Vendor Manager Lead

The Vendor Manager Lead - Critical Environments is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and optimizing strategic relationships with third-party vendors and service providers along with leading the Vendor Management Team. In conjunction with the Customer's Facilities Manager, the Vendor Manager serves as the primary point of contact for vendors, leading performance management, business reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role maintains regular communication to address issues, discuss and track performance (including Work Order completion), identify improvement opportunities, and verify and ensure accurate billing and invoice justification based on Corrigo and process payments. The key to success in this role is to be an open, transparent and consistent communicator to all stakeholders. In this role, you have the opportunity to shape a portion of the digital economy as well as the careers and lives of the teams supporting operations.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Task will include but not be limited to:

• Establish, maintain, and optimize strategic relationships with third-party vendors and service providers supporting all data center systems including fire/life safety, mechanical, electrical, cabling, critical environments, and digital systems.
• Serve as primary point of contact for all vendors working within assigned facilities.
• Lead vendor performance management, business reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor vendor compliance with contractual obligations, service level agreements, and performance standards.
• Track and analyze vendor performance including Work Order completion rates, response times, and quality of service.
• Maintain regular communication with vendors to address issues, discuss performance, and identify improvement opportunities.
• Verify and ensure accurate billing and invoice justification based on Corrigo system data.
• Process vendor payments in accordance with contractual terms and approval workflows.
• Develop and manage vendor CAPEX and OPEX budgets including planning for infrastructure upgrades, maintenance, repairs, and equipment replacements.
• Maintain approved vendor budget variance ≤ 5% in each expense category.
• Implement comprehensive warranty management program to track, enforce, and maximize the value of warranties on vendor-provided services and equipment.
• Establish and maintain centralized repository of all active warranties.
• Monitor warranty expiration dates and coordinate timely claims for covered repairs and replacements.
• Manage all aspects of vendor training to ensure familiarity with data center operations and critical systems.
• Provide advance training and notification to all contractors regarding the data center's critical functions and work requirements, including incident contact response lists.
• Ensure Data Center Work Rules are well-understood among all vendors and contractors.
• Coordinate vendor onboarding activities including system access setup, documentation collection, and stakeholder introductions.
• Maintain all vendor-related documentation including contracts, service agreements, insurance certificates, and compliance records.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory laws and guidelines as they relate to vendor operations within the data center's infrastructure.
• Prepare and report on vendor KPIs to track performance against established targets.
• Provide technical input and support to facility projects and modifications involving vendors, including construction support, commissioning, and final acceptance.
• Oversee activities of contractors working within the data center as representatives of the facility or as tenant contractors.
• Develop, review, and approve vendor work efforts including Mission Critical Statements for assigned facilities and systems.
• Identify vendor performance issues and implement corrective action plans.
• Conduct regular vendor business reviews to assess performance and alignment with facility objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with vendor partners and implement best practices.
• Directly supervise Vendor Coordinator and vendor management support staff.
• Build actionable and measurable career development plans for all direct reports and engage in consistent performance conversations.
• Alert management of vendor performance issues or building discrepancies requiring escalation.
• Perform additional job duties as requested.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervise assigned personnel.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the policies enumerated with Jones Lang LaSalle and applicable laws.
• Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees.
• Planning, assigning, and directing work.
• Appraising performance.
• Rewarding and disciplining employees.
• Addressing complaints and resolving problems.
  
  

Minimum Requirements:

Education & Experience

• Hands-on experience working in a data center/critical facility, including UPS.
• Systems, emergency generators, and switchgears.
• High School diploma or GED equivalent
• Seven to ten years of engineering experience or equivalent industry experience
• Five to seven years supervisory experience.
• Moderate knowledge of a variety of manual trades such as carpentry, electromechanical repair, etc.
  
  

Language Skills

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical procedures, or governmental regulations and codes.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before small groups of tenants or fellow employees.
• Demonstrated verbal/written communication skills.
  
  

Other Skill and Abilities

• Ability to use drawings, specifications, shop math and various measuring or testing instruments.
• Working knowledge or the capability of developing proficient knowledge of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Outlook and Microsoft Access and any other software packages.
• Must be able to professionally interact with tenants and contractors.
• Demonstration of leadership ability, presentation capabilities and organization skills.
  
  

Preferred Requirements:

• Corrigo Experience.
• MCIM / Salesforce Experience.
• Zendesk Experience.
• Service Now Experience.
  
  

Physical Requirements:

This position will require the following:

• Walking large, campus-like settings.
• Frequent walking, climbing, bending, kneeling, lifting, stooping, and working/extending overhead, including:
• Lifting a minimum of 50 lbs.
• Climbing stairs and navigating rooftops to access equipment.
• Using ladders up to 30 ft and working from heights.
• Ability to Climb a ladder with a 300-lb weight limit.
• Must be able to work different schedules.
• Must be able to work Holidays.
• Must be able to respond to site emergencies.
  
  

Customer Environment Description

• A leading global data center developer and operator specializing in delivering state-of-the-art digital infrastructure solutions across the globe. With more than 50 high-performance mission-critical facilities worldwide, the company ensures the continued operation of digital infrastructure for nearly 800 customers, including approximately 200 Fortune 1000 companies.
• Demanding customer and fast-paced environment, serving some of the largest companies in the world.
• JLL operates 40 sites for the customer that includes campuses and individual data centers. We provide operational support including operating engineers, chief operating engineers, facility managers, and regional managers.
• JLL has been supporting the customer since 2021. The relationship has continued to grow as the customer’s business has grown; we continue to support current locations and assist in establishing new sites across the United States.
• We continue to struggle meeting the KPIs set forth by the customer, particularly when it comes to incidents. With an increased focus on training and adequate staffing models, we will be able to meet our obligations and exceed expectations. Our goal is to continue a fruitful relationship that allows us to grow with the customer. This will provide many opportunities for our employees and allow our customer to scale their business.
  
  

About JLL

We’re JLL—a leading professional services and investment management firm specializing in real estate. We have operations in over 80 countries and a workforce of over 102,000 individuals around the world who help real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. As a global Fortune 500 company, we also have an inherent responsibility to drive sustainability and corporate social responsibility. That’s why we’re committed to our purpose to shape the future of real estate for a better world. We’re using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people, and our communities.

Our core values of teamwork, ethics and excellence are also fundamental to everything we do and we’re honored to be recognized with awards for our success by organizations both globally and locally.

Creating a diverse and inclusive culture where we all feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to achieve our full potential is important to who we are today and where we’re headed in the future. And we know that unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives help us think bigger, spark innovation, and succeed together