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Summary
The Vendor Manager - Critical Environments is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and optimizing strategic relationships with third-party vendors and service providers. In conjunction with the Customer's Facilities Manager, the Vendor Manager serves as the primary point of contact for vendors, leading performance management, business reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role maintains regular communication to address issues, discuss and track performance (including Work Order completion), identify improvement opportunities, and verify and ensure accurate billing and invoice justification based on Corrigo and process payments. The key to success in this role is to be an open, transparent and consistent communicator to all stakeholders. In this role, you have the opportunity to shape a portion of the digital economy as well as the careers and lives of the teams supporting operations.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Task will include but not be limited to:
- Lead weekly meetings with the client’s Operations teams to review vendor performance, address administrative and operational challenges, resolve outstanding issues, and drive accountability for corrective actions.
- Maintain consistent, proactive communication with the client’s Operations teams to identify emerging concerns, provide updates on vendor-related matters, and ensure alignment between vendor management initiatives and operational priorities.
- Establish, maintain, and optimize strategic relationships with third-party vendors and service providers supporting all data center systems including fire/life safety, mechanical, electrical, cabling, critical environments, and digital systems.
- Serve as primary point of contact for all vendors working within assigned facilities.
- Lead vendor performance management, business reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Monitor vendor compliance with contractual obligations, service level agreements, and performance standards.
- Track and analyze vendor performance including Work Order completion rates, response times, and quality of service.
- Maintain regular communication with vendors to address issues, discuss performance, and identify improvement opportunities.
- Verify and ensure accurate billing and invoice justification based on Corrigo system data.
- Process vendor payments in accordance with contractual terms and approval workflows.
- Implement comprehensive warranty management program to track, enforce, and maximize the value of warranties on vendor-provided services and equipment.
- Establish and maintain centralized repository of all active warranties.
- Monitor warranty expiration dates and coordinate timely claims for covered repairs and replacements.
- Manage all aspects of vendor training to ensure familiarity with data center operations and critical systems.
- Provide advance training and notification to all contractors regarding the data center's critical functions and work requirements, including incident contact response lists.
- Ensure Data Center Work Rules are well-understood among all vendors and contractors.
- Coordinate vendor onboarding activities including system access setup, documentation collection, and stakeholder introductions.
- Maintain all vendor-related documentation including contracts, service agreements, insurance certificates, and compliance records.
- Ensure compliance with all regulatory laws and guidelines as they relate to vendor operations within the data center's infrastructure.
- Prepare and report on vendor KPIs to track performance against established targets.
- Provide technical input and support to facility projects and modifications involving vendors, including construction support, commissioning, and final acceptance.
- Develop, review, and approve vendor work efforts including Mission Critical Statements for assigned facilities and systems.
- Identify vendor performance issues and implement corrective action plans.
- Conduct regular vendor business reviews to assess performance and alignment with facility objectives.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives with vendor partners and implement best practices.
- Alert management of vendor performance issues or building discrepancies requiring escalation.
- Perform additional job duties as requested.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Directly supervise assigned personnel.
- Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the policies enumerated with Jones Lang LaSalle and applicable laws.
- Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees.
- Planning, assigning, and directing work.
- Rewarding and disciplining employees.
- Addressing complaints and resolving problems.
Minimum Requirements:
Education & Experience
- Hands-on experience working in a data center/critical facility, including UPS.
- Systems, emergency generators, and switchgears.
- High School diploma or GED equivalent
- Seven to ten years of engineering experience or equivalent industry experience
- Five to seven years supervisory experience.
- Moderate knowledge of a variety of manual trades such as carpentry, electromechanical repair, etc.
Language Skills
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical procedures, or governmental regulations and codes.
- Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
- Ability to speak effectively before small groups of tenants or fellow employees.
- Demonstrated verbal/written communication skills.
Other Skill and Abilities
- Ability to use drawings, specifications, shop math and various measuring or testing instruments.
- Working knowledge or the capability of developing proficient knowledge of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Outlook and Microsoft Access and any other software packages.
- Must be able to professionally interact with tenants and contractors.