Senior IT Vendor Management Leader

Here at Discount Tire, we celebrate the spirit of our people with extraordinary pride and enthusiasm. Our business has been growing for more than 60 years and now is the best time in our history to join us. We are opening more locations every year and we are always looking for qualified individuals to join us in our growth. We are a company that promotes from within, both in our retail and corporate operations.

This transformation leadership role is accountable for driving strategic alignment between business SVPs, technology leadership, and vendor partners. The Senior Leader of IT Vendor Management leads the development of a scalable VMO, embeds targeted change practices, and enables technology strategy through sourcing and vendor governance. The role is designed to deliver measurable enterprise value, reduce vendor-related risk, and accelerate transformation outcomes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Promotes the Company Vision To be the BEST!
  • Caring for and Cultivating People
  • Delighting our Customers
  • Growing Responsibly
  • Drives Value to the Business
• Lives and shares our values and philosophies. Assist others to realize their career goals; connects employees to Company vision and purpose
• Participates in IT Vendor Management recruitment, hiring, training, employee development and performance management
• Provides direction and feedback on the day-to-day activities of employees
• Communicates clear job expectations, goals and development opportunities to Enterprise Infrastructure employees
• Prepares employee development plans; recommends appropriate action to upper management
• Conducts performance reviews
• Coaches and mentors Enterprise Infrastructure employees
• Serves as an escalation point for interpersonal and operational employee challenges
• Regularly one on ones meets with employees in a one-on-one setting
• Manages work schedules and performs time keeping activities
• Monitors and adjusts employee workloads
• Monitors department projects to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and to agreed quality level
• Gathers, tracks, and reports department attainment of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to upper management
• Ensures the highest level of Customer Delight by promoting and providing excellent customer service
• Ensures Company procedures are followed, including the tracking and publishing of metrics
• Works collaboratively across departments to identify and resolve risks, conflicts and challenges, recommends resolution and implementing process improvements
• Stays current on the latest industry technologies, trends, and strategies; brings forward solutions and serves as a Trusted Expert
• Participates in Company management initiatives such as: meetings, conferences, and committees
• Develops and maintains departmental governance procedures
• Supports decisions made by Company leadership

Specific duties to IT Vendor Management:

• Unified executive alignment: Reduces cross-functional friction and accelerates strategic execution
• Optimized vendor ecosystem: Drives cost efficiency, reduces duplication, improves accountability
• Embedded change practices: Accelerates adoption of sourcing and governance models
• Technology strategy enablement: Improves delivery speed, scalability, and innovation
• VMO operationalization: Establishes governance, reduces vendor risk, improves sourcing agility
• Executive Alignment & Influence
  • Facilitate strategic cohesion across SVPs, IT leadership, and vendor stakeholders
  • Establish shared vendor goals and governance rituals (e.g., Quarterly Business Reviews)
  • Act as a connective tissue between business priorities and technology execution for vendor engagement
• Vendor Strategy & Value Realization
  • Architect sourcing frameworks, vendor segmentation models, and consolidation plans
  • Define and track vendor performance metrics tied to business outcomes
  • Establish Vendor Assessment framework for the evaluation of existing partners
• Vendor Relationships
  • Build strong relationships with key technology vendors
  • Establish Strategic Partnership program
  • Enable vendor innovation and investment
• Targeted Change Leadership
  • Lead change initiatives focused on sourcing strategy, vendor governance, and VMO adoption
  • Drive executive buy-in and behavioral adoption across leadership tiers
  • Embed agile, outcome-based execution practices in vendor-related processes
• Technology Strategy Enablement
  • Build sourcing strategies, vendor processes, and policies that support the enterprise technology roadmap
  • Align vendor services and products with IT objectives and delivery milestones
  • Partner with technology leadership to ensure vendor readiness and scalability
  • Build vendor management practices through technology solutions
• VMO Creation & Operationalization
  • Design and build a Vendor Management Organization from the ground up
  • Define structure, roles, governance models, and performance tracking systems
  • Ensure VMO supports cost control, risk mitigation, and strategic sourcing
  • Manage vendor issue escalation and conflict resolution
  • Ensure vendor contracts and engagements are aligned to strategic priorities

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in vendor management and technology governance
• Experience working with business and technology executive leadership on strategic and operational aspects
• Deep knowledge of vendor management, sourcing strategies, and technology contractual terms
• Developing relationships with vendors, influencing positive outcomes, negotiation
• Experience setting up VMOs from ground-up and technology service delivery is preferred.

Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology or related field is required, MBA or other advanced degree.
• Professional certifications are a plus.

Work Days:

Normal work days: Monday through Friday. Occasional Saturdays and Sundays may be necessary.

Work Hours:

Normal work hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional hours may be necessary.

Discount Tire provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

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