Purchasing & Procurement Associate Director (Chicago)

Position SummaryThe Associate Director – Strategic Sourcing is responsible for leading complex sourcing projects, supplier relationships, commercial negotiations, and strategic sourcing initiatives across the organization.In addition to directly managing and delivering sourcing projects, the role provides leadership and operational support across the Strategic Sourcing function, helping sourcing teams successfully deliver projects through effective prioritization, resource allocation, workload balancing, escalation management, capability development, and continuous improvement.The position also drives sourcing transformation, process improvement, and the adoption of technology-enabled solutions to improve efficiency, scalability, and business outcomes.Key ResponsibilitiesLead and deliver complex sourcing projects, supplier negotiations, and strategic sourcing initiatives.Support sourcing managers and sourcing professionals in the successful delivery of sourcing activities and stakeholder engagements.Manage workload allocation, prioritization, and operational delivery across the sourcing team.Act as an escalation point for sourcing, supplier, stakeholder, and delivery challenges.Lead, coach, and develop sourcing professionals to build capability and support career development.Monitor sourcing performance, turnaround times, and resource utilization to support effective service delivery.Lead process improvement and transformation initiatives that improve sourcing effectiveness, efficiency, and stakeholder experience.Support the implementation and adoption of sourcing tools, procurement technology, and AI-enabled capabilities.Build strong relationships with business stakeholders and provide sourcing expertise and commercial guidance.Develop reporting, insights, and recommendations to support operational and strategic decision-making.Required QualificationsBachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, or a related discipline.8+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, or related disciplines.Leadership experience managing sourcing teams or procurement functions.Technology-based commodity experience - software sourcing, a strong plusExperience working within global and matrixed organizations - must have experience navigating complex teams, bringing in cross-functional stakeholders to complete projects.Experience managing sourcing operations, workload planning, prioritization, and service delivery performance.Strong commercial, negotiation, supplier management, and stakeholder management capabilities.Experience leading process improvement, operating model, transformation, or organizational change initiatives.Strong analytical, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by most people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities and requirements.Our Interview PracticesTo maintain a fair and genuine hiring process, we kindly ask that all candidates participate in interviews without the assistance of AI tools or external prompts. Our interview process is designed to assess your individual skills, experiences, and communication style. We value authenticity and want to ensure we’re getting to know you—not a digital assistant. To help maintain this integrity, we ask to remove virtual backgrounds and include in-person interviews in our hiring process. Please note that use of AI-generated responses or third-party support during interviews will be grounds for disqualification from the recruitment process.Applicants may be required to appear onsite at a Wolters Kluwer office as part of the recruitment process.Compensation:$133,400.00 - $238,400.00 USDThis role is eligible for Bonus.Compensation range listed is based on primary location of the position. Actual base salary offer is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skills, experience and actual hiring location. Your recruiter can share more information about the specific offer for the job location during the hiring process. Additional Information:Wolters Kluwer offers a wide variety of competitive benefits and programs to help meet your needs and balance your work and personal life, including but not limited to: Medical, Dental, & Vision Plans, 401(k), FSA/HSA, Commuter Benefits, Tuition Assistance Plan, Vacation and Sick Time, and Paid Parental Leave. Full details of our benefits are available upon request. SummaryLocation: USA - New York City, NY; USA - Coppell, TX; USA - Minneapolis, MN; USA - Austin, TX; USA - Riverwoods, IL; USA - Kennesaw, GA; USA - Chicago, IL, West Adams StType: Full time