Vendor Relationship Manager III

Salary Range:  $102,183.00 (Min.) - $132,838.00 (Mid.) - $163,492.00 (Max.)

Established in 1997, L.A. Care Health Plan is an independent public agency created by the state of California to provide health coverage to low-income Los Angeles County residents. We are the nation’s largest publicly operated health plan. Serving more than 2 million members in five health plans, we make sure our members get the right care at the right place at the right time.

Mission: L.A. Care’s mission is to provide access to quality health care for Los Angeles County's vulnerable and low-income communities and residents and to support the safety net required to achieve that purpose.

Job Summary

The Vendor Relationship Manager III is responsible for building and managing relationships with all vendors of the department and related stakeholders. This position serves as the point person for vendors, maintains communication flow with new and existing vendors, drives strategic initiatives, and provides a wide range of support, ultimately driving mutual success for the department and the vendor partners.  This includes vendor performance evaluation and improvement, contract management and compliance, risk management, vendor communication and collaboration, vendor strategy and optimization, vendor relationship management, contract management, vendor risk management.

Acts as a Subject Matter Expert, serves as a resource and mentor for other staff.

Duties

Accountable for the end-to-end vendor management process.

Foster positive and productive relationships with vendors, acting as the main point of contact. Regularly communicate and collaborate with vendors to address inquiries and concerns. Conduct vendor meetings and business reviews to evaluate and enhance the vendor's performance. Resolve conflicts and manage escalations between L.A. Care and vendors, ensuring mutual satisfaction.

Manage vendor performance. Develop and implement metrics to assess vendor performance, quality, and delivery. Conduct regular performance evaluations, utilizing data and feedback to measure vendor performance. Identify areas for improvement and work with vendors to implement corrective actions and drive continuous improvement. Provide feedback to vendors on performance, addressing issues, and reinforcing expectations. Facilitate the onboarding and off boarding process, ensuring vendors have the necessary information and resources to transition smoothly.

Oversee contract management and compliance. Ensure vendor contracts align with requirements. Monitor contract terms, milestones, and obligations to ensure compliance by both parties. Track and manage vendor performance against agreed-upon key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs). Collaborate with appropriate business units to ensure contracts are accurate and properly executed.

Manage and mitigate risks. Identify potential risks associated with vendor relationships, such as compliance or disruptions. Monitor and manage vendor compliance with legal, regulatory, and business standards. Conduct audits and assessments as needed to ensure vendor compliance and risk mitigation.

Responsible for the vendor communication and collaboration. Effectively communicate with internal key stakeholders, to align vendor strategies with business goals. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure efficient and effective vendor management processes. Coordinate with vendors and internal teams on product or service requirements, and changes. Share information, updates, and performance insights with stakeholders to facilitate decision-making.

Duties Continued

Manage vendor strategy and optimization. Continuously evaluate the vendor landscape to identify potential new vendors and innovative solutions. Optimize vendor relationships and processes to drive cost savings, efficiency, and value for the company. Stay updated on industry best practices, emerging technologies, and market trends

Applies subject expertise in evaluating business operations and processes. Identifies areas where technical solutions would improve business performance. Consults across business operations, providing mentorship, and contributing specialized knowledge. Ensures that the facts and details are correct so that the project’s/program's deliverable meets the needs of the department, organization and legislation's policies, standards, and best practices. Provides training, recommends process improvements, and mentors junior level staff, department interns, etc. as needed.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Education Required

Bachelor's DegreeIn lieu of degree, equivalent education and/or experience may be considered.

Education Preferred

Experience

Required:

At least 5 years of vendor relationship experience with at least 3 years’ experience in healthcare

Preferred:

Working EDI knowledge

2+ years of Claims experience

Skills

Required:

Ability to establish and maintain positive and productive relationships with vendors, including effective communication, negotiation skills, conflict resolution, and managing expectations.

Highly proficient in contract reviews, with strong attention to detail to ensure that contracts are aligned with the company's requirements and protect its interests.

Ability to evaluate vendor performance based on key performance indicators (KPIs), conduct performance reviews, address issues, and drive improvements.

Ability to identify potential risks, develop contingency plans, and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

Strong communication and negotiation skills to effectively interact with vendors, internal stakeholders, and cross-functional teams.

Highly proficient in analyzing data, identifying trends, and making data-driven decisions and recommendations, with the ability to solve complex problems.

Understand financial concepts, cost structures, and budgeting, with the ability to analyze vendor pricing, terms, and proposals to ensure cost-effectiveness and value for the company.

Demonstrated ability to continuously improve and seek ways to enhance vendor management processes, optimize costs, drive efficiency, and implement best practices.

Proficient skill in managing relationships with cross-functional teams, to align vendor management strategies with business objectives and ensure collaboration and support.

Effective written and verbal communication and presentation skills.

Advanced proficiency in MS Access, MS Excel, MS Word, PowerPoint, Visio, and Outlook.

Must be able to work in an environment where critical time constraints exist.

Licenses/Certifications Required

Licenses/Certifications Preferred

Vendor Management

Required Training

Physical Requirements

Light

Additional Information

Position will require travel to vendor on-site locations

Salary Range Disclaimer: The expected pay range is based on many factors such as geography, experience, education, and the market.  The range is subject to change.

L.A. Care offers a wide range of benefits including

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Retirement Plans
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Wellness Program
• Volunteer Time Off (VTO)