Vendor and Contract Manager

Responsibilities

• Strategic Vendor & Supplier Management
• Own and manage relationships with strategic vendors, ensuring alignment to Technology strategies
• Lead executive-level engagement with suppliers, including governance forums and business reviews
• Develop and maintain structured supplier governance models, including performance tracking and escalation frameworks
• Drive long-term partnership value through innovation, joint planning, and continuous improvement
• Category Strategy & Commercial Leadership
• Develop and execute comprehensive category strategies for strategic vendors, aligned to business and technology roadmaps
• Conduct spend analysis, supplier segmentation, and market benchmarking to inform sourcing decisions
• Identify opportunities to rationalise vendor landscape and optimise cost structures
• Deliver commercial outcomes through effective sourcing, negotiation, and demand management
• Contracting, Negotiation & Lifecycle Management
• Lead complex global contract negotiations with key suppliers
• Ensure robust contract structures covering pricing, performance, risk, and compliance
• Oversee full contract lifecycle including renewals, amendments, and terminations
• Partner with Legal and Risk teams to ensure compliance with data, security, and regulatory standards
• Performance, Risk & Governance
• Define and implement supplier performance frameworks (KPIs, SLAs, scorecards)
• Lead risk management activities including compliance monitoring and issue resolution
• Ensure governance forums drive accountability, transparency, and performance improvement
• Manage supplier disputes, escalations, and commercial remediation
• Stakeholder & Business Partnering
• Act as a strategic advisor to Technology and business stakeholders on vendor-related decisions
• Collaborate cross-functionally (Finance, Legal, IT, Architecture) to align sourcing strategies
• Provide insight-led recommendations to senior leadership on procurement and vendor strategy
• Support key transformation initiatives including digital, AI, and cloud programmes
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Drive procurement excellence through process optimisation and adoption of best practices
• Monitor market trends and supplier innovation pipelines
• Lead initiatives to enhance Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) maturity
• Promote sustainability, compliance, and responsible procurement standards

Requirements

• Proven experience in procurement, category management, or vendor management within a global enterprise
• Strong commercial acumen with advanced negotiation and contract structuring skills
• Deep experience managing strategic technology vendors (e.g. SaaS, Cloud, IT Services)
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and operate at executive level
• Strong analytical capability (spend analysis, cost modelling, market insights)
• Solid understanding of procurement governance, risk management, and compliance
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
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Benefits

Additional Information

About Maersk Maersk is a global leader in integrated logistics and have been industry pioneers for over a century. Through innovation and transformation we are redefining the boundaries of possibility, continuously setting new standards for efficiency, sustainability, and excellence. At Maersk, we believe in the power of diversity, collaboration, and continuous learning and we work hard to ensure that the people in our organisation reflect and understand the customers we exist to serve. With over 100,000 employees across 130 countries, we work together to shape the future of global trade and logistics. Join us as we harness cutting-edge technologies and unlock opportunities on a global scale. Together, let's sail towards a brighter, more sustainable future with Maersk. Role Summary As a Category Manager within the Strategic Vendors team, you will be responsible for the end-to-end commercial ownership and strategic management of a portfolio of global Tier 1 technology vendors. Operating within the Strategic Vendors function, this role partners closely with Technology leadership to develop and execute vendor strategies that optimise cost, maximise value, and align supplier capabilities to Maersk's technology and business priorities. The role is a critical interface between Technology, Finance, Legal, and suppliers, ensuring robust governance, contract compliance, and delivery against strategic objectives.

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