Senior Procurement Consultant- Professional Services

Proxima; Illinois; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Profit Share bonus

Flexible working

Support for personal development

Job summary

Proxima is looking for a strategic leader in procurement and supply chain to join our dynamic team in the United States. You'll lead sourcing and category management engagements across Professional Services, managing complex negotiations with top firms and mentoring junior team members.

We offer a vibrant, inclusive culture that supports professional growth, flexible working options, and a competitive salary with additional benefits. Join us at Proxima and influence outcomes for our clients while growing your career!

Qualifications

• Experience leading sourcing, category management, or supplier strategy work.
• Strong understanding of commercial models used by professional services providers.
• Ability to challenge incumbent supplier models and identify sources of value.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing and category management engagements across Professional Services.
• Develop sourcing strategies and lead negotiations.
• Mentor junior team members and build category expertise.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

As part of the global leader Bain & Company, Proxima is an award-winning management consultancy specializing in procurement and supply chain. With vibrant offices in London, Leeds, Cardiff, Düsseldorf, Chicago, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney and Melbourne, we offer a dynamic hybrid working model that blends time on client sites, at home, and in your local office.

We are experiencing expansion across all categories, but specifically within Professional Services Procurement, we are seeing significant expansion across the United States. This would be an exciting time to join a team of exceptional people driven to influencing and shaping outcomes for our clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategic sourcing and category management engagements across Professional Services and External Labor, building trusted relationships with stakeholders across procurement, finance, legal, HR, and business leadership
• Partner with senior executives and functional leaders to shape category strategies that balance cost, quality, capability, risk, and flexibility across a diverse portfolio of external service providers
• Analyze spend, demand patterns, supplier concentration, and commercial structures to identify opportunities for cost optimization, supplier rationalization, and improved service delivery
• Develop category and sourcing strategies across a broad range of financial and non-financial services, including consulting, audit-related services, tax, advisory, legal, and contingent labor
• Lead complex commercial negotiations with Big 4 firms, consulting firms, legal providers, staffing suppliers, and other professional services providers, covering fee structures, rate cards, statements of work, markups, rebates, and contractual terms
• Design, implement, and optimize preferred supplier panels and broader supplier ecosystems, establishing clear governance models, performance expectations, and demand management disciplines
• Lead sourcing events and strategic initiatives including RFPs, supplier consolidation, panel redesign, and targeted negotiations to unlock value and improve commercial outcomes
• Provide insight on market dynamics, supplier capabilities, and operating models to support effective decision-making and long-term category development
• Mentor junior team members and help build category expertise, commercial capability, and consulting skillsets across the team

About You

• Experience leading sourcing, category management, or supplier strategy work across Professional Services and External Labor categories
• Strong understanding of the commercial models commonly used by Big 4 firms, consulting firms, staffing suppliers, and other professional services providers, including rate cards, SOW-based pricing, retainers, markups, milestone-based fees, and panel structures
• Experience developing sourcing strategies and leading negotiations across financial and non-financial services categories
• Experience designing, managing, or optimizing preferred supplier panels and supplier governance models
• Strong track record of leading complex, cross-functional stakeholder engagements involving procurement, finance, legal, HR, and business leadership
• Ability to challenge incumbent supplier models, identify sources of value, and drive meaningful improvements in cost, quality, service levels, and governance
• Strong analytical capabilities, including advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills, with the ability to translate data into clear, executive-level insights and recommendations
• Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the presence and credibility to operate effectively in senior-facing environments
• While Professional Services and External Labor will be a core focus, the role is expected to evolve over time into other services categories, and experience across adjacent categories will be viewed favorably

Our culture at Proxima is unique and is what makes us stand out. We are a fun and inclusive company, combining a fast-paced professional environment with a flat structure. Our culture is collaborative and open, where we welcome and support each other’s professional growth. You have the ability to shape and quickly grow your career at Proxima, and we actively progress and promote our people throughout the year. Our people are the driving force of our success and rapid growth. We offer a competitive salary, with an Employee Profit Share bonus and numerous benefits. We also offer flexible working and support toward personal learning and development courses or training. There are also opportunities to work abroad within North America.