**Our client, a large automotive and fleet company, is currently seeking a Bilingual (Eng/Fr) Vendor Strategy & Operations Manager to join their team in Mississauga, ON! This role is best suited for someone with 8+ years of vendor management/supplier management/procurement experience – does not necessarily need to be in auto or fleet or rental car – but should have exp establishing and managing relationships with vendors of services rather than parts/raw materials.** JOB OVERVIEW The Bilingual Vendor Relations & Strategy Manager – Canadian Operations is a key individual contributor responsible for managing and optimizing a broad vendor network across the Canadian market, with an immediate focus on SAAQ and provincial Ministry partnerships. This role will serve as the primary liaison between our client and our Canadian vendor base, including licensing and compliance offices, dealerships, repair shops, and other third-party service providers, ensuring vendor performance aligns with operational expectations and service level agreements. The successful candidate will be fluent in English and Canadian French, located in the Greater Toronto Area, and will be based out of our Mississauga office. They will play a strategic role in implementing the vendor management framework, analyzing performance through data tools, and driving continuous improvement across multiple categories. This position requires regular travel within Canada (50%) to foster in-person relationships and drive operational accountability. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Vendor Management: o Establish and execute the vendor management framework across all outsourced service categories in Canada. o Serve as the primary relationship manager for Canadian Ministries (e.g., SAAQ), dealerships, repair facilities, and more. o Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders (Operations, Procurement, Legal, etc.) to assess category maturity, conduct gap analyses, and shape future state operating models. o Lead initiatives to drive performance improvements and align vendor services with our clients business goals. o Use dashboards and BI tools to collect, analyze, and visualize vendor KPIs, driving decisions around vendor allocation and strategic prioritization. o Set performance review cadence and facilitate vendor business reviews to identify risks, address issues, and promote a culture of continuous improvement. o Support vendor identification, onboarding, contract negotiation (in partnership with Procurement), and lifecycle management. o Ensure compliance with internal controls, regulatory standards, and contractual SLAs. o Make vendor volume allocation recommendations based on performance trends and data insights. Process Improvement: o Identify and implement opportunities to streamline internal and vendor-facing processes. o Lead or support continuous improvement events (e.g., Kaizen) in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. o Partner with IT to develop enhancements to tools and systems that support vendor performance tracking and reporting. o Provide actionable insights through both quantitative and qualitative analysis to inform vendor strategy and operational decisions. Communication and Stakeholder Collaboration: o Present vendor performance and strategic recommendations to internal and external stakeholders. o Partner with internal teams to promote use of top-performing vendors and support escalations as needed. o Represent Wheels with professionalism and integrity in vendor interactions. o Serve as a subject matter expert on vendor management in the Canadian market. Qualifications: + Bilingual French/English + 8+ years vendor management/supplier management/procurement experience – does not necessarily need to be in auto or fleet or rental car – but should have exp establishing and managing relationships with vendors of services rather than parts/raw materials + Candidate must have both a passport and driver's license with the ability to travel across Canada and to the US for training as required NICE TO HAVES: - Experience from Automotive, logistics, fleet management, or rental car industries - Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills with a customer-centric mindset. - Experience working with provincial and federal agencies (e.g., SAAQ) is highly desirable. - Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and BI reporting applications (e.g., Power BI, Tableau). - Demonstrated ability to drive vendor strategy using performance metrics and analytics. Employee Value Proposition (EVP) Candidate Will play an integral role in the Canadian business where they’re rapidly expanding and they’ll be the first of the role in Canada, presenting lots of upwards mobility potential. Work Environment SHIFT: Monday to Friday, Standard business hours around 8-5 with some flexibility Hybrid: 3 days/week in office in Mississauga 50% travel within Canada required (could be up to up to once a week during busy times) Salary Min $140,000.00 Salary Max $157,000.00 Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $140000.00 - $157000.00/yr. Workplace Type This is a hybrid position in Mississauga,ON. À propos de TEKsystems et TEKsystems Global Services Nous sommes un fournisseur de services aux entreprises et de technologies. Nous accélérons la transformation de nos clients. Notre compétence en stratégie, conception, exécution et opérations libère la valeur de l’entreprise par un éventail de solutions. Nous sommes une équipe de 80 000 personnes qui collaborent avec plus de 60 000 clients, notamment 80 % du Fortune 500 en Amérique du Nord, Europe et Asie, qui collaborent avec nous dans le cadre de nos capacités full-stack et notre rythme. Nous sommes des penseurs stratégiques, des collaborateurs pratiques qui aident les clients à exploiter le changement et maîtriser le dynamisme de la technologie. Nous bâtissons le futur en livrant les résultats et en créant un impact positif dans nos communautés mondiales. TEKsystems et TEKsystems Global Services sont des entreprises d’Allegis Group. Découvrez d’autres informations à TEKsystems.com. About TEKsystems and TEKsystems Global Services We’re a leading provider of business and technology services. We accelerate business transformation for our customers. Our expertise in strategy, design, execution and operations unlocks business value through a range of solutions. We’re a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 customers, including 80% of the Fortune 500 across North America, Europe and Asia, who partner with us for our scale, full-stack capabilities and speed. We’re strategic thinkers, hands-on collaborators, helping customers capitalize on change and master the momentum of technology. We’re building tomorrow by delivering business outcomes and making positive impacts in our global communities. TEKsystems and TEKsystems Global Services are Allegis Group companies. Learn more at TEKsystems.com. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.