Vendor Manager - Transportation

About the Role

The Vendor Manager is responsible for the management and optimization of third-party transport and logistics vendors, ensuring cost-effective, reliable, and scalable capacity to support transportation operations.

Responsibilities

Vendor Management & Sourcing

• Identify, onboard, and manage transport vendors and subcontractors.
• Build a strong vendor network to support operational requirements.
• Ensure vendors meet company standards and service expectations.

Commercial & Contract Management

• Negotiate rates, contracts, and service agreements with vendors.
• Ensure competitive pricing and cost efficiency.
• Monitor contract compliance and performance.

Capacity & Planning

• Ensure availability of vendor capacity to meet demand fluctuations.
• Coordinate with operations teams to align vendor allocation.
• Manage peak season capacity planning.

Performance Management

• Track vendor KPIs including service levels, cost, and reliability.
• Conduct performance reviews and implement improvements.
• Address service failures and escalate issues when needed.

Collaboration & Integration

• Work closely with Fleet Manager and transport teams to balance owned vs outsourced capacity.
• Support overall transportation strategy and execution.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of experience in vendor management within logistics/transportation

Required Skills

• Strong negotiation and contract management skills
• Experience managing third-party logistics providers

Key OKRs

• Vendor cost competitiveness
• Service reliability and on-time performance
• Capacity availability
• Vendor performance scores
• Cost savings achieved through negotiations