Dental Products Vendor Relations Manager

Description and Requirements
Location - Virtual but required in-office 1x a month if within 50 miles of a MetLife office.
The Team You Will Join
This new team sits within MetLife's Dental Product organization in the Group Benefits division. It oversees all external vendor partnerships supporting MetLife's dental insurance solutions. These partnerships help maintain a strong provider network, competitive pricing, and a positive experience for employer groups and members by ensuring access to quality care and operational excellence.
The Opportunity
The Dental Products Vendor Relations Manager is responsible for the central oversight, management, and coordination of all external vendor relationships supporting MetLife's Dental Product across the U.S. Guided by our purpose-always with you, building a more confident future-and our New Frontier strategy focused on stronger growth, attractive returns, and all‑weather performance, this role strengthens vendor performance, improves operational execution, and enhances the customer experience.
In this position, you will lead vendor governance, partner with internal teams, and elevate the effectiveness of our dental provider networks and administrative capabilities. You will influence strategic partnerships, deliver cost savings, and help ensure MetLife continues providing exceptional solutions to clients and their employees.
Key Responsibilities
A dedicated MetLife leader responsible for central oversight, management, and coordination of external vendor relationships for Dental Product. Responsibilities include:
Contract & Relationship Management

• Lead contract oversight, compliance, contract change management, and vendor onboarding, including risk assessments.
• Manage corporate-level relationships with domestic and overseas vendors and serve as a primary liaison.

SLA / KPI & Performance Management

• Oversee SLA management, define KPIs, and manage overall performance.

Governance & Operations

• Facilitate governance forums, manage escalations, oversee ongoing monitoring, and coordinate invoice auditing and PO processes.

Operational Management

• Manage day‑to‑day operations, issue resolution, vendor/MetLife requests, and operational continuity.

Forecasting & Strategy

• Lead forecasting and demand planning aligned with business needs.
• Support strategic initiatives, including business cases, requirements gathering, program management, and SOW development for new initiatives.
• Align and coordinate SMEs and process owners for initiatives and issue resolution.

Required Qualifications

• 8-10 years of vendor management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve complex customer/vendor issues while maintaining high satisfaction.
• Proven experience collaborating across departments to achieve business objectives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• 8-10 years of dental industry‑related experience.
• Experience managing team members/direct reports.
• Experience with advanced product/business workflows, systems, and transaction management.

The expected salary range for this position is $84,800 - $140,000. This role may also be eligible for annual short-term incentive compensation. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.
Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World's 25 Best Workplaces™, as well as the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by our core values - Win Together, Do the Right Thing, Deliver Impact Over Activity, and Think Ahead - we're inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!
MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law ("protected characteristics").
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liabilities.
$84,800 - $140,000