Vendor Manager

Senior Partner Operations Manager (Contracts, Vendor Programs & AI Operations)

Location: Remote (PST Preferred) / Hybrid (San Francisco, CA or New York, NY)

Duration: 6-Month Contract (Strong Potential for Extension)

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Partner Operations Manager to lead the operational execution of partner-delivered services within a rapidly growing AI ecosystem. This role will own the end-to-end partner activation lifecycle, ensuring engagements move efficiently from intake and partner matching through contract execution, funding approvals, delivery tracking, and successful completion.

This is a highly visible role requiring strong operational leadership, contract and vendor management expertise, stakeholder coordination, and a passion for building scalable processes. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced technology environments and leverages AI tools to automate workflows, improve efficiency, and drive operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and manage the complete partner engagement lifecycle from intake through successful delivery and closeout.
• Drive partner activation workflows, including partner matching, onboarding, and operational readiness.
• Coordinate execution of contracts, Statements of Work (SOWs), funding authorizations, purchase orders, and related documentation.
• Partner closely with Sales, Legal, Finance, Operations, and external partners to ensure timely approvals and execution.
• Maintain accurate engagement tracking, reporting, and operational dashboards across multiple stakeholders.
• Lead recurring operational reviews focused on risk mitigation, decision-making, and issue resolution.
• Identify process bottlenecks and proactively drive engagements to completion.
• Develop scalable operating procedures, governance frameworks, and process documentation.
• Utilize AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, or similar platforms to streamline communications, reporting, workflow management, and operational processes.
• Build repeatable playbooks that enable operational scale and consistent partner experiences.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in Partner Operations, Vendor Operations, Program Management, Business Operations, Commercial Operations, or Strategic Partnerships.
• Strong experience managing contract workflows, SOWs, purchase orders, funding approvals, procurement processes, and vendor agreements.
• Proven success managing complex cross-functional programs involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience building and improving operational processes in high-growth technology organizations.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to operate independently in ambiguous and rapidly evolving environments.
• Experience managing high-volume operational trackers, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within AI, SaaS, Cloud, Enterprise Software, Developer Tools, or Technology companies.
• Experience supporting partner ecosystems, channel programs, alliances, professional services, or customer success organizations.
• Hands-on experience with Salesforce, CRM platforms, contract lifecycle management systems, procurement tools, or vendor management platforms.
• Strong understanding of partner program operations and partner-delivered services.
• Experience leveraging Generative AI tools to automate operational workflows and increase team productivity.