Strategic Vendor Manager

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Corporate Overview

Proofpoint is a leading cybersecurity company protecting organizations’ greatest assets and biggest risks: vulnerabilities in people. With an integrated suite of cloud-based solutions, Proofpoint helps companies around the world stop targeted threats, safeguard their data, and make their users more resilient against cyber-attacks. Leading organizations of all sizes, including more than half of the Fortune 1000, rely on Proofpoint for people-centric security and compliance solutions mitigating their most critical risks across email, the cloud, social media, and the web.

We are singularly devoted to helping our customers protect their greatest assets and biggest security risk: their people. That’s why we’re a leader in next-generation cybersecurity. Protection Starts with People.

Job Description Summary

The Strategic Vendor Manager at Proofpoint will be responsible for managing and coordinating relationships with stakeholders, buyers, and specialist teams with a specific focus on Consulting Services, Contingent Workforce, Contractors, and managing Value Added Reseller (VAR) agreements. This role involves implementing processes and assessing the organization's capability to execute supplier contracts, performance management, and relationship management within these critical categories.

The Role and the Team

We are seeking a Strategic Vendor Manager to join our dynamic and high-performing Procurement team. This role is integral to supporting the Procurement function with a focus on Consulting Services, Contingent Workforce, Contractors, and managing Value Added Reseller (VAR) agreements. The successful candidate will be proficient in negotiations, contracting (both process and commercial language), vendor management, and driving cost savings within these specialized areas.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead supplier sourcing projects, RFPs, negotiations, and vendor management across the Consulting Services, Contingent Workforce, Contractor, and VAR categories, implementing strategic agreements for the procurement of these services.

• Collaborate with key functional and internal stakeholders to capture business requirements and create appropriate sourcing strategies for consulting services, contingent workforce needs, contractor engagements, and VAR agreements.

• Develop and implement a strategic sourcing framework that focuses on cost, risk mitigation, and supplier performance management within these categories.

• Engage regularly with Executive Management, stakeholders, and peers to ensure alignment with organizational goals and objectives related to vendor management in consulting, contingent workforce, and VAR areas.

• Execute agreements and contracts, with a strong understanding of terms, SLAs, addendums, and other contractual elements specific to consulting services, workforce management, and VAR agreements.

• Support business owners in navigating downstream processes, including working with Legal through the contracting process and ensuring Finance's accurate allocation of costs and timely payment of suppliers.

• Support the execution of spend management projects aimed at achieving key objectives, such as driving cost savings, operational improvement, and supplier consolidation or diversification within the consulting, workforce management, and VAR spaces.

• Proactively manage upcoming contract renewals and negotiations with consulting firms, contingent workforce suppliers, contractors, and VAR partners.

• Manage and strengthen VAR agreements, ensuring alignment with business objectives and maximizing value from these partnerships.

• Provide support on ad hoc requests and projects as needed, and collaborate with teammates to ensure the overall success of the Procurement function.

• Support activities related to companywide procurement policies and procedures, with a particular emphasis on consulting, workforce, and VAR-related policies.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement, sales, professional services, project management, or program management, particularly within Consulting Services, Contingent Workforce, and Contractor categories.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, management, or a related field.

• Strong negotiation skills with a proven track record of securing specific vendors and key contractual terms and conditions in the consulting, workforce management, and VAR sectors.

• Ability to analyze data and effectively communicate interpretations and recommendations specific to consulting services, workforce management, and VAR partnerships.

• Experience managing cross-functional projects and programs, with an ability to work closely with diverse teams.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and constantly changing work environment.

• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong multi-tasking abilities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

• Procurement system knowledge preferable (Dynamics 365, JIRA, Agiloft software, Power BI a plus).

This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to Proofpoint's mission by ensuring that the organization's procurement processes related to consulting services, contingent workforce, contractors, and VAR agreements are efficient, cost-effective, and aligned with our overall strategic goals. If you are a proactive and strategic thinker with a passion for vendor management, and you thrive in supporting your team and handling ad hoc requests, we encourage you to apply.

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If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us

Proofpoint has been honored with six Best Places to Work Awards in 2024 by workplace culture leader Comparably, including Best Company Career Growth, Best Company Outlook, Best Global Culture, Best Engineering Teams, Best Sales Teams, and Best HR Teams.

To view additional awards, please visit www.proofpoint.com/us/news#awards

Proofpoint thrives on the invaluable contributions of our diverse workforce, which encompasses a kaleidoscope of lived experiences, thoughts, perspectives, and professional expertise. We attribute much of our success to our people, who are at the core of our organization and embody our people-centric ethos.

We hire the most innovative minds globally to safeguard our customers’ sensitive data and intellectual property. Our talented workforce develops and leverages our advanced technology, combining their expertise to provide comprehensive protection against threat actors and mitigate the risks posed by both malicious and negligent employees.

Cyberattacks have the potential to disrupt access to vital resources such as energy, water, transportation, healthcare, and financial services. At Proofpoint, our dedicated team works tirelessly to ensure world-class cyber resilience, protecting approximately 8,000 enterprise customers worldwide.

We are committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. We work every day to ensure that our employees feel that they are in a community that celebrates their unique identity, cultivates their sense of belonging, and invests in their professional growth. We have 9 employee-led employee inclusion groups which help support both employees and our organization by providing opportunities to network, discuss career and cultural development and uplift the corporate culture to create a more inclusive workplace.

At Proofpoint, we have a passion for protecting people, data, and brands from today’s advanced threats and compliance risks. We hire the best people in the business to:

• Build and enhance our proven security platform

• Blend innovation and speed in a constantly evolving cloud architecture

• Analyze new threats and offer deep insight through data-driven intel

• Collaborate with customers to help solve their toughest security challenges

   

We are singularly devoted to helping our customers protect what matters most. That’s why we’re a leader in next-generation cybersecurity—and why more than half of the Fortune 100 trust us as a security partner.

Proofpoint is an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Proofpoint is an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.