Description and Requirements

MetLife Japan Technology Strategy is seeking an experienced Director, Vendor Relationship Management to lead strategic vendor governance and relationship management for a large, complex IT organization. The role will oversee vendor strategy, governance, performance, commercial discipline, and risk mitigation across an IT vendor portfolio supporting approximately 50+ IT suppliers in Japan and Offshore, for a US$200M+ in annual technology spend.

This is a high-impact role for a vendor management leader who can partner effectively with Japan Procurement, Regional Procurement, Global Vendor Management, IT leadership, delivery teams, risk, compliance, and legal stakeholders to strengthen vendor performance, close control gaps, and improve business value from strategic technology partners.

Vendor Strategy & Relationship Management: Lead strategic vendor identification, relationship management, and long-term partner governance across Japan IT vendors.

RFP / RFI Planning & Support: Support strategic sourcing activities, including requirements alignment, vendor evaluation inputs, and coordination with procurement stakeholders.

Renewals & Contract Consolidation: Drive renewal planning, contract consolidation opportunities, and reduction of vendor complexity while maintaining delivery continuity.

Contract & SOW Administration: Oversee SOW administration, contract reporting, deliverable tracking, governance cadence, and documentation discipline.

Vendor Governance & KPIs: Set up governance forums, define KPI / SLA / SLO expectations, manage scorecards, and monitor performance across key vendors.

Risk, Issues & Control Gaps: Track vendor risks, issues, control gaps, and remediation plans in partnership with IT, Legal, Compliance, Procurement, and Global Vendor Management.

Commercial & Financial Analysis: Lead contract financial analysis, forecasting, deal risk tracking, and value realization across major vendor arrangements.

Negotiation Strategy & Execution: Shape negotiation strategy with Procurement and business stakeholders to improve cost, flexibility, quality, and risk outcomes.

Required Experience

• 10-15+ years of experience in IT vendor management, procurement, sourcing, contract management, IT service management, or technology delivery governance.
• Experience managing complex vendor ecosystems, preferably in a global or regulated company in Japan.
• Hands-on experience with RFP/RFI support, contract renewals, SOW administration, vendor scorecards, and risk remediation.

Core Capabilities

• Strong negotiation, commercial analysis, and stakeholder influencing skills.
• Ability to translate vendor performance, commercial risks, and control gaps into concise executive recommendations.
• Strong governance mindset with experience setting up operating rhythms, KPIs, reporting, and accountability mechanisms.

Education & Language

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Technology, Supply Chain, or related field;
• MBA or procurement / contract management certification preferred.
• Business-level English required.
• Business-level Japanese strongly preferred for local vendor, procurement, and stakeholder engagement.

• Establish a clear, repeatable vendor governance model across key IT vendors, including KPI / SLA / SLO tracking and executive reporting.
• Improve transparency of vendor performance, contract obligations, financial commitments, risks, issues, and remediation ownership.
• Support vendor consolidation and strategic sourcing outcomes in partnership with Japan Procurement, Regional Procurement, and Global Vendor Management.
• Close material vendor control gaps and strengthen alignment with IT risk, compliance, legal, and enterprise governance expectations.
• Deliver measurable commercial value through renewal planning, negotiation strategy, contract financial analysis, and deal risk mitigation.

Benefits We Offer

MetLife Japan offers a comprehensive benefits package that promotes work-life balance and employee wellbeing. Employees can take advantage of flex time policy and a generous time-off policy, national holidays, annual paid leave, special consecutive leave, and refreshment leave. We also provide full social insurance coverage, a commuting expense reimbursement, group insurance, and discounts on travel and English language lessons. To support work flexibility, employees also have hybrid work options, shortened working hours for parents with children in third grade or below, and a casual dress code.

About MetLife

MetLife Inc., through its subsidiaries and affiliates (MetLife), is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help individual and institutional customers build a more confident future. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 markets globally and holds leading positions in the United States, Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.

MetLife Japan began operations in February 1973 as Japan's first foreign-owned life insurance company. Our purpose, "Always with you, building a more confident future," encapsulates our strong commitment to leveraging our global network and best practices worldwide to stand with our customers and build trust with our communities.