Summary
This position oversees the procurement, onboarding, and quality management of translation, desktop publishing, and localization-related vendor services across various vertical markets. The Vendor Manager and Linguistic Quality Lead identifies opportunities and manages the implementation of strategies within the global VM and Language Analyst team to improve upon existing practices and processes, the use of cost-effective resources and the maximization of margins, while ensuring that linguistic quality is maintained within tolerance.

Essential Duties + Responsibilities

Global VM Strategy

• Pre-qualifies and recruits language vendors, DTP, quality control, and localization project management resources in line with the Global Vendor Management strategy.
• Provides industry-specific advice and information to other departments about areas of focus or interest.
• Reviews existing vendor assessment, qualification, and monitoring processes.
• Works with relevant internal stakeholders to develop these processes to meet quality standards and reflects industry best practices.
• Develops strategy for maintaining key vendor relationships to support production and client needs.
  

Linguistic Quality Management

• Manage the Linguistic/QC Quality Assurance (LQA) process; to include analysis, problem resolution, and document creation and maintenance.
• Oversees the Linguistic Quality Assurance (LQA) process to audit and monitor linguistic quality on projects.
• Manages Corrective Action Requests (CARs) to resolve client or internal quality concerns.
• Supports emerging business and champions continuous improvement of existing client processers; including support sales, test
  translation process, taking lead on resolving client language issues and improving language processes.
• Supports the prioritization and effective collaboration between Language Quality team, Operations, and Account Management for linguistic tools, reference kits and glossaries, and client-specific linguistic guidelines.
• Monitoring, Reporting and Collaborating with Production and Finance
• Monitors vendor resource usage of all production teams from both a cost and compliance point of view.
• Develops a strong relationship with Operations to ensure that qualified vendors are available when required.
• Proactively provides comparative data analysis for internal clients.
• Analyzes and reports financial and operational data for internal teams to identify and communicate trends.
• Actively produces and reviews weekly and/or monthly reports to ensure individual recruitment and negotiations are inline with department strategy.
• Works with Finance team to ensure vendors are compliant with Accounts Payable setup requirements.
• Provides guidelines to Operations on requirements for vendor usage and requests for VM support.
  

Operational Responsibilities

• Is responsible for managing the general vendor relationship including global communications, service level agreements, company policies or strategies affecting vendors etc.
• Evaluates projects and recommend appropriate vendors and alternative strategies.
• Negotiates rates with new vendors in line with our target buy rates to maximize margins. Liaises with PMs in carrying out rate negotiations on a project-by-project basis as needed.
• Maintains an accurate vendor resource database by performing day-to-day maintenance, as required, including amending of all relevant contact and pricing information, and entering comments from Project and Quality Management.
• Assists the Quality Management team in audit preparation.
  

Education, Experience + Skills

• Undergraduate degree level qualification or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred
• 5+ years’ experience in a Vendor Management role (preferred) or Project Management/Pricing environment within the localization industry
• 2+ years’ experience in a leadership role, preferably with global Supply Chain teams and remote employees
• Experience working within a Quality Management System to drive conformance with policy and continuing improvement within the business unit.
• Proven resourcefulness in sourcing and recruiting via internet
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to teach others
• Sound financial judgment and analytical skills
  

Equal Employment Opportunity
United Language Group is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. United Language Group prohibits unlawful discrimination and
harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, and any other protected class status under applicable federal and applicable state
law.