Senior Vendor Relationship Management Specialist

About the roleAre you passionate about building strategic supplier relationships, driving vendor performance, and creating value through effective vendor management?We are looking for an experienced Vendor Relationship Management Specialist to lead and manage the full vendor lifecycle, from registration and onboarding to performance management and continuous improvement. The successful candidate will play a critical role in strengthening supplier relationships, enhancing vendor performance, mitigating risks, and supporting procurement excellence across the organization.Key ResponsibilitiesVendor Registration & OnboardingManage the end-to-end vendor registration, qualification, and onboarding process.Verify vendor documentation and compliance requirements.Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure timely approvals and onboarding readiness.Maintain governance and compliance throughout the onboarding lifecycle.Vendor Sourcing & Market IntelligenceConduct market research to identify potential suppliers and expand the organization's vendor base.Source, assess, and prequalify vendors based on business requirements.Analyze market trends, supplier capabilities, and industry opportunities.Support the implementation of supplier segmentation and vendor categorization strategies.Vendor Performance ManagementDevelop and manage vendor performance evaluation frameworks.Monitor supplier performance through KPIs, SLAs, scorecards, and performance reviews.Identify performance gaps and implement corrective action plans.Drive supplier performance improvement initiatives and continuous development programs.Vendor Assessment & Financial Health CheckConduct periodic vendor assessments covering financial health, operational capability, compliance, performance, and risk exposure.Review vendor financial documents, including audited financial statements, credit reports, and other relevant records to assess financial stability and business continuity.Analyze key financial indicators such as profitability, liquidity, cash flow, solvency, and debt exposure to identify potential supplier risks.Maintain vendor risk profiles and recommend mitigation actions for financially vulnerable or high-risk suppliers.Support vendor prequalification and renewal processes through structured financial due diligence and evaluation.Vendor Database & ERP ManagementMaintain a centralized and accurate vendor database.Ensure data integrity, classification, and governance standards are maintained.Manage vendor records, segmentation, onboarding status, and supplier information within ERP systems.Produce reports and dashboards to support management decision-making.Relationship Management & Stakeholder EngagementServe as the primary point of contact for vendor-related matters.Build strong relationships with suppliers, contractors, and service providers.Facilitate effective collaboration between vendors and internal departments.Support strategic supplier relationship management initiatives.Vendor Risk, Governance & Dispute ResolutionConduct vendor due diligence, assessments, and risk reviews.Monitor vendor compliance and risk mitigation activities.Manage supplier disputes and performance-related issues.Support audits and ensure adherence to procurement policies and governance requirements.QualificationsBachelor's degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.Minimum 6 years of experience in procurement and contracts, with strong experience in vendor registration and vendor management processes.Strong knowledge of ERP systems, document management tools, and Microsoft Office applications.Excellent communication, negotiation, stakeholder management, and interpersonal skills.Ability to work independently and effectively manage multiple priorities.Fluency in English (written and spoken).Preferred ExperienceCandidates with experience in government, semi-government, regulatory, or public-sector environments will be highly regarded.