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 partnership, manage category profitability, optimize pricing, and identify means to improve the customer experience.
• This is a seasoned business leader with a broad skill set which demonstrates analytical capability, excellent business judgement, strong vendor management and negotiations skills, deep curiosity to uncover how things work

Roles & 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 level, vendor escalation and concise communication
• 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 maximize margins and customer experience
• Vendor Managers are responsible for growing selection, improving terms and cost structure, building long term relationships with vendors for the sub categories/brand assigned
• Focuses on strategic holdout or challenging vendor 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 expected to demonstrate a deep understanding of tool 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 meeting 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 seasons 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 specification :

Education : MBA from within Top 20 B Schools

Experience :

Relevant :

• 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 and 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 and individual who can work autonomously in a demanding and often ambiguous environment, with strong attention to detail and effective prioritization