The Director, Vendor Delivery will lead the strategic and operational management of third-party customer support services, ensuring exceptional experiences for students, educators, and other stakeholders. This role oversees vendor performance, service quality, compliance, and operational efficiency across large-scale, multichannel contact center environments. You will use data-driven insights, performance metrics, and continuous improvement methodologies to optimize service delivery and strengthen accountability. Working closely with internal leaders, program teams, and external partners, you will develop scalable strategies that enhance customer satisfaction and operational excellence. You will also drive workforce performance, quality assurance, and effective escalation management while identifying opportunities to streamline processes. This is an impactful leadership opportunity for a customer-focused professional who enjoys solving complex operational challenges and adopting innovative technologies, including AI-driven solutions. The position is remote within the United States, with occasional travel for business meetings and vendor collaboration.
Performance Management and Process Excellence
Oversee third-party vendor performance against service-level agreements (SLAs), key performance indicators (KPIs), staffing targets, and contractual requirements.
Monitor contact volumes, average handling time, abandonment rates, workforce utilization, occupancy, and other operational metrics to identify trends and improve results.
Establish quality controls, audits, and compliance checkpoints to ensure accurate, complete, and effective customer interactions and escalations.
Analyze performance data and quality assurance findings to identify improvement opportunities, address agent-level performance gaps, and implement targeted coaching plans.
Apply continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean and Six Sigma principles, to optimize workflows and achieve measurable operational outcomes.
Manage operational risks, develop contingency plans, and maintain service continuity as policies, eligibility requirements, and customer needs evolve.
Support budget alignment and oversee vendor incentive and penalty structures in accordance with contractual expectations.
Operational Leadership and Vendor Delivery
Direct the delivery of third-party customer support operations, ensuring consistent, high-quality service across Tier 1 and Tier 2 support channels.
Lead vendor teams in meeting performance goals through effective coaching, quality monitoring, performance reviews, and structured improvement plans.
Oversee quality assurance reviews, operational documentation, business reviews, and performance improvement roadmaps.
Collaborate with training and learning development leaders to implement coaching strategies and training programs tailored to agent needs.
Conduct root cause analyses and coordinate corrective actions to resolve recurring service issues and improve operational effectiveness.
Ensure escalations to specialized support teams are justified, accurate, complete, and properly documented, minimizing avoidable rework.
Leverage analytics, enterprise systems, and automation tools to improve productivity, operational visibility, and service scalability.
Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Communication
Serve as a subject matter expert and strategic partner for vendor teams, providing guidance on complex operational and customer service challenges.
Build strong relationships with internal leaders, program stakeholders, external vendors, and cross-functional partners.
Communicate performance results, escalation trends, risks, and improvement plans clearly to leadership and relevant stakeholders.
Align vendor operations with broader organizational objectives, customer experience standards, and program requirements.
Coordinate cross-functional initiatives to address customer needs, strengthen accountability, and deliver consistent service outcomes.
Explore and implement innovative solutions, including AI-enabled tools, to improve contact center performance and customer engagement.