Vendor management - manager

The Vendor Management Manager is responsible for leading the governance, maintenance, and optimization of vendor master data processes across the Procurement organization, ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and compliance of supplier records throughout their lifecycle. This role serves as the primary owner of vendor master data management, supporting procurement, sourcing, accounts payable, finance, risk, compliance, and business stakeholders.

The incumbent will drive the strategic development and continuous improvement of vendor onboarding, maintenance, and deactivation processes, while implementing robust controls and data quality standards. This role also contributes to broader procurement transformation initiatives, process standardization, and operational excellence programs across Asia and North America.

Success in this role requires strong expertise in vendor management, procurement operations, master data governance, process design, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Position Responsibilities:

• Vendor Master Data Governance & Management
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all vendor master data inquiries and escalations.
• Oversee the creation, maintenance, modification, and deactivation of vendor records across procurement and finance systems.
• Ensure vendor setup requests are processed accurately, completely, and within established service level agreements (SLAs).
• Validate and approve vendor master data changes to maintain high standards of data integrity and quality.
• Review supporting documentation to ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and internal controls.
• Establish and maintain governance standards for vendor master data management.
• Ensure proper segregation of duties and adherence to audit and compliance requirements.
• Data Quality, Controls & Compliance
• Develop and execute vendor master data quality programs, including:
• Duplicate identification and elimination
• Data standardization and cleansing
• Vendor record validation
• Vendor deactivation and archival processes
• Conduct regular audits and quality reviews of vendor master records.
• Run scheduled and ad-hoc reports to identify data anomalies, compliance gaps, and process improvement opportunities.
• Develop and maintain vendor master data control frameworks and monitoring mechanisms.
• Partner with Audit, Risk, Operations, and Finance teams to support internal and external audit requirements.
• Vendor Onboarding & Lifecycle Management
• Manage end-to-end vendor onboarding activities, ensuring accurate vendor setup and timely activation.
• Support procurement, sourcing, operations, finance, and business stakeholders through the vendor lifecycle.
• Ensure vendor master forms and onboarding documentation are completed correctly and consistently.
• Coordinate with third-party suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve vendor information issues and discrepancies.
• Maintain vendor lifecycle records and ensure timely execution of vendor updates, renewals, and deactivation activities.
• Process Improvement & Transformation
• Design, implement, and continuously improve vendor master management processes across the Asia and North America regions.
• Develop and maintain:
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Process maps
• Compliance checklists
• Work instructions
• Governance frameworks
• Conduct value stream mapping and process assessments to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for automation and AI.
• Lead initiatives focused on process simplification, control enhancement, operational efficiency, and user experience improvements.
• Support procurement transformation and digitalization initiatives involving vendor management and procurement technologies.
• Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Partnership
• Work closely with Strategic Sourcing, Procurement Operations, Accounts Payable, Finance, Risk, and Business Partners.
• Provide guidance and consultation to internal stakeholders regarding vendor setup, changes, and data requirements.
• Establish strong relationships with regional and global stakeholders to ensure alignment to enterprise standards.
• Communicate process changes, governance requirements, and policy updates effectively across stakeholder groups.
• Facilitate issue resolution and escalation management related to vendor master data and supplier onboarding, governance, and offboarding.
• Reporting & Analytics
• Generate and analyze vendor-related reports and dashboards.
• Monitor operational performance, service levels, and process effectiveness through key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to leadership regarding vendor management trends and opportunities.
• Support management reporting, audit requests, and compliance reviews.
• Procurement Operations Support
• Maintain an understanding of end-to-end procurement and procure-to-pay (P2P) processes.
• Partner with procurement teams to support supplier onboarding, sourcing activities, payment enablement, and operational controls.
• Ensure alignment between vendor master processes and broader procurement objectives.
• Support strategic procurement initiatives and projects as required.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain Management, Information Systems, Procurement, or a related discipline.
• Master's degree or professional certification is an advantage.

Professional Certifications (nice to have)

• Certified Third-Party Risk Professional (CTPRP)
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent certification

Required Experience

• Minimum 7-10 years of progressive experience in Procurement, Vendor Management, Supplier Management, Master Data Management, Shared Services, Finance Operations, or Supply Chain Operations.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience managing vendor master data processes, supplier onboarding, or procurement operations.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing process improvements and operational controls.
• Experience supporting regional or global vendor management programs in a multinational organization.
• Experience working within highly regulated environments with strong compliance and audit requirements.
• Proven track record in stakeholder management across multiple functions and geographic regions.

Technical Skills & Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of:
• Vendor Master Data Management
• Procurement Operations
• Source-to-Pay (S2P)
• Procure-to-Pay (P2P)
• Supplier Lifecycle Management
• Data Governance Frameworks
• Internal Controls and Compliance Requirements
• Experience with ERP and procurement systems such as:
• Ivalua
• SAP
• Workday
• Jaggaer
• ServiceNow
• Proficiency in:
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Power BI
• Microsoft Power Platform
• Reporting and analytics tools
• Familiarity with process mapping and continuous improvement methodologies.

Core Competencies

• Leadership & Business Acumen
• Strategic thinker with the ability to align vendor management activities with business objectives.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving capabilities.
• Stakeholder Management
• Ability to influence and collaborate across multiple business functions and levels of leadership.
• Customer-focused mindset with strong relationship management skills.
• Operational Excellence
• Strong process improvement orientation.
• Ability to identify risks, inefficiencies, and control gaps and implement sustainable solutions.
• Analytical Thinking
• Highly analytical with strong attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Ability to interpret complex information and develop practical recommendations.
• Communication & Collaboration
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to explain complex policies and processes clearly to diverse stakeholders.
• Personal Effectiveness
• Results-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment in all interactions.

Success Measures

The Vendor Management Manager will be measured on:

• Vendor setup and maintenance SLA performance
• Vendor master data quality and accuracy rates
• Reduction in duplicate and inactive vendor records
• Audit and compliance outcomes
• Process efficiency improvements, automation, and AI adoption
• Continuous improvement and transformation delivery
• Regional process standardization and governance compliance
• Operational risk reduction and control effectiveness

When you join our team:

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.
• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.
• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact hr@manulife.com.

Working Arrangement

Hybrid