Manager, Procurement & Strategic Vendor Management

Dentons US LLP is currently recruiting for a Procurement & Strategic Vendor Management (SVM) Manager. Chicago is the preferred location; however, strong candidates in other locations will also be considered.  This position works with all vendors to ensure that proper set up and purchasing policies are implemented throughout the Firm; to negotiate favorable contracts for the Firm on all key vendor relationships;

manage the Firm's relationships with internal and external resources as it relates to the vendor set up and maintenance process, and partner with our vendors to ensure good relations from a financial and operational perspective.  This position reports to the Senior Director, Financial Programs.

Responsibilities Procurement & Strategic Sourcing Develop, lead and execute procurement strategies

Provide broad direction and delegate objectives for multiple SVM and procurement disciplines

Perform all procurement and contracting activities including pre-qualification, negotiation and preparation of contracts working with assigned lead team Assist in managing transitional career and learning opportunities for SVM and Procurement team Drive best purchasing practices across Dentons US departments while leveraging best business processes to achieve measurable invoice routing

Analyze firmwide spending data to identify consolidation opportunities, cost savings, standardization opportunities, and supplier risk Develop and report procurement KPIs, including cost savings, cost avoidance, contract compliance, supplier performance, procurement cycle time, and risk mitigation metrics

Direct end-to-end RFI and RFP assessment processes, collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to define requirements, evaluate proposals, and establish vendor rankings

Contract Lifecycle Management Lead negotiation of master service agreements, statements of work, licensing agreements, and purchasing contracts

Manage vendor life cycle: on-boarding through off-boarding

Identify opportunities beyond current scope of work to improve process flow Drive seamless purchasing process and efficiencies through process

Develop key relationships with business stakeholders and strategic supply partners to strengthen the Firm’s standing Manage all key contracts tracked in the Contract Management System for renewals to ensure there are no lapsed contracts and renewals are negotiated to obtain best price and services

Vendor Management Develop, manage and execute all key vendor relationships and contracts, negotiate favorable pricing

Oversee supplier onboarding, performance monitoring, contract compliance, and renewal management.

Analyze vendor activity, research "Best in Class" vendors to provide needed sourcing and recommend key vendor relationships

Conduct business review meetings with key stakeholders to assess risk, review future strategies and identify potential savings and improvements

Provide quarterly reviews for management on purchasing savings, risk assessments

Collaborate with global procurement team members when Dentons US is included in global contracts and/or other requests for proposals

Process Improvement & Technology Identify opportunities to streamline procurement workflows and improve purchasing efficiency

Implement and manage procurement technologies, contract repositories, supplier databases, and reporting tools

Develop dashboards and reporting capabilities providing visibility into spending patterns, supplier performance, and savings results

Maintain real time awareness of vendor performance, deadline management for supplier and contract renewal opportunities, and maintain and enhance the Firm’s vendor experience wherever possible

Champion continuous improvement initiatives across the procurement lifecycle

Other duties…