Vendor Management - Associate

As a Vendor Manager/Partner Relations Associate, you will play a crucial role in managing and nurturing relationships with our vendors to optimize performance and drive business growth. This role requires strong organization skills and excellent leadership skills.  You will be responsible for conducting business reviews, review vendors performance and ensure compliance with our Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) standards. Additionally, you will participate and contract negotiations, review Business continuity plans, SOC audits and certificates of insurance. 

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and perform business reviews, review exit strategies, conduct Inherent Risk Assessments, while ensuring adherence to TPRM Standards.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for vendors, maintaining open lines of communication and addressing any concerns or issues promptly.

• Manage the onboarding process for new vendors, including setting timelines, coordinating necessary documentation, and facilitating introductory meetings.

• Request and review certificates of insurance from vendors to ensure compliance with contractual requirements.

• Oversee the timely upload and review of vendor reports, ensuring accuracy and completeness of data.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams, including procurement, legal, and finance, to streamline processes and resolve any vendor-related issues.

• Monitor vendor performance metrics and provide regular updates to internal stakeholders, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions when necessary.

• Build and maintaining strong partnerships with the various business line owners you will support

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications:

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

• 5+ years of experience in vendor management, partner relations, or a similar role within the Auto Finance or similar industry.

• Proven track record of successfully managing vendor relationships and driving results.

• Strong understanding of TPRM standards and best practices.

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to build rapport and influence stakeholders at all levels.

• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Willingness to travel periodically to vendor locations, approximately every 2-3 months, for 4 days each time.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with vendor management software is preferred.

At Santander, we value and respect differences in our workforce and strive to increase the diversity of our teams. We actively encourage everyone to apply.

Santander is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

This job description does not list all of the job duties of the job. You may be asked by your supervisors or managers to perform other duties. You may be evaluated in part based upon your performance of the tasks listed in this job description. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment and either you or the employer may terminate at any time for any reason.

The base pay range for this position is posted below and represents the annualized salary range. For hourly positions (non-exempt), the annual range is based on a 40-hour work week. The exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, training, licensure and certifications and location.

Base Pay Range

Minimum:

Maximum: