Job Description
The Technology Partner Management team's mission is to drive lifetime value in relationships with third party technology suppliers and vendor partners. We work with suppliers to ensure successful and cost-effective delivery of products and services key to the delivery of Nordstrom Technology products and capabilities. Success is measured in terms of Negotiation Value, value driven in the overall Vendor Partner Relationship, and benefit delivery.
The Partner Manager Sr. 2's responsibility is to build, maintain and enhance relationships with strategic technology vendor partners and internal stakeholders. This senior-level individual contributor serves as liaison to the Technology business and a facilitator for contract lifecycle and Partner Management activities.
Responsible for managing numerous vendor relationships simultaneously, ensuring technology and business requirements align to specifications and priorities, and leading arbitration and negotiation. Act as a trusted advisor to our Technology leaders; and a mentor/consultant for junior peers. Ensure that the organization achieves its objectives with strategic vendor partners and assists the vendor partners in their efforts to be successful within the Nordstrom organization.
Accountable for developing and maturing commercial agreements and vendor partner relationships primarily in support of our customer-facing digital store (e-Commerce), Marketing and Customer Care-facing technologies. Experience in contracting and maintaining relationships, having an existing network of contacts in this space, and a deep understanding of e-Commerce technologies, agile development lifecycle, product management, and technology planning and budgeting, as well as familiarity with effective vendor and supplier management strategies, will all be critical to the success of this senior-level individual contributor and influencer.
A part of a high-performing Partner Management team, the person in this position works across the technology organization and business operations functional lines on a variety of technology programs that range in scope, risk, and complexity.
A day in the life...

• Develop, formalize and direct relationships with Technology vendors
• Develop negotiation strategies and execute to ensure constant cost and quality improvements while enabling innovative solutions
• Understand specific vendor needs within the Technology delivery groups as well as the associated cost drivers affecting their areas of responsibility
• Support the cost-saving strategies and initiatives to achieve financial and productivity objectives
• Support a cadence of sourcing events to ensure Nordstrom explores a variety of solutions to achieve the best outcomes
• Define and implement the measurements necessary to manage the entire vendor ecosystem to include vendor reviews and dashboards to track, trend and evaluate performance
• Facilitate the processes, and measurements, to ensure streamlined interactions between the Technology organization and supporting corporate functions such as Strategic Sourcing, Asset Management, Contract Administration, Contractor on-boarding, etc.
• Build the relationships and relentlessly manage the performance of preferred and strategic vendor partners and suppliers, ensuring Nordstrom-quality expectations and contractual commitments are achieved
• Partner closely with cross functional teams including Asset Management, Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Relationship Management, Finance, HR and Audit to deliver on shared objectives
• Identify appropriate relationships in conjunction with internal customers and vendors to drive proper alignment on business and operational topics
• Develop framework for interactions between the vendor and the business
• Ensure that requirements are well-communicated and well-understood, and clearly defines expectations from the business
• Manage escalation and arbitration of relationship and operational issues if other avenues fail
• This position may be required to perform other related duties as assigned
• Maintains external supplier relationships across the industry
• Advises technology decisions
• Keeps up to date on broader industry even outside of assigned scope
• Proposes and advises on strategies with minimal leadership consultation

Key Responsibilities

• Viewed as an Expert in Partner Management and a trusted advisor
• Leverages comprehensive understanding of technology across disciplines, as well as Nordstrom-specific tech processes and operations
• Able to drive complex processes
• Able to ideate and implement creative deal structures with minimal consultation:
• Able to lead negotiations and escalations on problematic terms
• Able to support junior peers in negotiations
• Broad understanding of Nordstrom's business and technology organization and able to apply this understanding to make novel decisions
• Understanding of perspectives and interdependencies
• Able to connect tactics to strategies and support others understanding
• Operates with ease and able to lead through significant ambiguity
• Able to suggest corrective actions
• Effective communications at all levels of the organization with minimal support and intervention.
• Escalates, involves others appropriately
• Able to communicate complex business, technical and contractual concepts with ease.
• Able to support and mentor peers and colleagues throughout Technology
• Able to extrapolate stated and unstated biases
• Respected by external suppliers as an authority and influencer within the organization
• Able to manage escalations with ease in support of peers, even in unfamiliar circumstances and with unfamiliar suppliers
• Able to build rapport quickly
• Able to extrapolate needs, opinions and biases and create leverage where none existed

You've own this if....

• Experience managing strategic vendor relationships (required)
• 8+ years of combined experience with technology contracts, contract negotiation, with emphasis on Software as a Service, cloud technology (AWS, Google), and eCommerce (required)
• 8+ years' experience in Technology Vendor Management, Technology Management with budget accountability; or Technology Program Management with heavy third-party service provider or supplier management (required)
• Experience managing stakeholder relationships (required)
• Bachelor's or Masters Degree in Business, Tech, IT, or similar OR equivalent experience

#LI-NH1
We've got you covered...
Our employees are our most important asset and that's reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:

• Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away
• Life Insurance and Disability
• Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources

A few more important points...
The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job.
Nordstrom will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.
Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation should contact the nearest Nordstrom location, which can be identified at www.nordstrom.com.
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Pay Range Details
The pay range(s) below are provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations.
Salary Range for Colorado ONLY - $130,000 - $203,000 + Bonus & Benefits