Avantor Looking for IT Associate Vendor Manager at Pune, Maharashtra Full Time

Job Summary

Under close supervision, responsible for managing the commercial relationships hardware and software suppliers. Establish contract management procedures and workflow processes, incorporating best practices. Provide general guidance to managers regarding contractual terms and conditions and the approved process for the procurement of technology and services. Respond to complex inquiries regarding contract obligations and revisions, resolve complex issues related to vendor payments, and ensure the timely renewal of maintenance agreements, and reconciliation of supplier invoices.

Associate IT Project/Vendor Manager

The IT Associate Vendor Manager is responsible for managing various phases of the vendor contracting process, including reviewing intake requests, and assisting with preparation, prioritization of projects, review management and close-out activities. The IT Associate Vendor Manager acts as the key contact for contract-related intake, prioritization, and close-out activities. This includes assisting with preparing contract intake documentation, managing the pipeline and the priority, while working with stakeholders to ensure that their requirements are met. Additionally, this position manages the contract execution process, resolving problems, mitigating delays, and keeping communications open.

Primary Responsibilities and Activities

Manage IT Contract Pipeline

Manage the intake of new items requiring review. Act as first point of contact for new requests, acknowledge receipt, review the submitted materials for completeness, and work with contract owner to ensure contract owner fills any gaps.

Monitor the pipeline and prepare contract owners for upcoming reviews. Look ahead for upcoming assignments and work with contract owners to proactively ensure that next set of reviews in queue are ready and complete

Determine and maintain the priority of all items in the pipeline based on prioritization criteria. React to changing demands and request and reprioritize when needed.

Assist with close-out activities such as providing signed copy of document(s) to Legal

Respond to requests for status updates

Subject Matter Expertise / liaison

Assist contract owner(s) with preparation of required documentation

Help answer questions from legal reviewer on with assistance from contract owner

Process improvements

Assist with development and advancement of priority scoring structure

Training and communications

Effectively communicate a clear and concise contract overview (summary of key contract terms, risks, opportunities, and service delivery guidelines) to stakeholders, and provide clarity on contract elements when required.

Experience

Minimum of three (3) years’ experiences with managing contract life cycles, with an emphasis on technology or IT service agreements

Experience in managing large complex contracts in one or more IT categories, including hardware, software, service, and communication

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Experience working with all key departments (security, compliance, finance, tax, AP, Legal and procurement), and knowledge of procurement and vendor management practices and certifications (CIPS, ITIL and COBIT)

ITIL experience desired, but not required

Knowledge of IT concepts and systems

Required Knowledge and Skill

Conceptual Thinking

Knowledge of contracting trends, licensing models, and traditional and emerging contract and vendor performance models

Business Acumen

Helpful to have some market knowledge of the category of IT vendor for which the contract manager is responsible

Strong project and process management skills, with the ability to handle multiple vendors and multiple contracts, as well as a wide range of tasks

Ability to understand contract risks as well as tactics and strategies for risk mitigation

Knowledge of best practices for IT contract negotiation tactics and strategies

Collaboration

Strong ability to communicate with IT users, Legal and procurement staff, and business leaders

Customer-focused approach to delivering contract management services to internal customers

Strong relationship and interpersonal skills to be applied in working with vendors across the entire contract life cycle

Decisiveness

Ability to manage conflicting stakeholder needs and wants

Key Behaviors and Competencies

The successful candidate for this role will possess the necessary competencies to:

Bridge communications between the IT, Legal and business organizations

Adopt an analytical approach to problem solving, with a focus on managing tasks with appropriate urgency in a results-oriented team environment

Manage multiple complex contracting initiatives across organizational boundaries

Make decisions efficiently that add value and are achieved in what can be tight time frames

Communicate with clarity to internal and external stakeholders and with vendors

Create a customer-focused, service-based approach to working with stakeholders and vendors that emphasizes the creation and cultivation of cross-organizational relationships

Analyze and evaluate change to drive continuous improvement in the process of contract management and incorporate contract management trend

DISCLAIMER:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position.

Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

EEO Statement:
We recognize the value of diverse workforce and aim to create employment opportunities such that all employees achieve their full potential and work in an environment free of discrimination and harassment. We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, caste, color, religious creed, ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by central, national, provincial or local laws.

3rd party non-solicitation policy

By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation