Vendor Manager

Roles and responsibilities

• Educate vendors on new country opportunities.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior leaders of partnered vendors to support the joint import business.
• Develop and improve the import business to support country cost savings and new selection.
• Support the integration of new vendors into the Amazon supply chain, product compliance and merchandising processes.
• Liaise with local Vendor Managers to understand selection needs and standard contractual terms.
• Work with key stakeholders around the world to maintain alignment.
• Contribute to the development of best practices and contract standards.
• Support category teams to monitor, analyze and own key performance indicators such as vendor import share, out of stock rate, vendor operational metrics, marketing investments.
• Work with vendors and Amazon operations to ensure a reliable, operational and cost effective flow of goods, from ordering to receive.
• Work with internal teams to understand the systems and variables that affect purchasing and vendor management decisions.
• Lead projects and regular business improvement initiatives.
  

About The Team

The International Expansions (IE) organization’s charter is to rapidly expand Amazon’s retail presence globally, partnering closely with category management, technology, and product teams to deliver the world’s largest selection to our international customers. Within the IE organization, our team's vision is build the tools that enable our vendors and sellers to go global effortlessly, discovering global business insights that drive customer engagement and ensure our success in new and emerging marketplaces.

Basic Qualifications

• 3+ years of with Excel experience
• 5+ years of retail, operations, product or program management, or business management/consulting with negotiations and delivering results experience
• Bachelor's degree, or 3+ years of professional or military experience
• Experience with financial analysis and P&L ownership
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing large data sets and utilizing to drive performance and process improvements
• Experience in vendor negotiations, pricing and promotion, inventory management, and product development

Desired candidate profile

1. Vendor Relationship Management

• Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain productive, long-term relationships with vendors and suppliers.
• Ability to foster positive communication and resolve conflicts or issues that arise with vendors.
• Expertise in managing expectations and ensuring vendors meet agreed-upon terms.

2. Contract Negotiation

• Skilled in negotiating vendor contracts, terms of service, and pricing to ensure the organization gets the best value.
• Ability to review and amend contracts to reflect changing business needs or regulations.
• Experience in managing contract renewals, extensions, and service level agreements (SLAs).

3. Supplier Performance Monitoring

• Ability to track and assess vendor performance, including on-time delivery, quality of service/products, and adherence to contract terms.
• Proficiency in conducting regular vendor evaluations and audits to ensure compliance with agreed standards.
• Experience in creating and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure vendor performance.

4. Problem-Solving and Conflict Resolution

• Ability to identify issues or potential risks with vendors and quickly devise solutions to resolve them.
• Skilled in mediating disputes between the organization and vendors to ensure positive outcomes.
• Experience in managing vendor-related crises (e.g., delays, product issues, service disruptions).

5. Project Management

• Experience managing vendor-related projects, including onboarding new vendors, coordinating product/service delivery, and ensuring project timelines are met.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple vendor relationships and projects simultaneously.
• Ability to track project milestones, deadlines, and budgets while ensuring vendors adhere to expectations.

6. Analytical Skills

• Ability to analyze vendor performance data, market trends, and costs to make informed decisions.
• Expertise in assessing vendor proposals and determining the best fit for business requirements.
• Ability to identify opportunities for cost savings or process improvements through vendor relationships.

7. Financial Acumen

• Understanding of budgeting and financial management to ensure vendor contracts align with the company’s financial goals.
• Ability to assess and manage costs, ensuring the best return on investment from vendor relationships.
• Experience in managing payments, invoicing, and ensuring vendor financial compliance.