Director – Data Centers, Client Sourcing/Procurement (REMOTE)

JLL; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

JLL in Chicago, IL seeks a Divisional Director – Data Centers, Client Sourcing, to drive strategic sourcing excellence across the Data Center portfolio. Lead high-performing teams, align with leadership goals, and deliver sustainable value through disciplined supplier management and strategic vision.

You will partner with Data Center leadership and clients to develop and execute sourcing strategies, manage supplier performance, and grow the business while ensuring compliance and best practices

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) required; MBA preferred.
• 15–20 years of experience in sourcing/procurement.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proven track record leading successful teams in a matrix client organization.
• Travel: approximately 25% (US-based).

Responsibilities

• Build and lead high-performing sourcing teams aligned to Data Center goals.
• Develop and execute Data Center sourcing strategies with market intel and client strategies.
• Manage supplier performance and drive best-in-class outcomes across accounts.
• Collaborate with Data Center leadership and clients to ensure renewal and growth.
• Partner with Managing/Account Directors and Business Development on new opportunities.
• Ensure compliance and controls across Data Center accounts.

Skills

Excellent communication

Leadership

Matrix experience

Travel 25%

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Job description

What this job involves:

The Divisional Director – Data Centers, Client Sourcing leader within the procurement team exists to drive strategic sourcing excellence across JLL's Data Center portfolio, ensuring that transformation and operational excellence happen through disciplined supplier management, strategic vision, and high-performing teams. This leader will be the critical link between Data Center leadership goals, market intelligence, and client-specific sourcing strategies, delivering sustainable value and best-in-class performance. This is a role for someone who runs toward complexity, who gets energy from building high-performing teams, who can balance strategic vision with tactical execution, and who understands that supplier relationships and business outcomes are deeply interconnected.

What this job involves:

The Divisional Director – Data Centers, Client Sourcing leader within the procurement team exists to drive strategic sourcing excellence across JLL's Data Center portfolio, ensuring that transformation and operational excellence happen through disciplined supplier management, strategic vision, and high-performing teams. This leader will be the critical link between Data Center leadership goals, market intelligence, and client-specific sourcing strategies, delivering sustainable value and best-in-class performance. This is a role for someone who runs toward complexity, who gets energy from building high-performing teams, who can balance strategic vision with tactical execution, and who understands that supplier relationships and business outcomes are deeply interconnected.

As Data Center Sourcing Leader, you will serve as the strategic sourcing partner to Data Center leadership and clients, while building and leading a world‑class sourcing organization. You will be responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies that incorporate Data Center leadership goals, market intelligence, subject matter expertise, and individual client strategies. Your remit is fourfold:

Develop and lead high-performing sourcing teams.

• Recruit, develop, rotate, and retain top sourcing talent
• Support the career development of key roles through mentoring and visible leadership
• Create high-performing, integrated sourcing teams that are committed to delivering sustainable operational excellence
• Manage and coach Group Sourcing Leads, Team Leads, and Large Account Leaders on their performance progress and developmental goals including analyzing strengths and areas of opportunity for growth into actionable career development plans
• Actively support supply/demand within the sourcing platform by networking, mentoring, and sharing diverse internal and external candidates
• Develop succession plans for all key roles within the organization
• Foster an inclusive and collaborative team culture

Execute sourcing strategies with excellence.

• Develop Data Center sourcing strategies that incorporate inputs from Data Center leadership goals, market intelligence, S&P subject matter expertise, and individual client strategies
• Ensure the vision and strategy of the client sourcing plans are implemented and aligned with necessary objectives
• Establish and maintain relationships within Americas' Leadership across all business lines
• Proactively manage suppliers to ensure overall performance expectations are met across the associated accounts
• Provide strategic vision for all S&P aspects of business including best practices and innovation
• Effectively develop and lead complex short-term and longer-term sourcing strategies, effectively manage suppliers and internal networks to deliver best-in-class performance

Grows the Business.

• Manage the interaction with sourcing teams across Category Management, Solutions Development, Sourcing Enablement, account, and clients to support the sales process
• Take a visible role as the SME on renewals, expansions, and new business through active partnership with Managing/Account Directors, Solutions Development and Business Development
• Proactively prepare for all client renewals – striving for a no-bid renewal
• Participate in client meetings and yellow pad sessions as needed

Achieves Financial/Compliance Results.

• Identify risks and opportunities to clients/stakeholders and recommend strategies to achieve company goals while mitigating risk
• Continually manage/assess suppliers through the established supplier performance management program

Develops and Leads High Performing Teams

• Recruit, develop, rotate, and retain top sourcing talent
• Support the career development of key roles through mentoring and visible leadership
• Create high-performing, integrated sourcing teams that are committed to delivering sustainable operational excellence
• Manage and coach Group Sourcing Leads, Team Leads, and Large Account Leaders on their performance progress and developmental goals including analyzing strengths and areas of opportunity for growth into actionable career development plans
• Actively support supply/demand within the sourcing platform by networking, mentoring, and sharing diverse internal and external candidates
• Develop succession plans for all key roles within the organization
• Foster an inclusive and collaborative team culture

Execute with Excellence

• Develop Data Center sourcing strategies that incorporate inputs from Data Center leadership goals, market intelligence, S&P subject matter expertise, and individual client strategies
• Ensure the vision and strategy of the client sourcing plans are implemented and aligned with necessary objectives
• Establish and maintain relationships within Americas' Leadership across all business lines
• Proactively manage suppliers to ensure overall performance expectations are met across the associated accounts
• Provide strategic vision for all S&P aspects of business including best practices and innovation
• Effectively develop and lead complex short-term and longer-term sourcing strategies, effectively manage suppliers and internal networks to deliver best-in-class performance

Grows the Business

• Manage the interaction with sourcing teams across Category Management, Solutions Development, Sourcing Enablement, account, and clients to support the sales process
• Take a visible role as the SME on renewals, expansions, and new business through active partnership with Managing/Account Directors, Solutions Development and Business Development
• Proactively prepare for all client renewals – striving for a no-bid renewal
• Participate in client meetings and yellow pad sessions as needed

Achieves Financial/Compliance Results

• Identify risks and opportunities to clients/stakeholders and recommend strategies to achieve company goals while mitigating risk
• Continually manage/assess suppliers through the established supplier performance management program
• Own sourcing compliance and controls across Data Center accounts; identify and develop opportunities for improvement
• Develop and maintain systematic, analytical, and results-based method for savings, monitoring supplier's performance, sourcing effectiveness and communicate these results to the business
• Comply with all JLL and client policies and procedures, including but not limited to ethics and business practice

Required Qualfications:

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) from four-year college or university, MBA preferred
• At least 15-20 years of experience working with sourcing and procurement
• Excellent communication skills – oral and written
• Proven track record leading successful teams of leaders
• Demonstrated experience working in a matrix client organization
• Travel: 25% (US based)

Locations:

• Chicago, IL hybrid (preferred)
• Open to other US locations (remote options)

Competencies

• Collaborative and influential leader – persuasive and instills confidence among stakeholders; significant gravitas to have impact and respect among peer group throughout Work Dynamics
• Collaborative approach – works effectively across a complex matrix organization with a team and firm-first orientation; teams with constituents who vary in approach and style to achieve results
• Company and Industry Knowledge – demonstrated understanding of JLL Work Dynamics, the real estate industry, competitive landscape, and specific industries as applicable
• Influential Communication and Presentation Skills – ability to persuasively engage internal and client stakeholders via formal and informal conversations/presentations to achieve industry goals
• Leadership – engage and inspire proactive collaboration within and outside of S&P organization, build talent, communicate effectively, and build relationships; inspire trust, adapt, and learn
• Client Centric – ability to lead with a focus on client needs to create and deliver on solutions expectations by every measure and are valuable to the client and JLL
• Negotiation Skills – ability to bridge differences to deliver win-win agreements by understanding our value, positions, and points of flexibility
• Transformational leadership – leads change with energy and resilience to propel the business forward; has the courage to make difficult decisions and take calculated risks; adjusts style to accommodate individuals and the various phases of growth
• Strategic and critical thinking – exhibits strong levels of insight and has a reputation as a forward thinker