Vendor Relations Manager

Have you been looking for a company that you can get behind and feel good about the impact it has on sustainability and recycling efforts? Quest is a full-service environmental consulting and management group supporting the efforts of Fortune 500 companies seeking to maximize profits and mitigate risks and minimize their ecological footprints.

If you want an opportunity where your efforts make an impact, Quest has an opportunity for you. The ideal person must be able to multi-task, work independently and have strong attention to detail while being able to collaboratively communicate across departments.

Why Work at Quest?
First off, we practice what we preach. We focus every day on recycling, reusing and repurposing where we can, and being socially responsible.

Second, we take care of our employees’ wellbeing and offer a comprehensive benefits package including: Medical/Dental/Vision, 401(k) Plan, Life and STD.

- Company paid Life, Short term disability plan (voluntary employee-paid LTD is offered)

- Eligibility for health and life insurance plans: 1st of month following date of hire

- Remote/hybrid work environment

- 401k plan with employer match

- Employee Stock Purchase Plan

- Paid Holidays, Vacation and Sick time

Finally, we are just a modern, FUN and collaborative work environment. We’re a smaller company that provides opportunities for employees to advance within the company, so there is always room to grow. We offer a casual business environment (so, you can wear jeans), great incentives and rewards with a quarterly recognition program.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Vendor Relations Manager manages vendor-related issues and day-to-day operations to best satisfy customers and maximize profits for the company across one or more lines of business. This role administers the procurement of products and services for solid waste and recycling, and implements vendor contracts to ensure favorable terms, conditions, and pricing.

The Manager initiates and enhances Quest's supplier diversity program, coordinates related outreach activities, and manages staff professionally to foster development of results-oriented teams. This role acts as a representative of vendors to support Key Accounts in executing client contracts and is able to administer an RFP and execute a roll-out with minimal direct supervision.

This role requires excellent written, verbal, and listening communication skills to interface effectively with vendors and employees across the organization, along with strong negotiation and organizational skills to ensure both individual and departmental objectives are met.

ROLE COMPETENCIES

- Vendor Network Development & Relationship Management: Develops or expands vendor networks to meet business needs, and builds and maintains effective long-term vendor relationships, including expectation-setting and cost/contract negotiation. Maintains positive, motivational relationships with multiple internal and external teams.

- Vendor Performance Management: Develops and continually enhances vendor performance metrics and scorecard templates. Establishes vendor service requirements through ongoing vendor communication, site visits, surveys, and benchmarking, and prioritizes and delivers vendor business reviews and KPIs for senior management.

- Procurement & Contract Administration: Administers RFPs and purchase order processes, guides vendor selection, and negotiates contract terms, rates, and modifications to ensure efficient pricing and optimal vendor performance. Monitors purchase orders for policy compliance and timely approval/closure and oversees supplier contract administration and renewal of expiring agreements.

- Pricing & Cost Management: Obtains and distributes most favorable pricing to appropriate teams and executes vendor tactics and strategy to achieve departmental objectives.

- Supplier Diversity Program Support: Initiates, develops, and implements enhancements to Quest's supplier diversity program, and coordinates and participates in internal and external supplier diversity outreach activities.

- Issue Resolution & Escalation: Acts as a point of escalation for vendor-related issues that arise through the course of business and provides problem-solving resources and solutions to complex vendor issues.

- Cross-Functional Partnership & Client Support: Closely interfaces with Accounting, Contract Administration, Sales, Key Accounts, and other departments to independently pursue business objectives in an organized and efficient manner. Acts as a representative of vendors to assist Key Accounts in executing client contracts.

- Continuous Improvement & Team Contribution: Leads continuous improvement efforts by studying, evaluating, and re-designing processes, and monitoring and analyzing results. Serves on system projects and task forces as assigned, evaluates staff performance where applicable, and stays current on industry best practices.

CORE VALUES
Together, we DRIVE success through the Quest Core Values:

- Develop People

Trust and empower one another

- Encourage people to be their best selves

- Honor individual goals and aspirations

- Build strong leaders

- Foster Respect

Support one another

- Treat every role as vital

- Embrace diverse backgrounds

- Create an inclusive environment

- Deliver Innovation

Be the change

- Ask questions and be curious

- Seek opportunities and identify problems

- Contribute to solutions

- Value Relationships

Win and grow as one team

- Put people first

- Partner across the organization to build strong collaboration

- Embody a customer service mindset – both internally and externally

- Pursue Excellence

Act with integrity

- Hold yourself and others accountable

- Be fully engaged

- Focus fanatically on data and insights

- Serve as a good steward in our communities

Qualifications

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

- Bachelor's degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, required.

- 5+ years of experience and working knowledge in procurement/commodities administration, including performance monitoring, problem resolution, contract administration, subcontracting, supplier diversity programs, procure-to-pay strategies, and market-based and cost-based pricing.

- Experience purchasing services, commodities (metals, cardboard, plastics, and others), materials, and equipment preferred.

- Management experience with direct reports preferred.

- Mastered skills with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).

- Strong customer focus with demonstrated ability to synthesize client needs; manages relationships with diplomacy and tact.

- Strong interpersonal and verbal/written communication, decision-making, and leadership skills.

- Exceptional negotiating, analytical, planning, problem-solving, organizational, and project management skills.

- Ability to plan, develop, and coordinate procurement-related activities with minimal direct supervision.

- Ability to introduce efficiencies into the procurement process while maintaining a strong control environment.

- Proven self-starter with growth potential, attentive to detail, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to acquire needed information from various sources.

- Stays current on industry best practices through educational opportunities, professional publications, personal networks, and professional organizations.

- Responds well in a dynamic, rapidly changing environment; flexible and open to learning new ideas and skills.

- Periodic travel may be required.