Supplier Relationship Analyst

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:  Grade: Professional 305Pay Range: $54,800.00 - $82,200.00Job DescriptionThe Supplier Relationship Analyst is the primary point of contact between the University and current and potential suppliers. They will communicate internal and external product and business strategies to support and advise regarding potential areas for partnerships and improvements in relation to the student experience. The Supplier Relationship Analyst, working with cross-functional stakeholders, will aid in the evaluation and recommendation of products and/or processes from supplier portfolios based on identified needs for program development or student satisfaction and in support of department and university strategies. They will manage the portfolio of several suppliers and maintain current and relevant knowledge of their suppliers’ products and services and ensure they continue to meet university needs, as well as state/federal guidelines and policies. They will drive supplier results by pushing suppliers to achieve contractual and operational excellence in their performance through regular supplier evaluations and business reviews. The Supplier Relationship Analyst owns the business relationship and holds themselves and their suppliers accountable. Main Responsibilities Include:Actively manages the relationship between Academic Programs and external partners to facilitate the timely delivery of quality learning experiences.Collaborates with departmental stakeholders to ensure the procurement and/or implementation of all learning resources are successful and meet established criteria, including accessibility, technical, security, and quality standards.Consults with internal and external stakeholders to recommend any available products and delivery systems within an assigned supplier’s portfolio, following established processes for legal and purchasing, if applicable.Evaluates industry trends and emerging technologies for potential enhancements to the student experience, sharing knowledge with stakeholders as appropriate.Partners with internal stakeholders to objectively evaluate product value and ROI, as well as to compare similar products when applicable.Partners with the Purchasing Department to strategically source, competitively bid, and contractually negotiate all agreements, if applicable.Manages contractual agreements, including expiration/renewal dates, service level agreements, costs and timelines, and informs stakeholders of all associated issues, such as budget impacts.Proactively engages with suppliers to determine upcoming product or process changes and supplier roadmaps, and notifies necessary stakeholders to plan accordingly.Partners with stakeholders to conduct business reviews with suppliers to evaluate their performance and to ensure continuous improvement of products and supplier performance.Handles supplier issues by developing a corrective action plan, managing the risk, and ensuring the plan is achieved while keeping stakeholders informed.Ensures team members are supported and successful by providing quality assurance reviews of individual team members work, creating and updating job aids as needed, and providing regular calibration exercises and training.Performs other job-related duties as assigned.Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities You'll Need to Be Successful:Attention to detailCritical thinking skillsStrong communication skills, both oral and writtenAbility to build effective relationships and partnershipsAbility to work effectively in both collaborative and independent environmentsAbility to prioritize tasksSuperior time management skillsHigh degree of organizational skillsAbility to successfully manage and complete complex projects using a collaborative work modelAbility to think strategicallyDeep understanding of current partnerships and resourcesAbility to research new and emerging resourcesMinimum Qualifications:Education:Bachelor's DegreeExperience:1 year of experience managing external relationshipsExperience with online instruction and adult learning modelsExperience working with cross-functional and remote teamsExperience in Lieu of Education:Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager.Preferred Qualifications:Master's DegreePortfolio Management experienceExperience in learning resource analysis or development, instructional design or development, or technology-based educationJob Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for