Head of Vendor Services

**Head of Vendor Services - **Working Location**:Oeiras, Portugal** - **Security Clearance**: NATO Secret** - **Language**:High proficiency level in English language **EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: **Essential Qualifications/Experience: - 3+ years' experience in managing services and projects in a customer facing role; - Strong vision on demand and capacity in large organisations - Experience with: ü Setting and managing vendor performance, including performance statistics ü Process optimization and vendor sourced efforts ü Managing vendor relationships ü Third party risk management ü Agile Product Management **Desirable Qualifications/Experience**: - Experience with working in military / technical environments, particularly in the field of C4ISR and Cyber - Experience leading and managing small teams - Prior experience of working in an international environment comprising both military and civilian elements in a supervisory role - Experience with AGILE ways of working - Knowledge of NATO responsibilities and organization, including ACO and ACT **DUTIES/ROLE**: - Manage the vendor services from a day to-day performance perspective and all aspects of the effectiveness of the service - Direct the efforts of the Vendor Management Officer in the identification of requirements and development of Statements of Work, (SOW), Requests for Proposal (RFP) Requests for Quotation (RFQ) and other procurement related documentation - Oversees the management of the service contractor resources and deliverables - Assessment of vendor terms, deliveries and performance - Optimize Capacity Performance and impact of vendor services - Act as the Project Manager/Scrum Master for coordination of deliveries for assigned contracts within Academy ensuring that the outcomes requested by branch heads align with internal timings and dependencies are coordinated across resourcing options - Monitor timing and quality of deliveries in accordance with the planning - Defines and monitors vendor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Key Risk Indicators (KRIs), and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) - Leads and directs staffing actions to ensure capacity optimization under the SWP including supporting the development of Job Descriptions, PECR requests, development of impact statements, and overall business cases - Identifies opportunities for continued resource optimization under the SWP and Smart sourcing frameworks - Communicates and coordinates on behalf of the Academy with assigned service providers (SPOC) - Maintains knowledge of the usage of "volume based" contracts and ensures processes and coordination within Academy are launched with staff manager before contract end to ensure continuity of services - Ensures swift vendor onboarding to projects and continued service - Creation and coordination of vendor onboarding processes to ensure that deliverables are achieved from day 1 - Cultivate provider understanding and alignment with internal Academy processes and functions necessary to the achievement of deliverables - Coordinates with Branch heads for SOW service contract requirements and maintain "playbook" for assigned service providers - Provides staff management in the coordination and support of the Acquisition processes for the Academy - Execute on the resourcing decisions for "ramp up" within assigned service providers under the terms of the SOW as determined by the Delivery Cadence and SWP governance - Support demand/capacity forecasting - Contribute to and align with the upstream reporting and coordination with COO on Smart Sourcing on behalf of the Academy - Oversees the management of Academy staff, including; Performance management, Coaching and mentoring, Recruitment and onboarding and Training requirements - Deputize for higher grade staff, if required - Performs other duties as may be required