Strategic Vendor Manager

About Us:

Tophat HR is a boutique consulting firm- We are an expert in tailored and comprehensive human resources consulting & management services.

About the Role:

We are currently recruiting on behalf of one of our SaaS clients, who is seeking a Strategic Vendor Manage r who will own the sourcing, development, and management of key print, mail, logistics, and industry partnerships. This individual will serve as the primary relationship owner for strategic vendors and will work cross-functionally with Operations, Product, Compliance, Finance, and Leadership teams to drive growth, reduce risk, improve service levels, and optimize costs.

The ideal candidate combines strong commercial acumen, relationship management skills, negotiation experience, and a deep understanding of vendor ecosystems. Experience within the print, mail, postal, logistics, or manufacturing industries is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Partner Development

• Develop and execute the company's partner expansion strategy across Canada, the United States and international markets.
• Identify and onboard new print, mail, logistics, and technology partners to support company growth.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with executive-level contacts across partner organizations.
• Establish a strong partner network that supports operational scalability, redundancy, and risk mitigation.
• Continuously assess market opportunities and partnership gaps.

Vendor Network Strategy

• Own vendor coverage strategy across products, industries, geographies, and service offerings.
• Ensure adequate partner redundancy and business continuity planning.
• Evaluate partner capabilities, capacity, technology, compliance standards, and service levels.
• Develop vendor scorecards and performance frameworks to measure partner health and effectiveness.
• Recommend strategic sourcing decisions based on capacity, quality, cost, and operational fit.

Commercial Negotiations

• Lead commercial discussions, pricing negotiations, payment terms, service-level agreements, and contract renewals.
• Partner with Legal and Compliance teams during NDA, MSA, BAA, and related contract negotiations.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization while maintaining quality and service expectations.
• Drive initiatives focused on improving margins and long-term partnership value.

Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for key strategic partners.
• Conduct regular business reviews and performance discussions.
• Manage escalations and resolve partner-related challenges proactively.
• Foster strong collaboration between the company and partner organizations.
• Develop executive-level relationships that strengthen long-term strategic alignment.

Industry Networking & Business Development

• Represent The company at industry conferences, trade shows, and networking events.
• Build relationships with key stakeholders across the print, mail, postal, logistics, paper, envelope, and technology sectors.
• Identify emerging trends, technologies, and partnership opportunities.
• Expand the company’s visibility and reputation within the industry.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate closely with Product, Operations, Compliance, Finance, and Leadership teams.
• Support partner onboarding, integration planning, and operational readiness initiatives.
• Provide strategic recommendations to leadership regarding vendor strategy and market opportunities.
• Mentor and support junior team members involved in sourcing and partner development.

Qualifications:

Required

• 5+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, vendor management, procurement, business development, supplier management, or a related field.
• Proven experience negotiating commercial agreements and managing external partnerships.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience developing sourcing strategies and managing vendor networks.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation abilities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple strategic initiatives simultaneously.

Nice to Have

• Experience in the print, direct mail, postal, logistics, manufacturing, or fulfillment industries.
• Knowledge of USPS products, mailing operations, postal regulations, and industry best practices.
• Existing network within the print and mail ecosystem.
• Experience managing vendor compliance, onboarding, and operational performance.
• Familiarity with enterprise contract negotiations and supplier performance management.
• Experience attending and leveraging industry events such as National Postal Forum (NPF), PRINTING United, Mailers Hub, and similar conferences.

Success Metrics:

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Expansion of qualified vendor coverage across key products and geographies.
• Strength and depth of strategic partner relationships.
• Achievement of cost reduction and margin improvement initiatives.
• Vendor performance, reliability, and SLA compliance.
• Growth of partner network redundancy and risk mitigation coverage.
• Successful negotiation of commercial agreements and favorable business terms.
• Contribution to the company's long-term scalability and operational resilience.

We are an equal opportunity employer and we welcome people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We will work with applicants to provide accommodations at any stage of the hiring process.