Vendor Programs Partner Manager

Happy Friday! Our client in the Matawan area of NJ has an excellent opportunity for a Vendor Partner Programs Manager! It can be hybrid or remote. If you are local to the area, you are expected to be in the office Tuesday – Thursday and work from home on Monday and Friday. If you are out of the area, it’s preferred that you are on Eastern or Central Time. Please email your resume to haveagreatday@seanryaninc.com. Thank you! Have a great weekend!

Responsibilities:

Strategic Sourcing & Relationship Management

• Identify, evaluate, and engage vendors that align with the company’s strategic needs.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with vendor partners.
• Function as the primary point of contact for vendor-related communications and issue resolution.
• Position the franchisor as a preferred partner in the vendor’s go-to-market strategy.
• You will lead the oversight of our vendor management program.

Commercial Program Development & Execution

• Create and manage commercial vendor programs (e.g., rebates, cooperative marketing funds, contribution programs).
• Drive program adoption across franchisees to ensure utilization and maximize financial return.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align programs with franchisee needs and company goals.
• Serve as a key partner to brands, supporting them in the evaluation and selection of vendors that drive performance, value, and compliance.

Contract & Performance Management

• Negotiate vendor contracts to secure favorable terms and conditions.
• Monitor vendor performance and ensure service-level agreement (SLA) compliance.
• Track and report on vendor KPIs, contract milestones, and financial impact.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure all vendor engagements comply with corporate policies, regulatory requirements, and contractual terms.
• Proactively identify risks related to vendor programs and implement mitigation strategies.

Cross-functional Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with marketing, sales, operations, and legal teams to align vendor efforts with business priorities.
• Communicate vendor program details, updates, and performance metrics across the organization.
• Facilitate training or onboarding sessions to educate internal stakeholders and franchisees on program benefits.

Strategic & Market Insight

• Conduct market analysis to identify emerging trends, competitive offerings, and new vendor opportunities.
• Recommend improvements to existing vendor strategies to enhance effectiveness and scalability.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in vendor management, strategic partnerships, or business development.
• Proven experience in negotiating contracts and managing commercial vendor programs.
• Demonstrated success in cross-functional collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of procurement, rebate programs, and compliance frameworks (preferred).
• Familiarity with CRM and vendor management software platforms (preferred).
• Relationship management; Contract negotiation; Analytical thinking; Program management; Strategic planning; Problem solving; Market insight.