Associate Specialist, Procurement - Contingent Labor

Northern Trust; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 95,600 - 162,400; Full time

Job summary

Northern Trust is seeking a Senior Procurement professional to manage contingent labor categories and collaborate with technology partners on sourcing and contracting strategies. The role emphasizes data-driven decisions, complex negotiations, and scalable enterprise contracts.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in procurement with Beeline VMS experience, strong communication skills, and a track record of cross-functional leadership in a global context.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain or finance required; MBA preferred.
• 5+ years procurement category management experience with emphasis on contingent labor/professional services.
• Experience with Beeline VMS and MSP environments.
• Strong understanding of procurement best practices.
• Experience driving process improvements and contract awareness (SOWs/MSAs).
• Advanced negotiation skills and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Manage contingent labor category and partner with tech teams on sourcing strategies.
• Analyze vendor data and market trends to advise technology partners on trade-offs and risks.
• Lead RFx, eAuction processes and collect requirements from stakeholders.
• Negotiate commercial terms, SOWs and MSAs with vendors.
• Present negotiation options to partners and management.
• Support forecasting and planning, and scalable contracts for enterprise needs.
• Improve global policies, operations and processes; drive vendor performance initiatives.
• Act as a subject matter expert and handle complex, high-impact activities.

Skills

Vendor management

Beeline VMS

Negotiation

Procurement strategies

Cross-functional collaboration

Advanced Excel

Sourcing

Forecasting

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management or Finance

MBA preferred

Tools

Coupa

Workday

PeopleSoft

MS Office

Job description

Responsibilities

• Contingent labor category management
• Collaborate with technology partners to develop and execute sourcing and procurement strategies
• Analyze industry and vendor data / trends and make recommendations to technology partners about key insights, trade-offs, and risks
• Collect requirements and specifications from technology partners and lead competitive bidding processes (e.g. RFx, eAuctions, etc.)
• Negotiate commercial arrangements, SOWs, and MSAs with vendors
• Present negotiation strategies and opportunities to technology partners and management
• Assist with forecasting / planning processes, demand management, and developing contracts that scale future enterprise needs
• Provide thought‑leadership around improvements of global policies, operations, programs and processes
• Drive vendor quality and performance improvement initiatives and harness vendor innovation ideas
• Serve as a key subject matter expert
• Carry out complex activities with significant financial, client, and/or internal business impacts

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management or Finance (MBA preferred)
• 5+ years of relevant procurement category management experience (emphasis on contingent labor/professional services strongly preferred)
• Previous experience with vendor management system (VMS) Beeline, and working with a Managed Service Provider
• Understanding of procurement best practices
• Experience developing and implementing process improvements
• Experience with Labor Contracts, managed services contracts including large outsourcing contracts is desired, but not required
• Advanced negotiation skills
• Success working with cross functional and diverse teams
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Strong time and project management skills
• Detail‑oriented
• Ability to breakdown complex problems and resolve them through independent research and analysis
• Past experience presenting to executive and senior leadership
• Experience with sourcing and procurement applications, Coupa, Workday, PeopleSoft ERP, MS Office Suite and advanced Excel skills

Salary Range

$95,600 - 162,400 USD

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well‑being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment‑based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H‑1B, L‑1, TN, O‑1, E‑3, H‑1B1, F‑1, J‑1, OPT, CPT or any other employment‑based visa).

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [e-mail], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.