Manager II Vendor Support & Relations

Category/Area of Expertise: Merchandising Marketing Support
Job Requisition: 445001
Address: USA-NC-Salisbury-2085 Harrison Road
Store Code: Vendor Support & Relationship Mgmt (5144261)

Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands - Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Our associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more.

The Manager II of Vendor Support and Relationship Management will be responsible for overseeing the Vendor Support & Relations Mgt team within the VMO while developing & maintaining positive and productive relationships with internal stakeholders and external vendor partners. They oversee a team that owns operational tasks within the VSRM (VMO inbound email boxes, vendor portal bookings, phones, etc.)

• Owns and leads facilitation of regular vendor meetings, performance evaluations, and business updates to ensure alignment and continuous improvement
• Responsible for the effective understanding, analysis, and resolution of VSRM case inquiries, along with process standardization, simplification, and transformation of area of responsibility.
• Engage teams across the entire Procure-to-Pay ecosystem to accelerate innovation & drive changes to optimize vendor-related activities, enhance overall vendor relations and achieve greater business outcomes.
• Establish performance metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate vendor performance, address any areas of concern, and promptly escalate critical issues to senior management.
• Continuously seek opportunities to optimize vendor management processes without compromising quality or service levels.
• Oversee the team that monitors and assesses inbound VMO support email boxes, ensuring timely response and resolution.
• Provide direction and guidance, leveraging the VMO case management platforms and the Vendor Finance Portal.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to make recommendations based on interpretation of quantitative analysis.
• Promotes an effective team environment through the effective use of mentoring, coaching, and development skills. Plans and assigns work within the context of a project/function. Leads by example, demonstrating leadership attributes, depth/ breath of knowledge and experience allows for a wide range of functional guidance.
• Work collaboratively with vendors to improve performance and address performance gaps, ensuring timely and effective solutions.
• Coordinate with internal teams to provide support and guidance on vendor-related matters.
• Identify and assess potential risks associated with vendor relationships, implement risk mitigation strategies, and contingency plans.
• Monitor vendor compliance with industry regulations and company policies.
• Additional job duties may be assigned as needed to meet the needs of the business and support our values.

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis until the end of their appointment
• 8-10 years of relevant experience with Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Supply Chain Management or related field or 10+ years' experience in Accounting, Finance or supply chain functions in lieu of a degree.
• 3+ years' experience specifically in vendor relations: vendor management, supplier relations, procurement, or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvements and optimize vendor relationships.
• Robust negotiation, influencing, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to interact with vendors and internal stakeholders effectively.
• Analytical mindset with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
• Familiarity with vendor risk assessment and mitigation.
• Knowledge of contract management and legal aspects related to vendor agreements.
• Strong interpersonal & relationship management skills for building, fostering, and maintaining positive and strong professional relationships with VMO team members, vendors, and internal business partners.
• Detail-oriented and well-organized, capable of managing multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.
• Proficiency in using various software tools, including MS Office suite and vendor management platforms.
• Ability to adapt to changing business needs and work well in a team-oriented environment.
• Requires travel - typically 10-20%

• Master's degree
• Accounting knowledge (Accounts Payable/Receivable, etc.)
• SAP knowledge
• Experience in grocery retail/category management
• Familiarity with both DA and AUSA existing systems and processes