Vendor Development Manager

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

1. 
Global Sourcing Strategy & Cost Leadership

• International Sourcing Focus
  : Develop and aggressively execute comprehensive

sourcing strategies for finished goods and core materials, emphasizing international

sourcing to optimize Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and secure a sustainable

competitive commercial advantage.

• Techno-Commercial Expertise
  : Apply strong Techno-Commercial skills and deep

understanding of engineering processes, raw material commodities, and

furniture/upholstery manufacturing to inform sourcing decisions.

• Source-to-Contract Mastery
  : Lead the end-to-end Source-to-Contract lifecycle,

including meticulous preparation and management of RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs,

culminating in detailed analysis and presentation of supplier proposals.

• High-Stakes Negotiation
  : Expertly negotiate complex contracts, pricing structures,

payment terms, and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to achieve superior

commercial terms without compromising product quality or service levels.

• Performance Reporting
  : Rigorously track, analyze, and report on key Procurement

KPIs, ensuring the consistent achievement of significant cost savings targets.

2. Strategic Vendor Development & Partnership Management

• Supply Base Expansion:
   Proactively identify, qualify, and onboard high-potential

new domestic and global vendors, particularly those in emerging markets or offering

material/process innovation, to strategically expand and future-proof the approved

supply base.

• Supplier Relationship Management (SRM
  ): Implement and manage a robust SRM

program for all strategic and critical vendors, actively fostering collaborative,

transparent, and long-term partnerships that drive mutual value.

• Continuous Improvement:
   Champion and drive continuous improvement

initiatives across the supply base (quality, cost, efficiency, and innovation) through

structured vendor development plans and rigorous performance monitoring.

• Governance & Audits
  : Conduct regular supplier performance reviews and on-site

audits against contractual obligations, established quality standards, and committed

delivery schedules.

3. Cross-Functional Integration & Product Development

• Primary Liaison:
   Act as the strategic liaison between the supply base and internal

stakeholders, including New Product Development (NPD), Product Management,

Operations, and Quality teams, ensuring flawless alignment on new specifications,

design changes, and capacity requirements.

• NPI Leadership:
  Lead cross-functional teams to successfully execute the sourcing

and vendor qualification components of New Product Introduction (NPI) projects,

ensuring speed-to-market and cost targets are met.

• Budgeting & Compliance
  : Contribute to the annual business planning and budgeting

process for assigned categories, ensuring all sourcing activities adhere to company

policies, legal requirements, and the highest ethical standards.

4. Risk Management & Compliance

• Risk Mitigation:
   Develop and execute comprehensive supply chain risk mitigation

strategies, including implementing dual-sourcing options, optimizing safety stock

levels, and developing robust contingency plans against geopolitical and economic

volatility.

• Due Diligence:
  Monitor and proactively manage risks associated with supplier

capacity planning, financial stability, and regional geopolitical factors.

• Contract Governance
  : Ensure all vendor contracts are fully compliant with internal

governance frameworks and all relevant regulatory requirements.