Program Manager - Vendor Management

Role Overview We are looking for a proactive Vendor Manager / Assistant Program Manager to drive third-party logistics (3PL) and vendor operations. In this role, you will own the end-to-end vendor lifecycle—converting ground-sourced leads into active platform partners, managing day-to-day capacity and payout reconciliations, and tracking delivery performance. You will serve as a key bridge between operational demand and vendor partners to scale platform supply and hit business goals. Key Responsibilities Vendor Sourcing, Conversion & Onboarding Lead Conversion: Connect with potential vendor leads identified by ground field teams, convert them into platform partners, and manage their end-to-end onboarding. Pipeline Sourcing: Proactively search for and engage new local 3PL vendors, courier groups, and service providers to build supply capacity. Contracting: Negotiate commercial terms, payment structures, and baseline service level agreements (SLAs) with Legal and Finance alignment. Operational Management & Supply Balance Demand-Supply Alignment: Actively manage existing vendors to align day-to-day courier/driver supply with platform demand, preventing supply shortages. Payout Operations: Oversee vendor billing, handle payout queries, reconcile disputes, and ensure timely invoicing with internal Finance teams. Capacity Planning: Work closely with City Operations to map out coverage needs across key target zones. Performance & Escalation Management KPI Tracking: Monitor key metrics including Turnaround Time (TAT), fulfillment rates, quality compliance, and error rates. Escalation Point: Serve as the main point of contact to resolve field issues, payout errors, or delivery failures promptly. Governance Reviews: Conduct regular feedback sessions with vendors to track performance and implement corrective action plans for operational gaps. Cross-Functional Execution Work alongside Operations, Finance, and Tech/Product teams to streamline logistics workflows. Maintain clear tracking sheets, partner status reports, and operational dashboards. Stay agile to handle evolving operational challenges and stretch tasks needed to achieve overall growth targets. Qualifications & Requirements Experience: 1+ years of experience in vendor management, 3PL logistics, on-demand platforms, quick-commerce, or channel management in India. Execution & Conversion: Strong communication and negotiation skills to convert leads and manage vendor expectations. Data Skills: Proficient in Excel/Google Sheets for tracking performance data and financial payouts (experience using AI tools for analytics is a plus). Adaptability: High ownership mindset, proactive problem-solver, and comfortable taking on diverse operational tasks to drive business results.