Vendor Governance and Optimization Lead

Position Overview

The Vendor Governance and Optimization Lead will be responsible for driving the implementation of Digital and Technology (D&T) organization's vendor governance framework and ongoing efforts to right-size technology 3rd party spend. As part of our strategic priority to optimize our vendor technology support at Guardian, this role will be responsible for the transition execution of 3rd party service providers into an optimized and consolidated provider footprint, delivering end-to-end managed services. This role will also help with the design and operationalization of a technology vendor governance framework, to ensure governance and ongoing successful of the supplier relationships.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Governance

• Establish structured governance frameworks with defined meeting cadences, including operational reviews, monthly performance reviews, QBRs, and transition checkpoints.

• Develop governance documentation such as dashboards, vendor scorecards, and transition progress reports.

• Manage vendor relationships across all service towers, maintaining a structured governance framework with defined meeting cadence

• Conduct periodic performance reviews with vendors to assess performance, address risks, and track improvement initiatives, including operational reviews focusing on incident trends, SLA adherence, and service quality.

• Facilitate quarterly business reviews (QBRs) to evaluate strategic alignment, contract performance, and innovation/transformation contributions.

• Collaborate with internal IT stakeholders to consolidate cross-tower metrics and promote transparency in service outcomes.

• Hold suppliers accountable to established business cases, transformation outcomes, and performance-linked commercials. Manage to service penalties, as appropriate.

• Ensure supplier compliance with organizational policies, data protection standards, and regulatory controls.

Supplier Landscape Optimization and Transition

• Provide program management oversight to transitions involving consolidation of multiple service providers into a single managed service partner, ensuring minimal disruption and seamless knowledge transfer.

• Collaborate with suppliers and procurement, legal, and enterprise architecture teams, to ensure contract, tooling, and operational readiness for the new supplier operations.

• Define and monitor transition milestones, exit criteria, and post-transition stabilization metrics.

• Maintain visibility into all transition-related risks, dependencies, and escalations, driving proactive mitigation strategies.

• Lead service improvement and optimization initiatives post-transition, ensuring process standardization and automation opportunities are identified.

• Partner with suppliers to advance adoption of new technologies, optimize delivery and support approaches, and deliver advantage to our business teams.

Relationship Management and Strategic Support

• Support Head of Third Party Strategy and Governance in driving ongoing optimization of 3rd party supplier costs through strategies such as demand rationalization, alternate commercial models, supplier consolidation etc., to meet defined savings targets

• Work with supplier account management and operational leaders, to ensure speedy resolution of governance issues and concerns

• Track delivery of key operational and transformational outcomes, and report on benefits/outcomes achieved

• Build relationships with supplier executives and industry experts, to bring in perspectives around continuous improvement, innovation and transformation outcomes from key supplier relationships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Business Administration, Information Technology, or related fields.

• 10+ years experience working with large technology product/services providers and multi-tower managed services environments.

• Experience in transitioning services in application development, quality assurance end user services, end user computing, data center operations, cloud, networks, DevOps and/or application support domains.

• Certifications in ITIL, PMP, or supplier management.

• Familiarity with AI, hybrid cloud, DevOps delivery, and global service management models.

Key Skills

• Excellent project management and organizational skills.

• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.

• Analytical thinking and problem-solving mindset.

• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Salary Range:

$132,420.00 - $217,545.00

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you'll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian's Purpose - to inspire well-being - we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at . Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected]. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.

Visa Sponsorship

Guardian is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment visas. In order to be a successful applicant. you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship.

Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.

Every day, Guardian helps our 29 million customers realize their dreams through a range of insurance and financial products and services. Our Purpose, to inspire well-being, guides our dedication to the colleagues, consumers, and communities we serve. We know that people count, and we go above and beyond to prepare them for the life they want to live, focusing on their overall well-being - mind, body, and wallet. As one of the largest mutual insurance companies, we put our customers first. Behind every bright future is a GuardianTM. Learn more about Guardian at guardianlife.com .

Visa Sponsorship:

Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment visas. In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship.