Vendor Management Specialist

ButcherBox is a certified B Corp headquartered in Boston, and honored to be celebrating our fourth year in a row on Inc.'s list of Best Workplaces. At ButcherBox, we believe in better. That’s why we deliver 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef, free-range organic chicken, pork raised crate-free, and wild-caught seafood directly to our members’ doors. All of our products are humanely raised or wild-caught and never given antibiotics or added hormones ever.

We’re working to build a world that’s better for all, and we’re inviting everyone to come along. For us, better means treating our planet with respect. It means improving the lives of animals and the livelihoods of farmers. It means never cutting corners when it comes to doing business. Ultimately, it means better meals, enjoyed together. Our team is made up of people who collaborate and support one another. We’re always looking for outstanding people to join our mission! 

Role Overview 

ButcherBox operates in an asset-light model, partnering with a diverse network of external suppliers and service providers. The Vendor Management Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring these partnerships are strong, accountable, and aligned with our standards and values. This role is primarily internally facing, ensuring the success of our vendor onboarding and management system, and will assist in some external negotiations.  

This role is ideal for a highly organized, relationship-driven project leader who thrives at the center of complex cross-functional work. You’ll partner closely with procurement, quality, legal, finance, operations, and impact teams to coordinate how we onboard, manage, and continuously improve our vendor ecosystem. 

You won’t be expected to have all the answers on day one — but you will be expected to bring structure, clarity, follow-through, and strong stakeholder alignment. This role reports to the Senior Director of Impact & Strategic Initiatives and works closely with Legal and Finance leadership. 

Own & Operate the Vendor Management Process 

•Serve as the day-to-day owner of the company’s vendor management lifecycle — onboarding, classification, performance tracking, renewal, and offboarding 

•Partner with internal stakeholders (marketing, IT, legal, finance, operations) to define vendor requirements and evaluation criteria 

•Lead the quote collection process (RFQs/RFPs where applicable), ensuring timely and comparable submissions 

•Partner with internal business owners to ensure vendors meet commercial, quality, social, and environmental expectations 

•Own lower-dollar negotiations (renewals, scope adjustments, pricing discussions, remediation timelines) 

•Support senior leaders in larger or more complex negotiations by preparing materials, tracking commitments, and documenting outcomes 

•Maintain vendor standards, onboarding processes, and performance frameworks 

•Drive clarity and follow-through on corrective action plans 

Strengthen Vendor Relationships & Alignment 

•Support commercial and non-commercial vendor discussions related to standards, expectations, and performance 

•Prepare leaders for negotiations by organizing trade-offs across cost, risk, performance, and values 

•Ensure contractual terms align with operational realities 

•Build strong, trust-based relationships with both internal stakeholders and external partners 

Manage Risk & Drive Accountability 

•Identify and escalate vendor-related risks in partnership with cross-functional teams 

•Coordinate response plans when performance gaps or compliance issues arise 

•Facilitate structured decision-making when escalation or vendor transitions are needed 

Support B Corp & Standards Alignment 

•Help ensure vendor practices align with B Corp standards and other certifications 

•Support tracking of vendor commitments tied to social, environmental, and ethical standards 

•Translate evolving standards into clear vendor requirements and internal workflows 

Reporting & Continuous Improvement 

•Prepare clear, executive-ready summaries on vendor performance, risk exposure, and improvement initiatives 

•Identify opportunities to improve vendor management tools, workflows, and reporting 

•Help mature the process as the company grows 

•Leverage technology (including AI tools) to improve efficiency and visibility 

Who You Are 

•3+ years of experience in vendor management, operations, procurement, supply chain, or similar cross-functional environments 

•Demonstrated ability to manage complex workstreams with multiple stakeholders 

•Strong project management skills — you bring clarity, organization, and follow-through 

•A natural relationship builder who can influence without direct authority 

•Comfortable navigating ambiguity and balancing competing priorities 

•Strong written and verbal communicator 

•Curious, systems-oriented, and motivated to continuously improve how things work 

•Personally aligned with high standards of integrity and accountability 

Preferred Attributes 

•Experience in food, agriculture, or complex supply chains 

•Experience working in or with certified B Corporations 

•Commercially minded with strong judgment and pragmatism 

•Comfortable navigating tension between cost, speed, and standards 

•Experience leveraging AI to improve processes, systems, etc. 

Why This Role Matters 

This role is foundational to protecting and advancing the company’s credibility as a pioneer in the meat and seafood industry and ensuring our ability to mitigate risks and identify opportunities through our asset-light business model. By ensuring that commitments are governed with rigor and executed consistently, this role enables the company to lead with integrity—internally and externally. 

We are a mission-driven company and strive to embody our values in every step of the process. ButcherBox is driven by relentless improvement, accountability, humility, and customer obsession. We want our workplace to be one of growth and learning where everyone can be safe/comfortable to show up as their authentic self to work. Anyone who loves our products and goals is welcome here! We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer aspiring to incite positive change in the pastures, the fulfillment centers, the office, and the world.

•Health: medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, an employer-funded HSA, and short & long-term disability benefits

•Financial: 401(k) with generous employer match

•Annual bonus based on company performance

•Time off: unlimited paid time off policy, 20 weeks parental leave, an executive team that encourages a good work/life balance

•Personal growth: Annual Learning & Development stipend, and access to a range of personal and professional coaching solutions through BetterUp

•Food: a free Custom Classic ButcherBox each month and weekly lunch reimbursement

•Others: reimbursement for wellness activities, an exceptional EAP, fertility benefits, life insurance and more