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This position has closed. ABC Supply removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

IT Vendor Optimization Manager (947)

ABC Supply · Chicago, IL · $105,000–$115,000 a year · Full time

Posted May 7, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you found savings or better terms in a vendor contract.

What they are checking: Whether they can show a concrete result from analysis and negotiation support, not just process work.

Tell me about a time you worked with legal or finance on a contract issue.

What they are checking: Whether they can partner across functions and understand what legal and finance care about.

Tell me about a time you had to present findings that a senior leader disagreed with.

What they are checking: Whether they stand by sound analysis while staying open and respectful in the discussion.

What would you do

A vendor keeps missing its SLA, but the IT team that relies on it does not want to switch. How do you handle that?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance contract leverage, business needs and switching risk with clear facts.

How would you spot vendor risk early, before it becomes a problem for the business?

What they are checking: Whether they watch for warning signs like performance trends, financial health and security issues.

About the work

This role supports vendor management with data-driven insights. How would you measure whether an IT vendor is actually delivering value?

What they are checking: Whether they can define performance metrics tied to SLAs, cost and business outcomes instead of gut feel.

How do you prepare for a quarterly business review with a key IT vendor?

What they are checking: Whether they come with data, clear asks and history so the review drives decisions rather than a slideshow.

Walk me through how you would support an RFP for a new IT service.

What they are checking: Whether they understand requirements gathering, scoring criteria, fairness and how to bring stakeholders along.

How do you keep vendor records and contract data accurate across many vendors?

What they are checking: Whether they are detail-focused and organized, since bad data undermines every vendor decision.

What market research would you do before a contract renewal?

What they are checking: Whether they benchmark pricing and alternatives so the company negotiates from knowledge, not habit.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at ABC Supply from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by ABC Supply.

ABC Supply is North America’s largest wholesale distributor of exterior and interior building products. ABC Supply is proud to be an employee-first company. In fact, we have won the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award every year since its inception in 2007, and Glassdoor has named us one of the best places to work in the country. Be part of a company that recognizes your talents, rewards your efforts, and helps you reach your full potential. At ABC Supply, we have YOUR future covered. Position Purpose: As a Vendor Optimization Manager, you will play a key role in supporting the organization’s vendor management function by providing data-driven insights, maintaining vendor records, and ensuring smooth execution of core vendor processes. Your responsibilities will span performance analysis, contract and SLA management, market research, and supporting key vendor lifecycle activities such as RFPs and quarterly business reviews. Role Summary: You will work closely with the Vendor Management Manager, legal, finance, business, and IT leaders to ensure decisions are backed by clear data, risks are identified early, and vendor relationships contribute measurable value. This role requires a strong balance of analytical rigor, attention to detail, negotiation skills, and the ability to influence and facilitate discussions while communicating insights effectively to stakeholders. You will be instrumental in strengthening vendor management by turning performance, spend, and contract data into actionable insights that drive better decisions. By ensuring vendor processes such as RFPs, SLA tracking, and quarterly reviews run smoothly, you help the business mitigate risks, optimize value, and build stronger partnerships across the organization. Key Responsibilities: • Vendor Performance Analysis: Analyze vendor performance data and prepare reports that highlight trends, risks, and opportunities. Provide actionable insights to guide vendor-related decisions. • Market Research & Vendor Selection Support: Support research and analysis for new vendor selections, including benchmarking, capability assessments, and cost comparisons. • Vendor Management System Maintenance: Maintain accurate, up-to-date records on vendor contracts, performance metrics, and risks within the vendor management system. • Contract & SLA Oversight: Assist in leading contract negotiations, coordinate legal reviews, and ensure service level agreements (SLAs) are well defined, measurable, and enforced. • Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs): Organize and facilitate QBRs with key vendors, ensuring discussions are supported by performance data and drive continuous improvement. • RFP Process Support: Support vendor evaluations during request-for-proposal (RFP) processes, ensuring scoring and recommendations are grounded in data and aligned with business needs. • Risk & Opportunity Monitoring: Monitor industry and vendor news to proactively surface risks, compliance concerns, or opportunities that may impact vendor relationships. Key Capabilities: Essential Attributes, Skills & Experience: • Analytical & Reporting Skills: Proven ability to analyze data sets, identify patterns, and present findings through clear, concise reports and dashboards. • Vendor Management Knowledge: Familiarity with vendor lifecycle processes such as contracting, SLAs, QBRs, and RFPs. • Attention to Detail: Strong capability to maintain accurate records in vendor management systems and ensure compliance with governance standards. • Collaboration: Effective communicator who can work cross-functionally with legal, finance, and business leaders, ensuring vendor insights are well understood. • Problem-Solving: Ability to identify vendor-related risks and opportunities early and recommend practical solutions. • Technology Proficiency: Comfortable with vendor management platforms, MS suite, and business intelligence tools for performance tracking and reporting. • Culture Fit: Commitment to data integrity, process transparency, and continuous improvement. Adaptable and proactive in a dynamic environment. • Business Partnership: Experience collaborating with leaders and cross-functional teams to align financial insights with business priorities. Ability to influence decision-making through trusted analysis. • Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex financial information in a clear, concise, and compelling manner to both financial and non-financial audiences. Desirable Attributes, Skills & Experience: • Experience with vendor scorecards or KPI frameworks. • Exposure to contract negotiation and commercial review processes. • Knowledge of compliance and regulatory requirements in vendor management. • Exposure to industries such as logistics, e-commerce, retail, supply chain, technology services, or manufacturing. • Experience supporting process automation or reporting enhancements. Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university or 5-7 years of relevant experience based on the responsibilities outlined above. • Five or more years of financial and/or contract analysis • Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Company, in its discretion, may find appropriate and acceptable. Benefits may include: • Health, dental, and vision coverage - eligible after 60 days, low out of pocket • 401(k) with generous company match - eligible after 60 days, immediately vested • Employer paid employee assistance program • Employer paid short term and long-term disability • Employer paid life insurance • Flex spending • Paid vacation • Paid sick days • Paid holidays Salary Information: $105,000 - $115,000 based on experience. Equal Opportunity Employer / Drug Free Workplace ​ABC Supply values diversity and we actively encourage women, minorities, and veterans to apply.