Vendor Governance & Controls Analyst

The Vendor Governance & Controls Analyst is a manager-level governance and enablement role.  Unlike risk assessment or procurement functions, this role exists to ensure that the right people are doing the right vendor management activities — with the right rigor, at the right time. This individual serves as a governance enforcer, business enabler, and accountability champion: coaching Vendor Relationship Managers (VRMs) through governance requirements, facilitating vendor lifecycle training for business unit leaders, and driving measurable accountability for scorecard execution and vendor performance standards across the enterprise. 

This role operates as the bridge between established vendor management policy and the day-to-day behavior of business stakeholders who own vendor relationships. Success in this position requires the rare combination of governance expertise, training facilitation skill, executive influencing ability, and an unwavering commitment to behavioral accountability within third-party oversight. 

What You’ll Do: 

• VRM RFP Navigation & Coaching — Serve as a dedicated business controls advisor to Vendor Relationship Managers (VRMs) throughout the RFP process; coach VRMs on evaluation frameworks, scoring methodologies, and documentation standards without owning the RFP process itself. 

• Vendor Lifecycle Training Facilitation — Design and facilitate end-to-end Vendor Lifecycle Training programs for VRMs, business unit leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders — translating existing procedures and risk frameworks into actionable, role-specific learning experiences that drive consistent vendor management behavior across the enterprise. 

• Scorecard Accountability Enforcement — Act as the accountability owner for vendor scorecard execution; partner with business leaders to drive timely scorecard completion, facilitate performance review cadences, escalate non-compliance to senior leadership, and ensure that scorecard outcomes drive tangible vendor management actions — not just documentation. 

• Vendor Onsite Assessment Partnership — Travel alongside Vendor Relationship Managers (up to 10%) to conduct vendor onsite assessments, serving as the business controls representative to observe, evaluate, and document vendor performance, operational readiness, and adherence to contractual commitments firsthand. 

• Vendor Accountability Program Management — Lead structured vendor accountability initiatives including performance improvement plan facilitation, contract adherence monitoring, and escalation management for chronically underperforming vendors — translating scorecard data and assessment findings into enforceable vendor action plans. 

• Business Leader Governance Enablement — Serve as a trusted advisor and change agent for business unit leaders, equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and governance frameworks needed to fulfill their vendor oversight responsibilities — shifting accountability ownership from the VRM team to the appropriate business stakeholders. 

• Controls Adherence Oversight — Monitor business unit and VRM adherence to established vendor governance policies, controls, and standard operating procedures; identify behavioral or procedural deviations, provide targeted coaching and remediation guidance, and escalate systemic non-compliance through appropriate channels. 

• Governance Reporting & Insights — Leverage existing vendor scorecard data, assessment findings, and performance metrics to produce governance-focused reporting and trend analysis for senior leadership — translating data into narrative insights that highlight accountability gaps, emerging risks, and business leader performance against vendor management obligations. 

• Cross-Functional Controls Integration — Collaborate with Compliance, Legal, Procurement, and Risk partners to ensure business controls requirements are operationalized within the vendor management lifecycle — serving as the bridge between policy and practice rather than the creator of policy. 

• Continuous Improvement Advocacy — Champion the adoption of vendor governance best practices across the enterprise by identifying process gaps in how business leaders and VRMs execute vendor management responsibilities, proposing targeted improvements, and driving behavioral change through training, accountability structures, and executive visibility. 

What We’re Looking For: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Organizational Development, or a related field. 

• 5–8 years of experience in vendor management, business controls, or third-party governance within a financial services organization. 

• Demonstrated experience in a controls, compliance, or governance-focused role — distinct from risk assessment or procurement ownership. 

• Proven track record of holding business stakeholders accountable to governance standards, scorecards, or performance frameworks. 

• Experience facilitating training, workshops, or enablement programs for business unit audiences. 

• Strong understanding of vendor management lifecycle concepts sufficient to coach and advise VRMs without owning the process. 

• Familiarity with financial services regulatory guidance (OCC, FFIEC, CFPB) as it pertains to third-party governance obligations of business lines. 

• Exceptional interpersonal, influencing, and presentation skills — ability to drive accountability without direct authority. 

• Willingness and ability to travel up to 10% for vendor onsite assessments. 

Preferred Skills: 

• MBA or advanced degree in Business, Organizational Leadership, or Risk Management. 

• Professional certifications such as CTPS (Certified Third-Party Professional), CRVPM, or comparable vendor governance credential. 

• Experience with vendor performance management platforms (e.g., Zip, ProcessUnity, Archer).