Manager, Strategic Provider Operations

Job description

About the Role Gap Global Technology Solutions is seeking an experienced and strategically minded Manager to join its Strategic Provider Operations (SPOps) function. The role will own and advance the day to day execution of the vendor operating program for Tier 1 Technology providers while serving as a true strategic partner to the VMO Director and Gap Global Technology Solutions leadership. This role sits at the intersection of vendor governance, cost optimization, performance management, and cross functional influence requiring someone who can think proactively, communicate with clarity and precision, and translate complexity into structured, leadership ready output. The stakeholder landscape is broad, spanning executive sponsors, technology leaders, and a matrixed organization; the right candidate will be expected to operate credibly across all of it. This role reports to the Director, Vendor Management Office within Gap Global Technology Solutions Why This Role This is an opportunity to do vendor management work inside one of the most recognized retail technology organizations. You'll have visibility into enterprise wide technology function and direct partnership with senior technology and leadership across Gap Inc.'s portfolio of brands — Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta. The work is varied and high impact. While the foundation is in place, Vendor Management continues to evolve, and the right candidate will have a genuine hand in defining what best in class vendor management looks like at Gap Global Technology Solutions. What You'll Do Vendor Governance & Lifecycle Management Own the execution of the VMO's vendor lifecycle management program for Gap’s Tier 1 Technology partners Maintain and advance vendor classification to ensure governance effort is calibrated appropriately to vendor risk and strategic value Partner with Sourcing, Legal, and Finance to maintain clear accountability at every stage of the vendor lifecycle Drive data completeness and accuracy for all lifecycle tracked vendors; build and maintain reporting dashboards that provide a single source of truth for the portfolio Vendor Performance Management Manage end to end execution of the Vendor Business Review (VBR) program for the strategic vendor portfolio Track and report on vendor performance trends across the portfolio; surface patterns, flag concerns, and ensure action plans are documented, owned, and followed to resolution Develop and maintain structured performance scorecards for strategic vendors in partnership with technology product, engineering, and operations leaders Serve as a liaison between internal stakeholders and vendors when performance issues require escalation, bringing a structured, evidence based approach to conversations Cost Optimization & Portfolio Intelligence Support leadership in optimization opportunities across third party Technology vendor spend Maintain disposition tracking model ensuring cost reduction strategies progress through stage gate governance with clear owners and timelines Develop and maintain portfolio level reporting that gives technology leadership timely, accurate visibility into spend, renewal timing, risk exposure, and strategic alignment Contribute to renewal strategy reviews, savings identification initiatives, and cost reduction commitments tied to Gap Global Technology Solutions' broader budget objectives Over time, take on greater ownership of commercial strategy for key renewals including vendor relationship management at a senior level Cross Functional Partnership & Stakeholder Management Operate as a structured and credible partner to Finance, Sourcing, Enterprise Architecture, and Technology teams driving coordinated decisions across a matrixed organization Prepare leadership ready communication materials including weekly status updates, executive briefings, and governance review decks that distill complexity into clear, actionable insight Build and maintain productive relationships with technology leaders and their teams, proactively surfacing SPOps value and ensuring the operating model is being followed consistently Represent the SPOps in cross functional working sessions and governance forums; bring structured thinking and a clear point of view, and follow through on commitments with accountability Strategic Operations & Program Management Own program management for Vendor Management initiatives end to end — from scoping and stakeholder alignment through execution, risk management, and outcome measurement Develop and refine operating procedures, governance policies, and playbooks to reduce ambiguity and enable consistent, scalable execution Proactively identify structural or process gaps and bring forward proposed solutions with a clear point of view on priority and impact Contribute to the longer term strategy and operating model evolution bringing a point of view on where the function should go, not just how it runs today Stay current on best practices in vendor management, IT procurement governance, and spend management; bring external benchmarks and frameworks into the continuous improvement efforts Who You Are The right candidate for this role brings strategic instinct, communication discipline, and a genuine interest in building something that matters. We are looking for someone who embodies the following: Strategically oriented You organize your effort around priorities and outcomes understand the 'why' behind your work and use it to make better decisions about where to invest your time. Proactive communicator .You flag risks early, surface insights proactively, and communicate with appropriate detail for the audience. Disciplined executor You know when to move quickly and when to pause for alignment and you adjust course when direction evolves. Cross functional influencer You build relationships through consistency and follow through Problem solver You can take an undefined space, identify what framework is needed, and build it in a way that scales. You bring rigor to ambiguity and don't require perfect information to move forward thoughtfully. Portfolio thinker You can zoom out to see the full vendor landscape while remaining disciplined on individual workstreams Continuously growing You're curious about the commercial, strategic, and organizational dimensions of vendor management and actively seek to expand your perspective Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Business, Technology, Supply Chain, Finance, or related field 6–9 years of experience in vendor management, strategic sourcing, IT procurement, management consulting, or a related field — candidates with adjacent backgrounds who demonstrate the relevant skillset are strongly encouraged to apply Demonstrated experience managing multivendor portfolios and driving governance in a matrixed enterprise environment Proven ability to prepare and deliver executive level communications, briefings, and governance materials with minimal supervision Strong program and project management capabilities with end to end ownership experience across complex, cross functional workstreams Experience with vendor performance programs (QBRs, scorecards, SLA governance) and the ability to lead performance conversations with strategic vendors High proficiency in data analysis, reporting, and dashboard development to support portfolio level decision making Demonstrated ability to prioritize independently, manage competing demands, and escalate appropriately in a fast paced environment Proficiency with contract and vendor lifecycle concepts including renewal management, risk tiers, and commercial governance Preferred Qualifications Experience operating within or building a Vendor Management Office or Center of Excellence Familiarity with IT spend categories including SaaS, cloud, contingent labor, managed services, and hardware/software Handson experience with ServiceNow (ITAM, Vendor Performance, or Contract Management modules), Smartsheet, or similar tools Knowledge of vendor tiering frameworks and segmentation models (e.g., Gartner, Forrester best practice) Experience developing or refining governance policies, R&R matrices, or operating model documentation Prior experience in retail technology, omnichannel environments, or consumer goods industries Exposure to financial planning processes (P&L, Opex/Capex, budget cycles) in a technology organization