AVP - IT Vendor Manager

Job Description :

Title - AVP - IT Vendor Manager

Level - 4B

About the Function:

Digital & Technology (D&T) is transforming how Diageo works, from how we source ingredients to how we connect with customers and consumers around the world.

This is where data, technology and creativity come together to solve real business challenges and unlock new opportunities. Whether it’s building platforms, using data to drive decisions or shaping digital experiences, the work here has tangible impact across every part of our business.

You’ll be part of a team that’s constantly learning, experimenting and pushing boundaries, with the freedom to explore new ideas and the support to turn them into reality.

About the role

The IT Vendor Manager is responsible for re-establishing and leading a centralized Vendor Management Office (VMO) within GBS. The role ensures that Diageo’s outsourcing strategy delivers its intended benefits by aligning vendors with business objectives, monitoring vendor performance, and ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery.

This role is critical to:

• Drive accountability and clarity in vendor relationships.

• Enable value realization from outsourcing agreements.

• Ensure consistent, standardized vendor management practices across the portfolio.

• Support Diageo’s strategic objectives by building trusted, goal-oriented partnerships with IT vendors.

• Lead the maturity, and continual evolution of the Vendor Management Office (VMO)

• Establish governance that drives operational excellence, commercial value, supplier accountability, and business outcomes across all strategic technology partners.

• Drive standardization of vendor governance, performance management, and supplier engagement across the enterprise.

Core Responsibilities:

Vendor Management Strategy & Governance

• Define, establish, and maintain Diageo’s Vendor Management strategy, roadmap, and governance model.

• Develop standardized processes, tools, and reporting mechanisms for vendor management

• Drive adoption of centralized vendor management practices across all Value Streams / verticals

• Define and maintain the Vendor Management Operating Model, governance framework, policies, standards, and guidelines.

• Establish governance forums including Executive Business Reviews (EBRs), Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), and Operational Review Boards.

• Develop and monitor vendor performance scorecards aligned to strategic business outcomes.

• Drive governance maturity across all strategic suppliers through continual improvement initiatives.

• Ensure vendor governance aligns with Diageo's Operational Excellence and Service Management strategy.

Performance & Relationship Management

• Oversee vendor performance management, including KPIs, SLAs, and continuous improvement.

• Conduct regular vendor reviews, raising and resolving issues to maintain service quality.

• Develop vendor scorecards and dashboards to provide a single, consistent view of vendor performance.

• Build strategic partnerships with vendors to develop collaboration, innovation, and long-term value.

• Define vendor performance objectives aligned with business priorities and transformation initiatives.

• Sponsor strategic Service Improvement Plans (SIPs) and oversee delivery of agreed improvement commitments.

• Champion supplier innovation by encouraging partners to introduce new capabilities, automation, AI, and service improvements.

• Drive executive-level supplier relationships that develop collaboration, transparency, and long-term partnership.

Contract & Financial Oversight

• Support contract negotiations, renewals, and compliance management. Ensure commercial terms are monitored and implemented to improve value delivery and cost efficiency.

• Collaborate with Procurement, Legal, and Finance to align vendor arrangements with Diageo’s policies and financial objectives.

• Provide strategic oversight of vendor commercial performance, ensuring delivery of contractual value and agreed business benefits. Support sourcing strategies, RFP evaluations, vendor selection, and contract award decisions.

• Find opportunities for cost optimization, service rationalization, and vendor consolidation. Monitor vendor investment commitments and value-realization against case

Risk Management & Compliance

• Identify, assess, and mitigate vendor-related risks (operational, financial, regulatory, reputational).

• Ensure adherence to regulatory, data protection, and security requirements. Monitor vendor procedures for concluding partnerships and ensuring business continuity.

• Provide executive oversight of supplier risks and ensure appropriate mitigation strategies are implemented.

• Ensure suppliers maintain robust Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, Cyber Security, and Regulatory compliance capabilities.

Vendor Lifecycle Management

• Define and govern the end-to-end vendor lifecycle from onboarding through ongoing management, renewal, transition, and exit.

• Ensure appropriate governance is maintained during vendor transitions and organizational change.

• Drive structured onboarding and offboarding processes for strategic suppliers.

Operational Excellence - Drive continual improvement of vendor management processes, governance, reporting, and operating models. Define maturity roadmaps and benchmark supplier performance against industry standard methodology. Promote standardization and simplification across vendor management practices.

Leadership & People - Lead, coach, and develop the Vendor Management Office team. Build organizational capability across Vendor Management, Supplier Governance, and Commercial Management subject areas. Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continual improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement & Influence - Act as the central point of contact for all vendor management activities. Collaborate with Value Stream leaders to ensure vendor alignment with business priorities. Provide senior leadership with clear insights and recommendations on vendor performance and strategy.

Experience/skills required:

• 12+ years’ experience in IT Service Management, Service Delivery, or Operational Governance roles.

• Strong understanding of IT outsourcing models, service delivery frameworks, and vendor lifecycle management.

• Proven experience managing AMS or Infrastructure vendors in complex, multi-region organizations.

• Strong analytical and reporting skills with a track record of driving decisions through data.

• Sound knowledge of compliance, risk management, and service governance frameworks.

• Proficiency in ServiceNow, Celonis, and reporting / dashboard tools preferred.

Skills

• Excellent negotiation, influencing, and relationship-building skills with senior stakeholders and external vendors.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret vendor performance data.

• Strategic planning and execution skills to define and implement the Vendor Management roadmap.

• Ability to design and implement standardized governance frameworks and processes.

Abilities

• Build and sustain trust-based, collaborative partnerships with vendors.

• Drive cultural change towards centralized vendor management across a large, complex organization.

• Balance commercial, operational, and strategic considerations to deliver value.

• Communicate effectively at all levels, including presenting to senior executives.

Barriers to Success in Role:

• Inability to build relationships rapidly with and lead mixed business & partner teams

• Lack of Credibility with internal and external stakeholders

• Lack of business situational awareness

• Lack of ability to work through wider teams to deliver outcomes

Working with Us

Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package including:

Our purpose is crafting iconic drinks chosen for life’s moments. And it’s our people, with their different experiences, perspectives and talents, who make that possible.

We value diversity in its broadest sense and want everyone to feel they can belong, contribute and strive for their personal best. You’ll work alongside people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives — challenging, supporting and learning from one another as one outstanding team.

Together, we’re constantly learning and improving, combining the strength of our people, capabilities and iconic brands to raise the bar, grow and win. Wherever you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute, make an impact and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.

Ready to bring your best? This could be your opportunity.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you gather this information when you submit your application.

Worker Type :

Regular

Primary Location:

Bangalore Karle Town SEZ

Additional Locations :

Job Posting Start Date :

2026-08-27