Senior IT Vendor Manager

Job description:

This is an initial contract running for 12+ months with strong likelihood to extend on a long term basis (up to max five years) based on the project road maps, with start date by August.

Joining a diverse and multicultural team consisting of IT Vendor Managers and IT Vendor Software Asset Manager, the new hire will be responsible for managing vendor contracts, performance, risks and relationships, ensuring that the bank can maximize value from its external investment and derisk dependencies on external parties.

The Senior IT Vendor Manager will play a critical role in negotiating contracts in close collaboration with senior IT leaders, IT Product Managers, Procurement and Legal.

Responsibilities includes:

• Vendor Relationship Management: Develop and maintain strong relationships with Microsoft, acting as the primary point of contact. Foster collaborative partnerships to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
• Demand Management: Lead the planning and execution of demand collection across all product owners and stakeholders in line with organizational guidance.
• Contract Negotiation and Management: Lead the negotiation of Microsoft Enterprise Agreement, ensuring favorable terms and conditions, not only commercial terms but also legal language to mitigate future risks and secure flexibility where possible in collaboration with our Procurement and Legal Managers. Oversee the contract lifecycle, including renewals, amendments, and terminations.
• Operational Tasks: Manage operational activities along the value chain of the VM processes, such as the ordering of licenses, Bill of Materials, Catalogue management, and invoice process with the vendors or resellers.
• Performance Monitoring: Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate vendor performance. Implement corrective actions as needed to address performance issues or non-compliance.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate risks associated with Microsoft partnerships and relationships. Develop and implement risk management strategies to ensure continuity of services and minimize potential disruptions. Partner with Microsoft to ensure tangible contribution of Microsoft to the Bank's Resilience Plan
• Cost Optimization: Continuously assess and optimize Microsoft costs. Identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements without compromising product or service quality. Keep the Cloud spend aligned to the benefits it produces. Understand Cloud spend and foster the right FinOps in place to support growth.
• Establish Panning Sessions with Microsoft, IT Product Managers to discuss cost optimization, long-term plans and benefits (e.g. Reservations, Saving Plan)
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with internal stakeholders, including IT, finance, legal, and procurement teams, to ensure seamless vendor management processes. Provide regular updates and reports to senior leadership.
• Market Analysis: Stay informed about partners and industry trends, emerging technologies, and market conditions. Conduct market analysis to identify potential new vendors and innovative solutions.
• Compliance and Governance: Ensure that all Microsoft agreements comply with relevant regulations, policies, and standards. Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of vendor contracts and performance metrics.

About the customer:

sh.webhire.com/servlet/av/search?SearchFields=ACCT_ID&ACCT_ID=550&SiteName=Internet&ResultTem

Requirements:

In order to be considered for this role, you will possess as many of the following skills as possible:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in IT vendor management, with most recent experience being in Strategic IT Vendor Management.
• Specialization in managing Microsoft as a strategic vendor, a background in Microsoft, IT, strategic IT sourcing or a related role would also be considered.
• Proven track record of successfully managing vendors in a very interdependent environment (i.e. ability to navigate, influence, negotiate with stakeholders with diverging interests, priorities, managing ambiguity).
• Proven track record negotiating contracts and to successfully renew partnerships while managing concentration risk.
• Proven track record to challenge constructively, to influence and to negotiate with internal stakeholders.
• Deep knowledge of contract law for software and licenses, especially about Microsoft.
• Knowledge of Microsoft technologies and services, IT infrastructure, software, and services, as well as industry best practices in vendor management,
• Fluency in English.

Compensation benefits:

Please note interviews would be conducted via video call (max two rounds), however the role is based 100% in Switzerland. Our client offers:

• The opportunity to work in a diverse and international environment on a long-term basis
• 50% working from home
• 20 days working remotely from abroad per year
• Modern office in central Basel (50 minutes direct train from Zurich) with subsidised canteen

Are you interested to work in an international environment in one of the most important financial companies worldwide? Then apply before the deadline on Tuesday 10 June!