Lead - Vendor Management

Freshworks is looking for a Lead - Vendor Management, to join and help transform the Procurement team. This person will be responsible for helping mature and develop a scalable vendor management process. The Vendor Management function supports supplier onboarding, contract routing and triaging of sourcing requests. Over time the role will expand into further operational improvements in the procurement process such as vendor compliance, company standards, vendor financial stability, risk assessments and contract management. This is an opportunity to help direct the future of the Freshworks vendor management program, collaborating cross functionally with Sourcing and other internal stakeholder partners.

Current Responsibilities:

• Vendor Onboarding & Compliance• Coordinate the operational onboarding for new vendors, ensuring they follow company requirements

• Support internal stakeholders and suppliers on a smooth onboarding process.

• Contract Support & Value Optimization• Manage the operations of contract routing

• Alignment in procurement for consistent contract management

• Procurement Intake• Providing support for internal business stakeholder engagement with the procurement team

• Triaging of sourcing requests so it routes through the proper process.

Future Responsibilities

• Ensure all active vendors maintain up-to-date documentation, including insurance certificates, NDAs, diversity certifications, and compliance records.

• Performance & Relationship Management• Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) tailored to different vendor tiers.

• Design and implement supplier scorecards to track delivery performance, quality, and cost competitiveness.

• Risk Assessment & Mitigation• Perform continuous risk assessments on the supplier base, identifying potential vulnerabilities (financial, geographical, operational, or geopolitical).

• Develop and maintain contingency plans (dual-sourcing strategies, safety stock targets) for critical suppliers to ensure business continuity.

• Keep internal stakeholders informed of supply market trends and external risks that could impact business operations.

• Track contract expiration dates and proactively initiate renewal or re-sourcing discussions with internal stakeholders.