IT Vendor Relationship Manager

About the role: The IT Vendor Relationship Manager manages the full lifecycle of vendor engagements within specialist categories and leads Strategic Sourcing engagements, collaborating with business leaders, finance and technical staff to identify requirements, financial analysis, manages vendor selection. This role negotiates contracts, statements of work, deliverables and rates and monitors vendor performance against contracts and SLAs, escalations and vendor offboarding. What you’ll be doing: Lead RFx processes (RFI/RFP/RFQ), supplier evaluations, and award decisions Analyze market trends, supplier cost structures, and total cost of ownership (TCO) Partner with stakeholders to align sourcing plans with business needs and budgets Deliver cost savings, service level improvements, and risk reduction Lead commercial negotiations in partnership with Legal and Finance Own contract lifecycle: redlines, renewals, amendments, and performance obligations Ensure contract terms reflect business, compliance, and risk requirements Maintain awareness of renewal timelines and proactively initiate renegotiations Act as the primary relationship owner for strategic and high-impact vendors Develop and track vendor scorecards, SLAs, and KPIs Lead regular business reviews and escalations Identify vendor consolidation, innovation, or restructuring opportunities Collaborate with Cyber, Legal, and Compliance teams to assess and manage third-party risk Ensure adherence to internal sourcing policies and external regulatory requirements What we'll want you to have: 5+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing or vendor management, preferably in a SaaS organization Proven experience leading contract negotiations and supplier governance Strong understanding of sourcing methodology and cost modeling Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication, and analytical skills Familiarity with ERP/procurement systems and contract lifecycle platforms Broad working knowledge of compute, storage and networking components Strong results-focused approach, with the ability to achieve and exceed goals while maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency. Excellent organization and planning abilities, effectively managing multiple projects and priorities to ensure timely and successful completion. Skilled in negotiation and conflict management, adept at resolving issues and fostering positive relationships with stakeholders. Proficient in risk and issue management, identifying potential challenges and implementing strategies to mitigate risks and address issues promptly. Committed to process management and improvement, continuously seeking opportunities to enhance workflows and optimize performance. Utilizes metrics and analysis to drive decision-making, leveraging data to inform strategies and measure success. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, advanced excel skills, and strong interpersonal and relationship skills Able to work flexible hours as required by business priorities Stay up to date on everything Blackbaud, follow us on Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Blackbaud powers social impact through purpose‑driven technology and responsible AI. Guided by our Intelligence for Good® vision, we’re building a culture where innovation, trust, and human expertise come together to help organizations make a greater difference in the world. Blackbaud is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law. The starting base pay is $77,700.00 to $104,500.00. Blackbaud may pay more or less based on employee qualifications, market value, Company finances, and other operational considerations. Benefits Include: Medical, dental, and vision insurance Remote-flexible workforce Wellness Programs 401(k) program with employer match Flexible paid time off Generous Parental Leave Donations for Doers Pet insurance, legal and identity protection Tuition reimbursement program Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good. Serving the entire social good community—nonprofits, foundations, corporations, education institutions, healthcare institutions and individual change agents—Blackbaud connects and empowers organizations to increase their impact through software, services, expertise, and data intelligence. The Blackbaud portfolio is tailored to the unique needs of vertical markets, with solutions for fundraising and CRM, marketing, advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate social responsibility, school management, ticketing, grantmaking, financial management, payment processing, and analytics. Serving the industry for more than three decades, Blackbaud is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina and has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.