VP-Strategic Partnerships & Vendor Management

POSITION SUMMARY

The mission of the Vendor Relations Department at Noble is to identify, build, strengthen, and grow partnerships between Noble and its supplier base. Vendor Relations supports the Noble sales organization in their efforts to deliver best-in-class products and services at competitive value while exceeding customer expectations.

The Vice President of Vendor Relations is responsible for managing supplier partnerships and enhancing department performance. This includes driving growth, developing staff, managing strategic accounts, and expanding Noble’s reach within the industry. A critical part of this role is also the development and support of relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.

As a key member of Noble’s executive team, the Vice President will participate in strategic planning, business development, and executive management while mentoring staff and promoting organizational excellence. This role requires regular travel to Noble’s corporate headquarters, vendor sites, and customer locations. This individual will lead a team of vendor management representatives, each focused on a specific industry vertical, to ensure alignment with customer needs, compliance standards, and long-term strategic goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

TeamLeadership & Market Focus

• Lead and develop the Vendor Management team to support company-wide revenue and gross profit objectives across primary market segments.
  
  
• Promote a positive and productive work environment and proactively address any barriers to team effectiveness.
  
  
• Ensure strategic alignment across departments via cross functional leadership, providing feedback and backup support to Sales, Contracts, Compliance/Legal etc.
  
  
• Align market insights with partnership strategy to proactively position Noble in competitive bids and contracts.
  
  
• Analyze vendor financial performance, identify opportunities for growth, and set departmental goals.
  
  
• Implement and manage key vendor programs including:
  
  
• Vendor Review Processes
  
  
• Salesforce Vendor Account Data
  
  
• On-Time Delivery metrics
  
  
• Strategic Vendor Program
  
  
• Noble’s Organizational Vendor Strategy
  
  
• Vendor support for sales training and product reviews
  
  
• New vendor assessments
  
  

Strategic Partnership Development

• Drive go-to-market strategies in collaboration with vendors aligned to government procurement opportunities.
  
  
• Identify and develop high-value strategic alliances with manufacturers, service providers, and technology firms.
• Negotiate and manage complex contracts and partnership agreements that support business objectives.
  
  
• Represent Noble as an executive ambassador at industry trade shows, vendor summits, and factory visits.
  
  
• Oversee end to end vendor lifecycle, including onboarding, performance monitoring and compliance.
  
  
• Establish KPIs to ensure vendor accountability and alignment with organizational goals.
  
  

Communication & Operational Execution

• Collaborate with CMO on Noble’s marketing strategy development and execution as it relates to vendor partners.
  
  
• Develop communication strategies and partner playbooks to streamline collaboration between sales and vendor partners.
  
  
• Maintain robust Salesforce and internal processes that support transparency, accountability, and data-driven decision-making.
  
  
• Support bid and proposals development and strategic sourcing for new contracts, BPAs, and IDIQs.
  
  

Financial & Administrative Oversight

• Ensure responsible travel and expense management.
  
  
• Continuously identify cost-saving opportunities and operational efficiencies.
  
  

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong executive presence with proven ability to influence senior stakeholders with exceptional communication and presentation skills.
  
  
• High emotional intelligence and negotiation skillset; collaborative problem solver.
  
  
• Network of industry vendor contacts and ability to activate those relationships. Strong relationship building skills.
  
  
• Deep understanding of the federal acquisition process, FAR regulations, and compliance requirements.
  
  
• Proven experience managing strategic partnerships and building vendor ecosystems.
  
  
• Comfortable in dynamic, fast-paced environments with a focus on results.
  
  

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field; MBA preferr