IT Vendor Manager

What is on offer?

AHK has an exciting opportunity for a Vendor Manager to join our IT Team based in Prescot. Your responsibilities will be to oversee ITs relationships with and arrangements with third-party vendors and suppliers. Responsible for all aspects of IT vendor management,such as vendor onboarding, monitoring vendor performance, managing subscriptions and identifying potential new vendors. Also supports IT’s Analysts in researching, recommending and implementing solutions that require third-party IT vendors and suppliers.

About us

Alfred H Knight are an independent provider of inspection and testing services. Established in 1881, AHK operates in more than 40 countries with a well-earned reputation for providing reliable, professional services. We provide specialist services for awide range of commodities within base and minor metals, steel raw materials, ferroalloys, precious metals, platinum group metals, industrial minerals, solid fuels and fertilisers. Our clients include miners, smelters, refineries, traders, financial institutionsand government bodies. We maintain rigorous quality standards to ensure that our operations provide the highest level of services to our clients. We achieve this through compliance with industry standards and regulations for laboratory, inspection and qualitymanagement, including ISO: IEC 17025, 17020, 9001, 14001 and 45001. Our people are our finest asset and as a truly global company, we value diversity, and respect people from all backgrounds.

Do you have what it takes?

To be successful at Alfred H Knight, you will need to display the following:
**Responsibilities**:

- Supporting and managing the whole IT vendor onboarding process.
- Monitor and evaluate performance of IT vendors through operational KPI trending.
- Research alternative IT vendors, making recommendations for change where appropriate.
- Ensure that vendors deliver in line with project requirements, within authorised budget and agreed timescales.
- Ensure IT vendors meet all agreed contractual obligations.
- Document, communicate and prioritise outstanding issues with IT vendors, using appropriate tools.
- Create and track service improvement plans (SIP) where required.
- Support the IT department’s Business Analysts in conducting feasibility studies, by researching and sourcing potential IT vendors.
- Support the IT department’s Implementation Team, throughout the implementation of any systems provided by third party IT vendors.
- Coordinate the handover of third party systems (post-implementation) to the Service Desk and Application Support team, organising training where required.
- Closely liaise with internal stakeholders on all aspects of IT vendor management.
- Coordinate software/infrastructure/hardware installations involving external engineers, ensuring adequate support is provided internally.
- Provide demonstrations of third party IT vendor solutions to stakeholders.
- Manage and administer AHK’s software subscriptions and user licenses.
- To undertake other duties of an appropriate nature under direction of Line Manager.

Required Skills and Qualifications:
Essential
- Minimum 2 years relevant work experience.
- Educated to degree level (high grade) or above.
- Experience managing vendors and leading negotiations.
- Experience sourcing and making recommendations on vendors.
- Experience working in IT/technical environment.
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship building skills.
- Very well organised.
- Strong negotiating skills.
- Excellent communications skills.

Desirable
- Experience leading feasibility studies on off the shelf products.
- Experience managing IT vendors.
- Experience using tools such as Jira and Google Apps.
- Spanish language skills.

Language Skills

Spanish - business proficiency desired.

What are the benefits?

We are offering an excellent opportunity with a salary and benefits package to match including pension, life assurance and an employee assistance programme.