Manager, Vendor Management

Dedicated to telling stories and creating experiences, Indigo is always looking for bright, energetic, and customer-focused people who can help bring our exciting mission to life in one of our more than 170 Indigo, Indigospirit, Chapters, or Coles stores across Canada. We offer a variety of exciting opportunities at our retail stores, distribution centres, and home office for people who share our passions and want to be part of a dynamic and enriching culture.WHO WE AREWe love books and all things beautifulWe are Canada’s Cultural Department StoreBooks are our heart and our soul and Great Books are JUST the Beginning…We play by the following rules:We exist to add joy to our customers’ lives each and every time they interact with us and our productsOur job is to create joyful moments for our customersWe treat each other the way we’d treat a valued friendWe inspire each other to do our best workWe seek to ignite creativity and innovation every dayWe give back to the communities in which we operateJob DescriptionThe Manager, Vendor Management & Compliance is accountable for streamlining the vendor management process for direct vendors, including onboarding, vendor compliance and tracking vendor performance. This role is an expert in negotiating optimal commercial terms with vendor partners and will lead improvement efforts with respect to the vendor onboarding experience. Furthermore, this role will drive vendor compliance & delivery performance by streamlining the compliance management system and introducing vendor scorecarding. The Manager works collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including General Merchandising, Print, Legal, Supply Chain and IT, to provide clear, consistent communication and direction to vendors in a high-growth, fast-paced retail environment.KEY PERFORMANCE METRICSCompliance with contracting standardsSpeed of vendor onboarding (vendor registration approval within 24hrs)Annual compliance chargeback recoveriesImproved vendor performanceKey stakeholder satisfaction (Merchants/Buyers, Legal, Supply Chain)Vendor Support (enhanced process. timely & accurate recovery)KEY ACCOUNTABILITIESFunctionalVendor Onboarding & Merchant support:Partner with merchants and cross-functional teams to negotiate commercial terms to complete new vendor onboarding (VOB)Ensure timely review and approval of any variations in onboarding terms; provide recommendations and negotiate commercial terms directly with the vendor.Liaise with Legal and VP Procurement as neededCreate and maintain relationships with vendors and internal merchant teamsProvide coaching/feedback to key stakeholders related to negotiation strategy & executionWork closely with the Vendor Onboarding team to manage and maintain an efficient vendor onboarding workflow and issue resolution; ensure 24-hour SLA for vendor registration approval in queue on Indigo Vendor Hub (onboarding portal) and 24-hour response SLA for vendor setup inquiriesEnsure the team maintains an active vendor databaseManage 3rd party VOB Portal provider relationship; identify any required changes/improvements to the process/portal user experienceIdentify opportunities for vendor onboarding process improvement, make recommendations accordingly and drive respective initiatives; this includes internal processes, RASI refinement, and evaluation of external toolsDeliver a seamless end-to-end vendor onboarding processVendor Compliance & Performance:Manage annual vendor compliance recoveries budget and ensure monthly net recoveries stay on trackWork with the Vendor Compliance team and external compliance system partner to ensure compliance detection rules are updated and maintained; assess opportunities to add more detections as requested by the supply chain or the business.Ensure the team maintains a 24-hour response SLA for Vendor Compliance inquiriesEnsure all Vendor Manuals are up to date (including French versions)Ensure Indigo Vendor Help portal (ZenDesk) is kept up-to-date at all timesDevelop Vendor Scorecards to track vendor performance; target to send out scorecards at minimum every quarter (if not monthly)Work with the vendor community to improve overall compliance and delivery performanceEnsure the team is replying to all Vendor Compliance and Vendor Setup inquiries daily (as per the required SLA)Complete monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting on Key Performance Metrics (listed above) as requiredVendor Support:Ensure the Vendor Support team maintains timely and accurate calculation and submission of monthly/quarterly/annual Vendor Support billings.Evaluate current process and 3rd Party Rebate Management systems to introduce further automation.Ensure the team is maintaining a 24-hour response SLA for vendor inquiries regarding Vendor SupportPeopleCollaborate with others to drive flexible and iterative solutions quickly and easilyShare technical knowledge with others and actively seek to learn from those more knowledgeable than yourselfHelp others see the impacts of their efforts & proactively engage other functions to get inputEncourage others to freely share their point of view and be open to feedback.CulturalModel Indigo’s beliefs and convey a positive image in everything you doCelebrate the diversity of thought and have an open mindsetTake an active role in fostering a culture of continual learning, taking risks without the fear of making mistakesEmbrace, champion, and influence change through your team and/or the organizationSCOPEReports to: Director, Vendor Relationship ManagementKEY RELATIONSHIPSInternal:General MerchandiseGlobal SourcingLegalVendor OnboardingSupply ChainFinanceExternal:Vendors3P solution providersQualificationsWork Experience / Education / CertificationsDegree in business, economics, or related fieldAn advanced degree or certification in law, negotiations or business is considered an asset5+ years’ experience in leading negotiations with vendors, suppliers, or other outside parties5+ years’ experience working in procurement, sourcing, or in-house counselCompetencies / Skills / AttributesTeam player who thrives in a collaborative environmentAble to influence internal and external stakeholdersExpert negotiator with a demonstrated history of improving deal valueStrong understanding of key legal and commercial contract termsExcellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interface effectively with individuals at various levels, both internal and externalSelf-motivated, with the ability to work on multiple projects in a fast-paced environmentLeads by example and models a passion for the business, as well as demonstrates a proactive and solution-orientated styleHighly analyticalSystems-driven (always seeking the latest technology to continuously improve and automate processes where it makes sense)Additional informationAt Indigo, we are committed to our communities, our customers, and each other; together we can make a positive impact. We know that fostering diversity and inclusion brings out your full potential and creates a joyful and welcoming environment for everyone. We are driven to be an equitable employer, which highly values your diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that you, in all your uniqueness, belong at Indigo. We welcome all applicants and encourage applications from individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, a person of colour, LGBTQ2+ and people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request to individuals who self-identify as having a disability or special need. Please contact Human Resources at Support-HR@indigo.ca if you require an accommodation at any time during the recruitment process.WELCOME HOMEVideos to Watch