How to Become a Vendor Manager?
Are you thinking of becoming a Vendor Manager or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Vendor Manager, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Vendor Manager job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.
Steps to Become a Vendor Manager
If you're considering starting your Vendor Manager career path, it's important to note the skills, qualifications, and time it takes to become a professional Vendor Manager and how to advance your career path. Below are the steps generally required to begin and advance your Vendor Manager career.Contents
1
Earn a Degree
To begin your Vendor Manager career path, a Bachelor's Degree in Business or a related field is usually necessary in order to remain a competitive option for employers. Focus on industry-specific skill development during your education in order to be properly equipped when applying for entry-level positions and entering the job force. A Vendor Manager internship may be required to earn your Bachelor's Degree and acquire necessary on-the-job skills before entering the workforce.What type of degree should you pursue to become a Vendor Manager?
98% of people working as a Vendor Manager earned a Bachelor's Degree
What skills do you need to be a Vendor Manager?
- Excellent Communication
- Negotiation
- Powerpoint
- Dashboarding
- Influencing
- Optimization
- Microsoft Project
- Bridging
2
Choose a Specialty in Your Field
As an Vendor Manager, you may be required to choose a specialty within your field. Determine which part of the Vendor Manager field you feel strongest in, and continue taking active steps toward growing in your chosen Vendor Manager specialty.3
Get an Entry-Level Position as a Vendor Manager
Once you've acquired a Bachelor's Degree in Business or a related field, you'll typically begin your career as an entry-level Vendor Manager. In general, you can become a Vendor Manager after completing your 4 year Bachelor's Degree in a related discipline. Depending on the type of Vendor Manager role you’re pursuing, you may want to explore certification in .4
Advance in Your Vendor Manager Career
Following entry-level, there are several Vendor Manager career path levels to advance into. It can take 2 years as an entry-level Vendor Manager to progress to the next seniority level position. Each advanced Vendor Manager position requires approximately 2 years of experience at each level to advance in your Vendor Manager career path. It may be necessary to receive additional education, an advanced degree such as a Master's Degree in a related field, or special certifications in order to advance your Vendor Manager career path.5
Continued Education for Your Vendor Manager Career Path
Not all industries and companies require continued education to advance your Vendor Manager career path. However, earning this degree may help you advance to higher-earning positions more quickly. Earning a Graduate Degree in Business can take 4 years to complete. People that have earned their Graduate Degree typically make $125,786 compared to $48,192 for those without that type of degree.Vendor Manager Career Path
Vendor Manager
2 - 4Years of Experience
$71K - $121K /yrMost Likely Range
Vendor Manager Senior Manager
5 - 7Years of Experience
$169K - $279K /yrMost Likely Range
Vendor Manager Associate Director
5 - 7Years of Experience
$82K - $137K /yrMost Likely Range
Total Pay Trajectory
Vendor Manager Career Path
Associate Vendor Manager
Vendor Manager I
Vendor Manager II
Senior Manager of Vendor Management
Vendor Manager
Vendor Manager Manager
Vendor Manager Senior Manager
Vendor Manager Associate Director
Director of Vendor Management
Vendor Manager Senior Director
$50K
$118K
$186K
$254K
$390K
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Related Careers in the Business Industry
Interested in other Business careers? Below are occupations that have high affinity with Vendor Manager skills. Discover some of the most common Vendor Manager career transitions, along with skills overlap.