Head of vendor management

Head of Talent/Vendor Management


Location: Remote, but to be considered you need to be based in France, Belgium or Canada

Department: Vendor / Talent Management

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer / Director of Operations


The Role

As Head of Talent Management, you will lead the global strategy for sourcing, managing, and optimizing external linguistic resources. You will drive cost-efficiency, workflow innovation, and future-proof our vendor operations through automation and AI-enabled solutions. You’ll build and lead a team that delivers scalable, high-performing vendor capacity, with a strong focus on productivity and quality.


Key Responsibilities

* Define and lead the global vendor strategy to ensure scalability, agility, and profitability
* Drive cost optimization initiatives by refining rate models, reducing agency dependency, and negotiating strategic agreements
* Improve productivity through process optimization and vendor performance governance
* Lead implementation of workflow automation tools to reduce manual effort across the vendor lifecycle
* Evaluate and integrate AI-driven solutions (e.g., smart matching, quality prediction, automated onboarding, LQA automation)
* Build and manage a team of specialists in sourcing, relationship management, QA, and vendor analytics
* Create a strong talent forecasting and capacity planning model in collaboration with PM and Sales
* Own vendor KPIs, dashboards, and reports to track progress, performance, and efficiency
* Ensure vendor lifecycle excellence (sourcing, onboarding, testing, tiering, offboarding)
* Foster strong vendor relationships while maintaining accountability and performance standards
* Champion innovation and drive cross-functional collaboration on future-facing solutions


What You Bring

* Fluency in French AND English
* 7+ years of experience in vendor/talent management within the localization or multilingual content industry
* Strategic mindset with a proven record of driving cost savings and operational efficiency
* Knowledge of workflow automation tools, productivity platforms, and AI in the localization space
* Strong negotiation and leadership skills with the ability to influence cross-functionally
* Familiarity with TMS platforms and CAT tools (e.g., Plunet, MemoQ) and QA tools would be a plus
* Experience with large-scale vendor ecosystems and managing hybrid freelance/agency models
* Data-literate and comfortable leveraging dashboards, BI tools, and KPI frameworks
* Strong understanding of localization processes, pricing models, and resourcing needs
* Strong communication skills and crisis management experience would be a plus
* M&A integration experience for talent teams would be a plus


Nice to Have

* Familiarity with LLM-based AI tools for translation, QA, or vendor matching
* Knowledge of ISO 17100, 9001 or other quality standards
* Experience working with in-house linguist teams alongside freelancers and vendors
* Multilingual or multicultural background


What Success Looks Like

* Significant reduction in vendor costs while maintaining or improving quality
* Seamless automation of manual vendor workflows
* Successful integration of AI and predictive tools in vendor operations
* Highly engaged, responsive, and performance-driven vendor community
* Strong cross-departmental alignment on sourcing and capacity planning