Vendor Manager - Transportation

About the Role The Vendor Manager is responsible for the management and optimization of third-party transport and logistics vendors, ensuring cost-effective, reliable, and scalable capacity to support transportation operations. Responsibilities Vendor Management & Sourcing - Identify, onboard, and manage transport vendors and subcontractors. - Build a strong vendor network to support operational requirements. - Ensure vendors meet company standards and service expectations. Commercial & Contract Management - Negotiate rates, contracts, and service agreements with vendors. - Ensure competitive pricing and cost efficiency. - Monitor contract compliance and performance. Capacity & Planning - Ensure availability of vendor capacity to meet demand fluctuations. - Coordinate with operations teams to align vendor allocation. - Manage peak season capacity planning. Performance Management - Track vendor KPIs including service levels, cost, and reliability. - Conduct performance reviews and implement improvements. - Address service failures and escalate issues when needed. Collaboration & Integration - Work closely with Fleet Manager and transport teams to balance owned vs outsourced capacity. - Support overall transportation strategy and execution. Qualifications - 5–8 years of experience in vendor management within logistics/transportation Required Skills - Strong negotiation and contract management skills - Experience managing third-party logistics providers Key OKRs - Vendor cost competitiveness - Service reliability and on-time performance - Capacity availability - Vendor performance scores - Cost savings achieved through negotiations