Director of Vendor Management

Job Summary

The Director of Vendor Management is responsible for leading all procurement and vendor-related functions across the organization. This role ensures the efficient sourcing of packaging materials, equipment, and services essential to company operations. The Director develops procurement strategies, negotiates contracts, manages vendor relationships, monitors supplier performance, mitigates supply-chain risks, and drives cost-efficiency initiatives. This position partners closely with Operations, Warehouse, Finance, and Sales to align procurement processes with business needs and customer demand.

Duties / Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and execute long-term procurement and vendor-management strategies aligned with business goals.
• Lead and mentor the procurement team, including buyers, analysts, and vendor-relations staff.
• Establish department goals, procurement policies, and operational guidelines.

Vendor Management

• Source, evaluate, and select qualified vendors for packaging supplies, equipment, and services.
• Conduct vendor onboarding, performance monitoring, regular audits, and corrective action plans.
• Build strong supplier relationships and oversee vendor scorecards, KPIs, and compliance.

Contracting & Negotiation

• Negotiate pricing, contract terms, service agreements, and purchasing programs to secure cost-effective deals.
• Manage contract renewals, escalations, dispute resolution, and long-term supplier partnerships.

Procurement Operations

• Oversee purchasing workflow, purchase orders, and procurement lifecycle efficiency.
• Analyze spend, monitor market trends, forecast supply needs, and manage procurement budget.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to streamline processes and improve department performance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations and Warehouse teams to ensure inventory needs and production schedules are supported.
• Collaborate with Finance on budgeting, cost tracking, approvals, and financial reporting.
• Support Sales and Account Management by ensuring material availability for customer programs and new opportunities.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure adherence to company policies, ethical sourcing practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate procurement records, documentation, and audit-ready files.
• Lead risk-mitigation strategies related to supply chain disruption, vendor performance, and pricing volatility.

Required Skills / Abilities

• Strong leadership abilities with experience managing procurement or vendor-management teams.
• Excellent negotiation and contract-management skills.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building capabilities with suppliers and internal teams.
• Analytical, data-driven approach with strong problem-solving and forecasting skills.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and procurement/vendor-management software.
• Knowledge of supply-chain best practices; packaging or distribution industry experience preferred.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Finance, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree (MBA or similar) preferred.
• 8–10 years of progressive experience in procurement, vendor management, or supply chain roles.
• Demonstrated success in contract negotiation, vendor performance management, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Prior leadership experience overseeing procurement teams and implementing procurement processes and policies.
• Experience working in manufacturing, packaging, distribution, or a related environment strongly preferred.