Vendor Management Specialist

Overview

Integration Innovation, Inc. (i3) is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Vendor Management Specialist to join our team in a dynamic government contracting environment. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in managing vendor relationships, contract administration, and compliance within the public sector. This role is crucial in ensuring that our government contracts are supported by reliable, high-quality vendors who meet both regulatory and performance standards. Successfully interfacing with customer stakeholders, internal team stakeholders, OEMs, and sensor development subcontractors is paramount.

 

The successful candidate must be able to work in a fast-paced, growing small business environment as a team player performing a variety of functions to administer, monitor and track all vendor relations including but not limited to: T&M, FFP, IDIQ, CPFF, and Task Order contract types. The Vendor Management Specialist must be customer focused, having the ability to develop innovative solutions to a variety of complex vendor challenges; excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills to accurately communicate with team members, customers, and vendors; exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills to influence and guide team managers, customers and other external parties.

Responsibilities

• Vendor Relationship Management: Serves as a liaison between the Program Management Team and the Subcontract Administrators to improve communication, define requirements and reduce risk during Contract execution.  Establish and maintain strong relationships with vendors to ensure communication is clear, schedules are met, and all parties are informed of program changes and risks are identified.
• Requirement Development:  Assists the Program Team in developing and refining requirements before the formal solicitation process.  Duties include but are not limited to creating Statements of Work, conducts market research, and drafts sole-source justifications as needed.  Increases communication between the Program Management team and the Subcontract Administrator during the initial phases of Contract development.
• Monitor Vendor Performance: Track and evaluate vendor performance against the established metrics and deliverables identified in the Contract.  Coordinate performance issues with the Contract Administrator and assist in developing corrective actions as needed.
• Assist with Compliance Oversight: Serves as a liaison between the Program Management Team and the Subcontract Administrators to help ensure that vendors comply with all applicable federal, state, and local government contracting regulations, including security requirements, data protection, and service level agreements. Support internal and external audits as required.
• Risk Management: Identify and assess potential risks related to vendor performance, financial stability, and compliance. Work with legal and procurement teams to develop mitigation strategies.
• Reporting and Documentation: In coordination with the Contract Administrator, prepare and maintain comprehensive records of vendor performance, contract execution, and communications. Generate reports for internal and external stakeholders as required.
• Collaboration: Work closely with procurement, finance, legal, and program management teams to ensure alignment of vendor management strategies with organizational goals and compliance requirements. Coordinate with Subcontract Administrators and Program Finance to help identify and resolve issues. Help resolve issues, improve communication and assist the program management team in requirement generation in support of procurement actions.
• Issue Resolution: In coordination with the Program Management Team, Contracts, Subcontracts, Procurement and Program Finance team members, help resolve disputes, performance issues, or any contractual concerns with vendors.

Qualifications

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, Acquisition, Supply Chain Management, or other related field. Additional experience may substitute for degree.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in vendor management, contract management, or procurement, ideally within the government contracting sector.
• Strong understanding of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and other relevant government contracting standards.
• Understanding of OTA agreements.
• Knowledge of procurement processes and compliance regulations in government contracting.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to manage multiple vendor relationships simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to multitask, address/solve complex issues, analyze data and make informed decisions.
• Attention