IT Category Manager

CME Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 81,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Equity program

Health coverage

401(k) plan

Education reimbursement

Job summary

CME Group in Chicago seeks an IT Category Manager to lead procurement of HR and Finance technology solutions, including enterprise software and SaaS contracts. You will drive competitive bidding, negotiate favorable terms, and align supplier strategies with business needs.

With 3–5+ years in procurement, you will partner with HR, Finance, Legal, and Third Party Risk Management to optimize costs, manage post-buy activities, and maintain governance across the vendor ecosystem.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a procurement or related field.
• 3–5+ years of procurement experience within a corporate environment.
• Experience negotiating enterprise software, SaaS, and implementation contracts.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end technology sourcing for HR and Finance platforms.
• Analyze cost, usage trends, and negotiate favorable terms.
• Manage post-buy activities including invoice vs PO discrepancies.
• Govern supplier governance and quarterly business reviews.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Legal, and Third Party Risk Management.

Skills

Negotiation

Vendor management

Stakeholder collaboration

Procurement processes

Cost analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft 365

Google Workspace

Workday

Job description

The IT Category Manager processes technology contracts and purchases based on departmental needs, focusing primarily on supporting HR and Finance technology solutions (enterprise software, SaaS, and implementation). As a self-starter and proactive problem solver, the IT Category Manager leads successful vendor negotiations by establishing competitive bidding environments, elevating new and incumbent supplier relationships, analyzing cost and usage trends, adhering to procurement policies, and effectively partnering with internal stakeholders across HR, Finance, Legal, and Third Party Risk Management. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential to bridge technical specifications with commercial and contractual terms.

Principal Accountabilities

• Technology & Enterprise Sourcing: Drive end-to-end procurement processes for HR and Finance software, platforms, and related services. Solicit and evaluate domestic and international proposals using negotiation and total cost of ownership.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Problem Solving: Serve as a consultative partner to HR and Finance to understand current and future technical requirements, independently troubleshoot procurement bottlenecks, and recommend optimal vendor strategies.
• Post-Buy & Financial Operations: Manage post-buy functions, including handling complex invoice-versus-PO discrepancies in collaboration with Accounts Payable and Finance.
• Supplier Governance & Relationship Management: Lead supplier governance (quarterly business reviews, scorecards, roadmap alignment), monitor vendor compliance, and evaluate cross-functional processes among procurement, business units, and suppliers.
• Process Optimization: Continuously monitor market trends and identify cost-saving or operational efficiency opportunities across corporate tech stacks. Complete deal summaries and pipeline dashboards as required.

Software & Systems Requirements

• Proficient with Microsoft 365 and/or Google Workspace suite. Required/Preferred: Prior experience with enterprise ERP systems, specifically Workday

Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree 3-5+ years of relevant experience within a procurement organization

Total Rewards & Benefits

#LI-RP1 CME Group is committed to offering a competitive total rewards package for our employees that recognizes their contributions to the business and reflects our long-term investment in their future.

The pay range for this role is $81,100-$135,100. Actual salary offered will be dependent on a wide array of factors including but not limited to: relevant experience, skills, education and comparison to internal employees (where relevant).

• Our compensation program also includes an annual target bonus opportunity for all employees, as well as the opportunity to become an owner in the company through our broad-based equity program.
• Through our benefits program, we strive to offer flexibility, value and choice. From comprehensive health coverage, to a retirement package that includes both a 401(k) and an active pension plan, to highly competitive education reimbursement provisions, paid time off and a mental health benefit, CME Group offers a holistic benefits package for our team and their dependents.

Company Culture & Values

CME Group: Where Futures are Made CME Group is the world’s leading derivatives marketplace. But who we are goes deeper than that. Here, you can impact markets worldwide. Transform industries. And build a career by shaping tomorrow. We invest in your success and you own it – all while working alongside a team of leading experts who inspire you in ways big and small. Problem solvers, difference makers, trailblazers. Those are our people. And we’re looking for more. At CME Group, we embrace our employees' unique experiences and skills to ensure that everyone’s perspectives are acknowledged and valued.

As an equal-opportunity employer, we consider all potential employees without regard to any protected characteristic.

As the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group is where the world comes to manage risk. We enable clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets, optimize portfolios, and analyze data – empowering market participants worldwide to efficiently manage risk and capture opportunities.

CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes based on interest rates, equity indexes foreign exchange energy agricultural products and metals.

We meet uncertainty and volatility with confidence and clarity, across the trading lifecycle and around the world.

Hear more about our employee experience Get a look inside CME Group and see what makes us tick A rewarding career is only the beginning Best Place to Work

Compliance & Legal

For U.S. employment, CME Group is legally required to validate a new hire’s employment eligibility by having them complete an Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) companied with legally acceptable proof of identity and work authorization (as listed on the Form I-9). CME Group uses E-Verify, which is an online system operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility and validate social security numbers. Through participation in the E-Verify program, information entered on Form I-9 will be provided and compared to information available at both of these agencies. See posters below for more details. E-Verify Notice E-Verify Notice Español U.S. Right to Work Notice U.S. Right to Work Notice Español