Senior Manager, Strategic Vendor Partnerships

Job description

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing! We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business. Senior Manager, Strategic Vendor Partnerships Does the thought of joining one of the fastest-growing, privately held data center companies sound exciting to you? Do you enjoy collaborating with team members to drive and operate some of the industry’s leading and most innovative infrastructure solutions? At Aligned Data Centers, not only do we celebrate success across our platform, we celebrate the very teams that drive and support that success! Our culture is founded in passion, engineered from innovation, and driven by the pursuit of operational excellence. We are a company dedicated to driving positive change in the industry through continuous data center innovation, diversity and inclusion, and corporate sustainability. We realize not only is providing a comprehensive benefits package important, but we also provide a generous 401k match with immediate vesting, free membership to Gympass which provides our employees a rich health and wellness benefit and competitive time off plan. Giving back and having fun is important to our team whether it be serving our communities or employee and customer events. Our Aligned DNA is what makes us unique and successful! As part of our exciting growth, we are currently searching for a Senior Manager, Strategic Vendor Partnerships . The Senior Manager, Strategic Vendor Partnerships is a high-impact, relationship-forward role at the intersection of business development and operational strategy. This individual will be the company's primary architect of our external contractor and service provider ecosystem — identifying, cultivating, and strategically aligning the right partners to the right projects at the right time. This is not a traditional business development role. While relationship-building is central to the function, equal weight is placed on the strategic organization, evaluation, and deployment of vendor partners across our growing project pipeline. The ideal candidate brings both a people-first mindset and a rigorous, system-oriented approach to managing a complex and evolving vendor landscape. Vendor Relationship Development & Bench Building Proactively identify, engage, and cultivate relationships with General Contractors, Electrical and Mechanical Contractors, Construction Managers and Owner's Representatives, and Data Center Specialty Contractors. Develop and expand the company's bench of vetted, high-quality vendor partners across all relevant trade categories, with particular emphasis on Data Center-specific specialty providers (e.g., Hot Aisle Containment, Raised Access Flooring, Structural Data Hall Ceilings, and similar systems). Conduct regular face-to-face meetings, site visits, and trade engagements to deepen existing relationships and establish new ones — representing the company's brand and vision with professionalism and authority. Serve as the ongoing point of contact for vendor partners, maintaining trust and transparency throughout the project development lifecycle. Strategic Vendor Tracking & Project Alignment Maintain a sophisticated, up-to-date vendor management system that captures each partner's core competencies, geographic footprint, available capacity, and project history. Track and evaluate project opportunities across the pipeline, proactively matching vendor capabilities to project requirements based on competency, capacity, geography, and fit. Provide well-reasoned, data-informed recommendations to project leadership on vendor selection and team composition for specific opportunities. Monitor vendor market dynamics, emerging specialty firms, and regional labor trends that may impact vendor availability or strategy. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Reporting Collaborate closely with internal project management, development, and leadership teams to align vendor strategy with overall project execution goals. Develop and maintain clear reporting cadences and dashboards that give leadership real-time visibility into vendor bench strength, coverage gaps, and pipeline alignment. Flag capacity or coverage risks early and propose proactive strategies to close gaps. QUALIFICATIONS Required 8+ years of experience in construction, real estate development, vendor management, contractor relations, or a closely related field. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain trusted, long-term business relationships with contractors and service providers. Exceptional organizational skills with experience managing complex data sets, partner portfolios, or CRM/vendor tracking platforms. Willingness and ability to travel regularly to meet with vendor partners across the company's active and target geographies. Strong verbal and written communication skills; confident, credible, and personable in both first meetings and long-term partner engagements. Preferred Familiarity with the data center construction and development industry, including knowledge of specialty systems and key trades. Prior experience working with General Contractors, specialty subcontractors, or Owner's Representatives in a development or program management environment. Experience with vendor management systems, CRM platforms, or custom tracking tools used to evaluate and recommend partners at scale. Understanding of regional construction labor markets and contractor capacity dynamics across major U.S. data center markets. WHAT WILL DRIVE SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE Candidates who thrive in this position will bring a distinct combination of hustle and discipline. The following attributes are as important to us as any line on a resume: Grit & Dedication This role requires persistence. Building a best-in-class vendor bench takes consistent effort over time — not a single campaign. People Magnetism You genuinely enjoy meeting people and building relationships — not because it's in the job description, but because it's in your nature. Comfort with Road Time Face-to-face relationship building is a core part of this role, not an occasional ask. You're comfortable and energized by regular travel to meet partners. Strategic Organization Your organizational discipline is as sharp as your interpersonal skills. You can manage a complex vendor ecosystem and deliver the right recommendation at the right moment. COMPETENCIES: Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions; Displays orientation to profitability; Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals. Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures; Contributes profits and revenue; Conserves organizational resources. Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan. Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention. Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things. Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics. Project Management - Develops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities. Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness. Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Analyzes market and competition; Identifies external threats and opportunities; Adapts strategy to changing conditions. Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed. Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others. Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information. PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: Frequently required to stand Frequently required to walk Frequently required to sit Continually required to utilize hand and finger dexterity Continually required to talk or hear While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate ( Select applicable: very quiet; quiet; moderate; loud; very loud) COMPENSATION: BENEFITS & PERKS: Aligned Data Centers is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to support the health, well-being, and financial security of our team members. Eligible employees have access to: Health Coverage : Medical, dental, and vision insurance Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts: HSA with employer contribution for eligible participants. FSAs offered for health and dependent care to increase tax savings. Retirement Savings : 401(k) plan with company match Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay Company-Sponsored Insurance : Short-Term Disability, Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability (with medical election) Optional Benefits : Voluntary life, critical illness, legal, and additional disability coverage Wellness Programs : Employee assistance program (EAP), Wellhub gym membership, and other wellness initiatives The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. At Aligned, we are committed to transparency and fostering a positive employee experience from your very first interaction with us. In compliance with Illinois pay disclosure requirements, when you join Aligned, you’ll have access to the following benefits: medical, dental, vision, short and long disability, life insurance and other voluntary benefits, 401k with employer match, bonus opportunities, paid time off, wellness benefits and professional development opportunities, all designed to support your well-being and career growth. We want you to have a clear understanding of what we offer, so you can make informed decisions about your future with us. Aligned is equally committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and providing equal employment opportunities for all employees. We ensure that all applicants and team members are considered for employment, advancement, and all other employment-related matters without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you require a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of your job due to a disability or medical condition, please contact our People & Culture team. Accommodation requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable laws. Aligned will make reasonable accommodations where necessary to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their role.