Senior Manager of Procurement

Step Up For Students empowers families to pursue the most appropriate learning options for their children. We unite communities to provide scholarships that open doors to a stronger future. With this support, students can choose the right learning environment and access resources to reach their full potential.

 

Our culture is rooted in two core values:

• Everyone is an asset
• Every event is an improvement opportunity

 

These values guide how we work together and continuously improve. We expect every team member to bring these principles to life in their daily work.

 

Responsible for overseeing and optimizing the vendor management process within the organization. This role involves managing relationships with external vendors, ensuring compliance with contracts, negotiating terms, and driving operational excellence through effective vendor system management. This position will also work closely with various departments to align vendor management and third-party risk management strategies with organizational goals, maintain vendor performance and continuously improve the vendor ecosystem. This position will report to the Director of Third-Party Risk Management and Procurement.

 

Location: Remote (United States)

 

Key Responsibilities:

• Demonstrated success and a proven track record in professional/life experience in specific job functions, projects, or industries. Military service can substitute for professional experience and/or formal education requirements.
• Developing and sustaining long-standing relationships with company-approved vendors to ensure mutual benefit.
• Lead vendor selection, onboarding, and contract negotiation processes.
• Address and resolve any vendor-related issues and ensure a high level of satisfaction.
• Monitor and assess vendor performance against agreed-up SLA’s and implement correct actions as necessary to improve service quality.
• Oversee the continuous improvement of the organization’s vendor management system and related technology.
• Ensure the vendor management system is configured to meet the company’s specific needs, supporting vendor onboarding, performance tracking, compliance, and reporting.
• Develop and execute vendor sourcing strategies that align with company objectives and provide the best value.
• Conduct regular vendor performance evaluations to ensure the achievement of SLAs, cost savings, and operational efficiency.
• Lead negotiations with vendors on contract terms, pricing and service levels.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
•  Maintain up-to-date documentation on vendor contracts, performance metrics and compliance.
• Generate and present regular reports on vendor performance, risks, and opportunities for cost optimization.
• Identify potential risks associated with vendors, propose mitigation strategies and monitoring risk levels.
• Ensuring business continuity by developing contingency plans for critical vendor relationships.
• Supplier Diversity – ensure that both organization and third parties have rules in place.
• Continually monitoring market trends to determine which products and services are the right fit for organization.
• Implementing vendor selection programs to ensure that the best vendors are secured (RFx’s, RFI’s, RFP’s, etc.).
• Make sure accounting functions are in place. (invoicing, payment frequency, etc.)
• Ensure that all agreements have start/end dates loaded into repository and end of agreement reminders are utilized when appropriate.
• Collaborate with departments to lead cleanup efforts of data base when agreements are no longer live and can be archived to aid in declutter of department folders.
•  Responsible for termination, extension and amending of existing agreements.
• Coordinate and support the full third‑party risk lifecycle, including inherent risk assessments, due‑diligence, ongoing monitoring, and periodic reviews.
• Ensure high‑risk vendors undergo enhanced due diligence aligned with regulatory expectations and internal risk thresholds.
• Maintain oversight of TPRM assessment workflows in the vendor management system, ensuring timely completion of reviews and escalations as needed.
• Review and validate vendor SOC reports, penetration test summaries, incident response practices, and other security documentation.
• Contribute to annual reporting for TPRM, summarizing risk trends, high‑risk vendor activity, and remediation metrics.
• The above is not an all-inclusive list of all duties performed by this job title, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent may be required to perform other additional duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Proficient in all Microsoft Office applications.
• The ability to travel for work.
• Project management and decision-making experience.

 

You’ll Stand Out If You Have:

• Prefer at minimum five (5) years’ experience in vendor management, procurement, or a related field, with at least three (3) years in leadership role. Will consider those with an equivalent combination of education and years of experience.

 

Key Competencies:

• Analytical & Problem-solving capabilities
• Organizational skills
•  Strong attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Maintain confidentiality
• Multi-tasking
• Strong presentation skills
• Must have strong negotiation skills and the ability to work through vendor contract challenges

 

Interview Process:

• Veriff Identity Verification
• Recruiter Video Interview
• Hiring Manager Video Interview
• Hiring Manager Video Interview
• Final Video Interview

 

Why you’ll love working here:

• Award-Winning Culture:
  We’ve been named one of the Best Companies to Work For four years in a row by Florida Trend and Workforce Research Group and honored as one of the Healthiest Companies by Florida’s First Coast Worksite Wellness Council. Fast Company recognized us as one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators—proof that we foster an environment where big ideas and bold thinking are encouraged.
• Comprehensive Benefits:
  Enjoy medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus HSA, FSA, and Lifestyle Spending Accounts. We also offer a competitive 401(k) with company match to help you plan for the future.
• Flexibility & Work-Life Harmony:
  Remote work options and unique time-off programs—including 14 paid holidays, Care and Parental Leave, and our Flexible Leave policy.
• Growth & Development:
  From mentorship programs to management training and professional development opportunities, we invest in your career journey every step of the way.
• Supportive Professional Environment:
  Our dedicated coaching team is here to help you succeed, and employee-led committees give you a voice in shaping our workplace. Collaboration isn’t just encouraged, it’s how we work.

 

Working Conditions and Equipment Use:

• Work is performed indoors in a typical office environment - not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
• Valid driver license with proof of insurance.
• Must be able to lift up to fifteen (15) pounds.
• Frequent use of office machines to include telephone, computer, and printer.