IT Vendor Management Lead

Overview

The IT Vendor Management Lead at 2U in Cape Town, South Africa will own the end-to-end management of information technology vendors to support 2U's technology strategy. The role focuses on vendor strategy, procurement lifecycle, contract negotiations, performance governance, and risk management to deliver cost efficiency, high service levels, and compliant partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement IT vendor management strategy aligned with business goals.
• Lead procurement lifecycle: RFX processes, due diligence, vendor selection, contract negotiations, renewals, and offboarding as needed.
• Manage vendor performance through SLAs, KPIs, regular business reviews, and corrective action plans.
• Mitigate risk with vendor risk assessments, security reviews, privacy considerations, and compliance checks.
• Collaborate with IT, Legal, Finance, and Security teams to optimize costs and ensure value delivery.
• Maintain an approved vendor list, governance framework, and vendor risk program.
• Onboard new vendors and manage transitions; ensure smooth service delivery and continuity.
• Build and maintain strong vendor relationships, drive continuous improvement, and maximize value.
• Provide regular reporting on spend, savings, risk, and performance to senior leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business, or a related field (Master's preferred).
• 7+ years of experience in vendor management, IT procurement, or supplier management; experience in educational technology is a plus.
• Strong negotiation, contract management, and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of IT governance frameworks (e.g., ITIL), risk assessment, and data security principles.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities; ability to influence at senior levels.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to synthesize data and present insights.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Opportunity to shape IT vendor strategy in a fast-growing education technology company.

How to apply

Please apply through the Greenhouse posting: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/2u/jobs/8109001002