Wheels
VendorRelations&StrategyManager
Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Senior candidates.
“Vendor Relations & Strategy Manager at Wheels. Skills: vendor management, cross-functional coordination, vendor/stakeholder management, operational metrics, resource planning, continuous improvement, process management. managing and optimizing a broad vendor network across the Canadian market. serving as the primary liaison between Wheels and our Canadian vendor base”
What You'll Achieve.
ensuring vendor performance aligns with operational expectations and service level agreements; driving continuous improvement across multiple categories; drive performance improvements and align vendor services with Wheels’ business goals; driving decisions around vendor allocation and strategic prioritization; promote a culture of continuous improvement; streamline internal and vendor-facing processes; support vendor performance tracking and reporting; inform vendor strategy and operational decisions; promote use of top-performing vendors
Industry & Context.
Analyze performance through data tools; driving decisions around vendor allocation and strategic prioritization; identify risks, address issues; provide actionable insights through both quantitative and qualitative analysis to inform vendor strategy and operational decisions
regular travel within Canada (20–30%), must regularly talk and hear and use hands and fingers to operate call center tools, Drug-Free Workplace, successful completion of drug and background screening
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
8+ years of experience in vendor management, supplier relations, or operational program management, fluent in English, located in the Greater Toronto Area, regular travel within Canada (20–30%)
Nice to Have
preferably Canadian French, Bilingual (English and Canadian French) – fluent written and verbal communication required in both languages
What You'll Do.
managing and optimizing a broad vendor network across the Canadian market
serving as the primary liaison between Wheels and our Canadian vendor base
ensuring vendor performance aligns with operational expectations and service level agreements
implementing the vendor management framework
analyzing performance through data tools
driving continuous improvement across multiple categories
establish and execute the vendor management framework across all outsourced service categories in Canada
serve as the primary relationship manager for Canadian Ministries (e.g.
lead initiatives to drive performance improvements and align vendor services with Wheels’ business goals
use dashboards and BI tools to collect
and visualize vendor KPIs
driving decisions around vendor allocation and strategic prioritization
set performance review cadence and facilitate vendor business reviews to identify risks
and promote a culture of continuous improvement
support vendor identification
contract negotiation (in partnership with Procurement)
and lifecycle management
ensure compliance with internal controls
make vendor volume allocation recommendations based on performance trends and data insights
identify and implement opportunities to streamline internal and vendor-facing processes
lead or support continuous improvement events (e.g.
Kaizen) in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders
partner with IT to develop enhancements to tools and systems that support vendor performance tracking and reporting
provide actionable insights through both quantitative and qualitative analysis to inform vendor strategy and operational decisions
present vendor performance and strategic recommendations to internal and external stakeholders
partner with internal teams to promote use of top-performing vendors and support escalations as needed
represent Wheels with professionalism and integrity in vendor interactions
serve as a subject matter expert on vendor management in the Canadian market
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders (Operations, Procurement, Legal, etc.) to assess category maturity, conduct gap analyses, and shape future state operating models.; Lead or support continuous improvement events (e.g., Kaizen) in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.; Partner with IT to develop enhancements to tools and systems that support vendor performance tracking and reporting.; Present vendor performance and strategic recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.; Partner with internal teams to promote use of top-performing vendors and support escalations as needed.
Communication Scope
fluent in English; preferably Canadian French; Bilingual (English and Canadian French) – fluent written and verbal communication required in both languages
Full Job Description
## ## ## **Job Description:** **JOB OVERVIEW** The Vendor Relations & Strategy Manager – Canadian Operations is a key individual contributor responsible for managing and optimizing a broad vendor network across the Canadian market, with an immediate focus on SAAQ and provincial Ministry partnerships. This role will serve as the primary liaison between Wheels and our Canadian vendor base, including licensing and compliance offices, dealerships, repair shops, and other third-party service providers, ensuring vendor performance aligns with operational expectations and service level agreements. The successful candidate will be fluent in English and preferably Canadian French, located in the Greater Toronto Area, and will be based out of our Mississauga office. They will play a strategic role in implementing the vendor management framework, analyzing performance through data tools, and driving continuous improvement across multiple categories. This position requires regular travel within Canada (20–30%) to foster in-person relationships and drive operational accountability. **KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS** * **Vendor Management:** * Establish and execute the vendor management framework across all outsourced service categories in Canada. * Serve as the primary relationship manager for Canadian Ministries (e.g., SAAQ), dealerships, repair facilities, and more. * Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders (Operations, Procurement, Legal, etc.) to assess category maturity, conduct gap analyses, and shape future state operating models. * Lead initiatives to drive performance improvements and align vendor services with Wheels’ business goals. * Use dashboards and BI tools to collect, analyze, and visualize vendor KPIs, driving decisions around vendor allocation and strategic prioritization. * Set performance review cadence and facilitate vendor business reviews to identify risks, address issues, and promote a culture of continuous improvement. * Support vendo
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