Principal Supplier Manager

Autodesk Autodesk · Enterprise · Bangalore, India

Autodesk is looking for a Principal Supplier Manager to manage their technology supplier landscape, including emerging AI technologies. This role involves developing vendor strategies, leading business reviews, managing RFx processes, monitoring vendor performance, and mitigating risks. The ideal candidate will have experience in technology vendor management, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders. While AI literacy is preferred, the core function is vendor management, not AI development.

What you'd actually do

  1. Develop and execute vendor management strategies aligned to enterprise priorities, enabling resilience, compliance, and cost optimization
  2. Lead executive-level business reviews, performance evaluations, and contract renewals with Autodesk’s technology vendors
  3. Partner cross-functionally on RFx processes, requirements gathering, and supplier evaluations, ensuring risk, compliance, and financial factors are fully considered
  4. Monitor vendor performance, financial health, and SLA/KPI delivery, driving issue resolution and continuous improvement
  5. Anticipate and mitigate risks, including security, operational, and compliance exposures, by building risk management plans and escalation pathways

Skills

Required

  • 5+ years of progressive experience in technology vendor management
  • managing vendor portfolios of increasing complexity across SaaS/PaaS, infrastructure, cloud services, and professional services
  • Proven success managing enterprise-scale professional services vendors
  • Strong negotiation, influencing, and presentation skills
  • Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives
  • Strong knowledge of contract structures, licensing models, and compliance requirements
  • Executive presence, excellent communication skills
  • Bachelor’s degree required

Nice to have

  • Experience managing suppliers in a global, highly regulated technology environment
  • AI literacy and curiosity, the ability to understand how AI tools, models, and platforms can be responsibly leveraged in vendor ecosystems
  • Track record of driving transformational change in vendor or supplier management functions
  • Adaptability, resilience, and creativity in solving complex business problem

What the JD emphasized

  • emerging AI technologies
  • AI literacy and curiosity
  • highly regulated technology environment