About this role
Vendor Management & Relations
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all key vendors, building and maintaining strong working relationships
- Work with dealerships to identify, vet, and onboard new vendors; maintain a qualified vendor pool for all major purchasing categories
- Negotiate pricing, payment terms, contracts, and service level agreements to secure favorable terms
- Conduct regular vendor performance reviews (pricing, quality, delivery, responsiveness) and hold vendors accountable to agreed terms
- Work with accounts payable to resolve vendor disputes, service failures, and billing discrepancies quickly and professionally
- Lead periodic vendor bid/RFP processes to benchmark pricing and ensure competitiveness
- Represent the company professionally in vendor negotiations and site visits
Purchasing Operations
- Issue POs for all non-inventory-based purchases (i.e. supplies, services, etc.)
- Partner with dealership management to understand purchasing needs and forecast demand
- Work with local accounting to monitor supply inventory levels (where applicable)
- Ensure purchases comply with internal approval policies and budget guidelines
- Track and report on purchasing spend by category and vendor
Cost & Process Improvement
- Identify cost-saving opportunities through consolidation, volume discounts, or vendor renegotiation
- Standardize purchasing processes and documentation across locations
- Recommend and help implement purchasing systems/tools to improve visibility and efficiency
Qualifications
- 2-5+ years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience, ideally with direct vendor negotiation responsibility
- Proven track record of managing vendor relationships and negotiating favorable contract terms
- Strong negotiation, communication, and conflict-resolution skills
- Comfortable pushing back on vendors while preserving the relationship
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational and follow-up skills
- Proficiency with purchasing/procurement software and Excel
- Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience)