Sr. Vendor & Tech Optimization Manager (Remote) at Inspira Financial

Oak Brook, Illinois, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

16 May, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

15 Feb, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Vendor Performance Management, Relationship Management, Operational Efficiency, Tech Enablement, Governance Routines, SLA/KPI Management, Contract Management, Negotiation, Cross Functional Collaboration, Stakeholder Influence, Technology Stack Assessment, Automation, AI-Driven Solutions, Business Case Development, ROI Analysis, Process Improvement

Industry

Financial Services

Description

The Sr Manger, Vendor and Tech Optimization will report to the Sr. Director, Vendor and Tech Optimization, which supports the Service Delivery departments. This role is responsible for partnering with internal stakeholders to work as a key driver of vendor performance, operational efficiency and tech enablement. This role demands exceptional relationship management skills, with the ability to influence, align and partner alternatives. Vendor Relationship & Performance Management * Serve as the primary relationship owner for assigned vendors, acting as a trusted partner and escalation point. * Lead governance routines, QBRs, and joint improvement initiatives to drive SLA, KPI, and compliance performance. * Build and maintain trust-based relationships with vendor leadership to foster transparency, accountability, and innovation. * Partner with procurement and legal teams to manage contracts, renewals, negotiations, and scope expansions. * Gain understanding of business needs as it relates to vendor interaction Cross Functional Collaboration & Influence * Engage closely with internal business leaders, operations, IT, and analytics teams to ensure vendor and technology solutions meet evolving business needs. * Act as a bridge between the vendors and internal stakeholders, translating business goals into executable vendor deliverables. * Facilitate alignments across multiple departments to support seamless delivery and shared ownership of results * Navigate competing priorities and drive consensus to keep initiatives on track Technology & Enablement * Assess the current technology stack for efficiency and recommend enhancements, automation and AI-driven solutions. * Drive adoption and integration of new tools and processes as a partner to internal process teams, ensuring stakeholder engagement and change readiness * Build data-driven business cases for technology investments with clear ROI and operational impact. This position will travel up to 10% nationwide. Qualifications Education & Experience: · 5+ years of experience in relationship management with an operations and/or account management background. · Bachelor's degree in business, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Data Sciences, Communications, or related field. · Hands-on experience managing strategic vendor relationships and fostering high value partnerships. · Demonstrated experience delivering operational and technology improvements with measurable ROI · Excellent negotiation, communication and stakeholder influence skills · Experience in healthcare of retirement planning industry a plus. · Familiarity with MS Office applications, basic data analysis and quality tools Skills & Abilities: · Proactive, analytical, and problem-solving approach, able to propose resolutions and/or remediation to inefficient processes · Proven ability to self-prioritize, multi-task, and complete assignments within specified timelines · Possess excellent collaboration and communication skills, with both internal and external teams · Detail-oriented, organized, and dependable · Implement critical thinking and problem-solving · Familiarity with Microsoft Excel, Visio, Miro, LucidChart, Word, Outlook and web-based tools such as Salesforce etc. · Masterful relationship builder-able to balance empathy, influence and accountability with diverse stakeholders · Strategic thinker with an operational bias for action. · Skilled in conflict resolution and collaborative problem solving · Data-driven decision making with a continuous improvement mindset. · Knowledge of process improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, Agile) preferred

Responsibilities

This role drives vendor performance, operational efficiency, and technology enablement by serving as the primary relationship owner for assigned vendors, leading governance routines, and managing contracts. The manager will also collaborate cross-functionally to ensure technology solutions meet evolving business needs and assess the current technology stack for enhancements.