Vendor Manager - Strategic Supplier Relationships

About the role

Core42, an AI-powered cloud and digital infrastructure provider, is looking for a Vendor Manager who owns the company's strategic supplier relationships, supplier governance framework, onboarding function and supplier performance management programme. The role ensures suppliers are onboarded, governed, measured and developed throughout their lifecycle, works with Supply Chain, Contracts, Finance, Legal and Compliance, leads the Vendor Management team and acts as the main escalation owner for strategic suppliers.

Key responsibilities

• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships, including account plans, governance frameworks and engagement models, and act as the primary escalation point
• Define supplier segmentation (strategic, preferred, operational, transactional), governance requirements and performance expectations per tier
• Own the supplier onboarding and vendor lifecycle framework, including registration, qualification, recertification and master data controls, and lead the Vendor Management team
• Lead Quarterly Business Reviews, prepare executive scorecards and dashboards, and chair supplier performance and governance meetings
• Maintain supplier KPIs, SLAs and scorecards, monitor performance against commitments and run remediation programmes for underperformers
• Drive supplier consolidation, innovation and value creation, and develop plans for strategic and underperforming suppliers
• Coordinate risk assessments, risk registers, business continuity reviews and compliance monitoring
• Monitor payment performance and aged invoices, resolve invoice-processing delays and improve supplier experience
• Provide supplier insights to Supply Chain leadership, partner with other functions on escalations, and lead and coach Vendor Management staff

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, Finance or a related discipline
• 7-10 years of experience in vendor management, SRM, supplier governance, procurement or supply chain
• Demonstrated experience leading QBRs, supplier governance programmes, onboarding and performance reviews
• Experience leading and developing vendor management or supplier governance teams
• Strong stakeholder management, executive communication, negotiation and issue-resolution skills

Required skills

• Experience with procurement platforms such as Coupa, SAP Ariba, Oracle, SAP or an equivalent solution

What we offer

• Competitive salary based on skills and experience
• Performance-based annual bonus
• Discount cards with Esaad and Fazaa
• Family health insurance covering dental, vision and life
• Unlimited access to premium learning courses