We are seeking an experienced and proactive Vendor Manager to lead the recruitment and management of linguists, with a particular focus on interpreters across the EMEA region. The successful candidate will be responsible for building and maintaining a robust network of interpreters, negotiating contracts, and ensuring the availability of high-quality talent to meet our clients needs.
Key Responsibilities:
- Identify, recruit, and onboard qualified interpreters and linguists in the EMEA region across various languages and specializations.
- Build and maintain relationships with freelance interpreters, agencies, and other language service vendors to ensure a reliable pool of talent.
- Negotiate rates and terms with linguists and vendors, ensuring competitive pricing while maintaining high-quality standards.
- Maintain an up-to-date vendor database, including tracking interpreter performance, availability, and certifications.
- Work closely with the project management team to ensure that the recruited interpreters meet the required linguistic and technical standards.
- Ensure all interpreters comply with industry standards, certifications, and any client-specific requirements.
- Keep abreast of industry trends and interpreter availability in the EMEA region, identifying opportunities to expand the vendor network.
- Partner with the project management and sales teams to understand upcoming demand and ensure the timely availability of qualified interpreters.
- Monitor interpreter costs and vendor spend, ensuring projects remain within budget while maintaining high-quality service.
- Evaluate and report on the performance and availability of interpreters, ensuring optimal resource allocation for various projects.
Required Qualifications:
- 3+ years of experience in vendor management, talent acquisition, or recruitment in the localization or language services industry, with a focus on interpreters.
- Strong understanding of the interpretation industry and interpreter qualifications.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively liaise with linguists and internal teams.
- Strong negotiation skills to secure competitive rates and build mutually beneficial relationships with vendors.
- Ability to manage multiple vendors and projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
- Familiarity with translation management systems (TMS), and interpreter scheduling tools.
- Knowledge of the EMEA linguistic landscape, particularly in relation to interpreting services and market conditions.
