Manager II Vendor Support & Relations

Category/Area of Expertise: Merchandising Marketing Support
Job Requisition: 445001
Address: USA-NC-Salisbury-2085 Harrison Road
Store Code: Vendor Support & Relationship Mgmt (5144261)
Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands - Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Our associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more.
The Manager II of Vendor Support and Relationship Management will be responsible for overseeing the Vendor Support & Relations Mgt team within the VMO while developing & maintaining positive and productive relationships with internal stakeholders and external vendor partners. They oversee a team that owns operational tasks within the VSRM (VMO inbound email boxes, vendor portal bookings, phones, etc.)
They are responsible for ensuring that the organization's vendor partnerships are well-managed, and vendor performance meets or exceeds expectations. This role will collaborate with virtually every department within all ADUSA entities to optimize vendor-related processes, resolve issues, and drive overall vendor satisfaction.
***Our flexible/ hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations and 2 remote days. Our core office locations include Salisbury, NC, Quincy, MA, Carlisle, PA, Scarborough, ME
Essential job functions:

• Owns and leads facilitation of regular vendor meetings, performance evaluations, and business updates to ensure alignment and continuous improvement
• Responsible for the effective understanding, analysis, and resolution of VSRM case inquiries, along with process standardization, simplification, and transformation of area of responsibility.
• Engage teams across the entire Procure-to-Pay ecosystem to accelerate innovation & drive changes to optimize vendor-related activities, enhance overall vendor relations and achieve greater business outcomes.
• Establish performance metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate vendor performance, address any areas of concern, and promptly escalate critical issues to senior management.
• Continuously seek opportunities to optimize vendor management processes without compromising quality or service levels.
• Oversee the team that monitors and assesses inbound VMO support email boxes, ensuring timely response and resolution.
• Provide direction and guidance, leveraging the VMO case management platforms and the Vendor Finance Portal.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to make recommendations based on interpretation of quantitative analysis.
• Promotes an effective team environment through the effective use of mentoring, coaching, and development skills. Plans and assigns work within the context of a project/function. Leads by example, demonstrating leadership attributes, depth/ breath of knowledge and experience allows for a wide range of functional guidance.
• Work collaboratively with vendors to improve performance and address performance gaps, ensuring timely and effective solutions.
• Coordinate with internal teams to provide support and guidance on vendor-related matters.
• Identify and assess potential risks associated with vendor relationships, implement risk mitigation strategies, and contingency plans.
• Monitor vendor compliance with industry regulations and company policies.
• Additional job duties may be assigned as needed to meet the needs of the business and support our values.

Qualifications:

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis until the end of their appointment
• 8-10 years of relevant experience with Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Supply Chain Management or related field or 10+ years' experience in Accounting, Finance or supply chain functions in lieu of a degree.
• 3+ years' experience specifically in vendor relations: vendor management, supplier relations, procurement, or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvements and optimize vendor relationships.
• Robust negotiation, influencing, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to interact with vendors and internal stakeholders effectively.
• Analytical mindset with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
• Familiarity with vendor risk assessment and mitigation.
• Knowledge of contract management and legal aspects related to vendor agreements.
• Strong interpersonal & relationship management skills for building, fostering, and maintaining positive and strong professional relationships with VMO team members, vendors, and internal business partners.
• Detail-oriented and well-organized, capable of managing multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.
• Proficiency in using various software tools, including MS Office suite and vendor management platforms.
• Ability to adapt to changing business needs and work well in a team-oriented environment.
• Requires travel - typically 10-20%

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree
• Accounting knowledge (Accounts Payable/Receivable, etc.)
• SAP knowledge
• Experience in grocery retail/category management
• Familiarity with both DA and AUSA existing systems and processes

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At Ahold Delhaize USA, we provide services to one of the largest portfolios of grocery companies in the nation, and we're actively seeking top talent. Our team shares a common motivation to drive change, take ownership and enable our brands to better care for their customers. We thrive on supporting great local grocery brands and their strategies.
We offer an experience where our associates are valued; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are infused in our business and our employees are representative of the communities that we serve. We believe in total wellness, which encompasses a blend of physical, financial and emotional wellness.
We believe in collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning in all that we think, create and do. While building a culture where personal and professional growth are just as important as business growth, we invest in our people, empowering them to learn, grow and deliver at all levels of the business.