Associate Director of IT Vendor Management

About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we don’t just meet the standard for legal excellence — we set it. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to continuous growth. We tackle the most sophisticated legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, powered by the exceptional experience and ambition of our 7,000+ people, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 23 offices worldwide.

Our dedicated professionals share our lawyers’ commitment to excellence and show up each day to do meaningful work that helps drive global business, investment and innovation forward.

• Vendor Strategy & Oversight – Lead the firm’s IT vendor ecosystem, ensuring alignment with technology strategy, service delivery standards, and organizational priorities
• Contract Performance Management – Monitor vendor adherence to service level agreements (SLAs), contracts, and obligations; address performance risks and ensure accountability
• Cross-Functional Leadership – Act as the primary liaison across IT, Procurement, Finance, and vendors to streamline onboarding, governance, and issue resolution
• Financial & Budget Alignment – Partner with stakeholders to track vendor spend, validate financial transactions, and support budgeting and forecasting activities
• Data-Driven Insights – Develop reporting frameworks and analyze vendor performance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for optimization
• Vendor Selection & Market Intelligence – Guide vendor sourcing, evaluation, and selection while staying informed on market trends and competitive solutions
• Portfolio & Inventory Management – Maintain a centralized inventory of IT products and services, identifying duplication, gaps, and consolidation opportunities
• Governance & Performance Frameworks – Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and SLAs, lead governance forums, and drive continuous vendor performance improvement
• Contract Workforce Management – Oversee contract workforce lifecycle processes, including planning, onboarding, tracking, and offboarding
• Process Optimization – Standardize and enhance vendor management workflows, tools, and reporting to improve efficiency, transparency, and compliance
• Team Leadership – Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Monday through Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

• Education – Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Supply Chain, Information Technology (IT), Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Experience – 7+ years in IT, business operations, strategic sourcing, or related fields, including 5+ years managing vendors or supplier relationships
• Vendor & Contract Expertise – Strong knowledge of contract structures (e.g., master service agreements (MSAs), statements of work (SOWs), licensing agreements) and vendor governance practices
• Performance & Metrics Focus – Proven ability to define and manage KPIs and SLAs, using data to drive vendor accountability and improvement
• Financial Acumen – Experience validating invoices, reconciling contracts and purchase orders, and managing vendor-related financial processes
• Systems & Tools Proficiency – Experience with procurement and vendor platforms (e.g., Coupa, Ariba), contract lifecycle management (CLM) tools, and analytics platforms (e.g., Power BI, Tableau)
• Cross-Functional Collaboration – Demonstrated ability to partner effectively across IT, Procurement, Finance, and external vendors
• Process Improvement Mindset – Experience building, standardizing, and optimizing workflows and governance frameworks
• Communication Skills – Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex concepts for diverse audiences
• Organizational Excellence – High attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple vendors, priorities, and work streams simultaneously
• Leadership & Influence – Ability to lead through influence, build strong relationships, and drive alignment across stakeholders

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in each of the…