Global Vendor Management Director

Hello, we’re Toppan Digital Language. We’re a language solutions provider that’s enabled by tech. Our mission is to help global companies with high-risk, business-critical content sell with confidence in any language.

We aim to be the #1 localization partner for companies in life sciences and healthcare, market insights, consumer brands, financial and legal services. Our ambition is proudly backed by Toppan Inc., a worldwide leader in content distribution with a global team of more than 50,000 employees.

Operating globally, we design language solutions with the best teams and the best tech to meet our customers’ needs at speed, at scale—securely. We are obsessed with our clients’ success, and as importantly, our employees’. We want to build a reputable firm that attracts, develops, and retains exceptional talent in our industry. Our values reflect the thinking of our founders who have decades of trusted industry and localization expertise. They act as a major force in shaping our company culture: an entrepreneurial spirit that embraces a growth mindset and an ethos of inspiring excellence. We want our teams and leaders to bring their best each day!

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Global Vendor Management Director will be a pivotal figure, contributing to the success and competitiveness of the business by designing and leading a global vendor strategy. This role will serve as a strategic advisor to the Leadership team by building innovative, scalable Vendor Management frameworks, automating key processes, and driving efficiencies that align with business goals.

The ideal candidate will have a robust understanding of the Vendor Management lifecycle, bringing a strategic vision to align vendor relations with broader organizational goals. This role offers an opportunity to work in a highly dynamic, creative, and multicultural environment.

• Develop a unified Vendor Management Framework by redesigning vendor selection, onboarding, performance, and evaluation processes.
• Align Vendor Management frameworks with the company’s broader business strategy, incorporating risk management, scalability, and cost-efficiency principles to enhance vendor partnerships.
• Work closely with Legal, Service Delivery, Risk and Compliance departments for the creation and management of Vendor SLAs, Purchase Orders, MSAs, RFPs, and other contract documentation.
• Implement, report on and monitor global vendor budgets and targets to optimize resources and achieve overall cost savings.
• Act as the internal escalation point for vendor quality issues, overseeing resolutions and taking ultimate ownership of vendor performance, ensuring non-conformance issues are addressed proactively and efficiently.
• Collaborate with peers in Vendor Management, Project Management, Quality, Service Delivery, and Business Development teams to support recruitment needs proactively.
• Lead the global Vendor Management team to meet and exceed targets, ensuring their contributions align with and enhance the company's revenue growth and overall financial goals.
• Identify resource gaps and advise creatively on recruitment to minimize business risk.
• Conduct regular key account reviews with key stakeholders to ensure availability and retention of key resources at competitive rates.
• Establish comprehensive KPIs and performance metrics tailored to vendor management best practices, enabling continuous tracking and improvement of vendor relationships, performance, and contribution to business goals.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers to develop a consistent Vendor Branding Experience.
• Create and implement clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines for vendors and internal stakeholders, ensuring compliance through continuous monitoring and iterative improvement.
• Overall responsibility for the onboarding procedure of new joiners in the Vendor Management team.
• Unify and harmonize existing processes across different business units to operate globally.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Translation, Interpretation, Localization, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Fluency in English, with near-native proficiency in at least one other language.
• Proven track record in leading and managing global Vendor Management teams, particularly in the localization or language services industry.
• 5+ years of experience in people management, ideally within a global and cross-functional environment.

• Extensive knowledge of the localization and translation industry, including emerging trends, best practices, and technological innovations such as CAT tools, machine translation (MT) and new AI working models.
• Strong IT skills, including expertise in CAT tools, Machine Translation (MT), and an understanding of automation solutions relevant to Vendor Management processes.
• Experience in managing and scaling Vendor Management operations in multi-location, international companies, ensuring global vendor alignment.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to facilitate presentations and lead discussions with vendors, internal teams, and key stakeholders.
• Proven problem-solving and decision-making skills, with a proactive, resourceful, and flexible approach to managing challenges in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent attention to detail, strong data accuracy, and the ability to cultivate trust with vendors and stakeholders alike.

Toppan Digital Language is committed to equality in employment and is able to consider any necessary adjustments during the recruitment process.