaS commodities
• Hands-on experience in utilizing Software Asset Management tools, SAM-ITAM Certification is preferred
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university in a relevant field is required; MBA or advanced degree from an accredited college/university preferred
• Deep understanding of software trends, commercial models, and industry-specific terminology; proven track record of leading complex sourcing initiatives and contract negotiations
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills; ability to analyze market trends, conduct market research, and identify new sources of supply
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Able to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and colleagues globally; experience in coaching and mentoring junior staff members is a plus

Benefits:

BCforward offers all eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package including, but not limited to major medical, HSA, dental, vision, employer-provided group life, voluntary life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and 401k.

Keywords:

Strategic sourcing, procurement, or vendor management

About BCforward:

Founded in 1998 on the idea that industry leaders needed a professional service, and workforce management expert, to fuel the development and execution of core business and technology strategies, BCforward is a Black-owned firm providing unique solutions supporting value capture and digital product delivery needs for organizations around the world. Headquartered in Indianapolis, IN with an Offshore Development Center in Hyderabad, India, BCforward's 6,000 consultants support more than 225 clients globally.

BCforward champions the power of human potential to help companies transform, accelerate, and scale. Guided by our core values of People-Centric, Optimism, Excellence, Diversity, and Accountability, our professionals have helped our clients achieve their strategic goals for more than 25 years. Our strong culture and clear values have enabled BCforward to become a market leader and best in class place to work.

BCforward is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability.

To learn more about how BCforward collects and uses personal information as part of the recruiting process, view our Privacy Notice and CCPA Addendum. As part of the recruitment process, we may ask for you to disclose and provide us with various categories of personal information, including identifiers, professional information, commercial information, education information, and other related information. BCforward will only use this information to complete the recruitment process.

This posting is not an offer of employment. All applicants applying for positions in the United States must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The submission of intentionally false or fraudulent information in response to this posting may render the applicant ineligible for the position. Any subsequent offer of employment will be considered employment at-will regardless of the anticipated assignment duration.

Interested candidates please send resume in Word format Please reference job code 234645 when responding to this ad.

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