Staff Technical Vendor Manager

About the team and the role

Credit Karma’s Platform Engineering Team is looking for a Staff Technical Vendor Manager. 

The Staff Technical Vendor Manager is part of the Engineering Procurement team and is responsible for negotiating and managing technology vendor relationships including vendor contracts, performance, risks and financials.  This individual will have 10 years of experience and have been a people manager.  The role requires a broad knowledge of technology licensing and services as well as cloud services.  This individual will be an expert negotiator capable of addressing challenges from conflict management through billing disputes. 

What you’ll do:

 The Staff Technical Vendor Manager will manage the entire procurement lifecycle from sourcing to onboarding and execution, through offboarding. 

• Skills required are: 
  • Assessing Needs
    • Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand the specific technological needs of the organization
    • Conduct thorough research to identify potential vendors who can meet these requirements
  • Evaluating Solutions
    • Evaluate vendors based on their technology stack, innovation, and scalability
    • Ensure that vendors adhere to industry regulations (e.g., GDPR, PCI-DSS, CPRA) and have robust security measures in place
    • Assess vendor reputation through references, case studies, and performance history
    • Coordinate financial review of vendor to ensure solvency and financial health and stability
  • Relationship Management
    • Establish transparent communication channels with vendors to foster collaboration and trust
    • Schedule periodic reviews to discuss performance, address concerns, and explore opportunities for improvement
    • Maintain regular contact with critical vendors regarding their product roadmaps to confirm alignment with CKs strategic direction
    • Work with vendors on joint innovation projects that can lead to new product offerings or enhancements
  • Performance Monitoring
    • Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure vendor performance against agreed-upon standards
    • Implement feedback mechanisms to gather insights from internal teams about vendor performance and areas for enhancement
  • Risk Management
    • Conduct regular assessments to identify potential risks associated with vendor relationships, including financial stability, security and compliance risks
    • Develop contingency plans to mitigate risks, ensuring business continuity in the event of vendor-related issues
  • Compliance Oversight
    • Ensure that all vendors comply with relevant regulations and industry standards
    • Implement regular audits of vendor practices to ensure ongoing compliance and risk management
  • Continuous Improvement
    • Use feedback from internal stakeholders to drive improvements in vendor services
    • Encourage vendors to invest in training their staff on our systems and processes for better integration
  • Innovation
    • Stay informed about emerging technologies and trends to identify opportunities for collaboration with vendors

Minimum Basic Requirement:

• Must have 10 years of experience specifically in Technology Sourcing and Procurement or Technical Vendor Management
• Must have strong technical aptitude inclusive of emerging trends in AI
• Must have experience with cloud providers such as GCP, AWS and Azure
• Must have management experience and been a people manager
• Must be comfortable reading and interpreting financial statements
• Must have the ability to identify contract risks and successfully negotiate mitigating terms and conditions

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Strong Communication Skills
• Ability to analyze information and draw logical conclusions 
• Able to inspire trust, manage teams, and set deadlines 
• Naturally solves problems creatively and analytically 
• Efficiently and effectively organizes time and work  
• Work well autonomously and with others 
• Finds a way through challenges, even when things get difficult

- Benefits at Credit Karma includes:

• Medical and Dental Coverage
• Retirement Plan
• Commuter Benefits
• Wellness perks
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick, Baby Bonding, Cultural Observance, & More)
• Education Perks
• Paid Gift Week in December