Procurement Director, Global Spend Management

Aon is in the business of better decisions—shaping them to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. As part of an industry-leading Global Spend Management (GSM) team, you will deliver innovative and effective sourcing solutions for clients.

This role is based in either downtown Chicago (2–3 days per week in-office) or London.

About the role

As Director of Procurement, you will lead global category strategy and execute sourcing initiatives to deliver best overall value for the firm while maintaining quality and managing risk through well-structured contracts. You will partner closely with business and functional leaders, applying enterprise sourcing and procurement policies to meet internal stakeholder requirements. The role involves independently leading cross-functional teams through the strategic sourcing process for complex, high-impact initiatives across a range of spend categories.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of advanced sourcing strategies for assigned categories, including long-range objectives, performance goals, and clear metrics.
• Build and manage multi-year category roadmaps, opportunity pipelines, and performance dashboards that drive value, resilience, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Independently lead complex sourcing, RFP, and negotiation efforts, balancing value, risk, stakeholder priorities, and long-term category strategy.
• Act as a primary procurement partner to senior business and functional leaders (e.g., Finance, Legal, Privacy, Operations) by translating business needs into sourcing approaches that enable outcomes.
• Manage supplier relationships for assigned categories, aligning supplier goals and performance with business objectives and holding suppliers accountable for results.
• Champion supplier diversity objectives, engaging diverse suppliers directly or via prime suppliers’ subcontracting and tiered-sourcing commitments.
• Stay engaged in periodic supplier reviews to identify opportunities, address issues early, verify performance against contractual commitments, and proactively plan renewals, extensions, or transitions.
• Draft and negotiate business and commercial contract language of above-average complexity in collaboration with legal and functional partners.
• Support internal clients in building alignment and consensus on recommendations, then drive timely execution, communication, and implementation/transition activities.
• Assess financial, operational, and risk implications of sourcing options and make sound trade-off decisions tied to business outcomes.
• Leverage leading-edge tools and technologies, including AI-enabled solutions, to improve speed, insight, and quality of procurement work.

Key behaviors

• Curiosity: Deeply understand markets, suppliers, and stakeholder needs; continuously scan for new ideas and better ways of working.
• Action orientation: Move initiatives forward with urgency and discipline, removing barriers and delivering on commitments.
• Accountability: Own category results, supplier performance, and stakeholder satisfaction end-to-end.
• Flexibility and priority management: Adapt quickly to changing business needs, confidently re-prioritize work, and manage time to deliver on critical outcomes first.
• Continuous improvement: Proactively identify and implement process, cost, and value enhancements across categories and ways of working.
• Effective stakeholder partnering: Build trusted relationships, challenge constructively, and co-create solutions that balance short-term needs and long-term strategy.

Requirements

• 8–10+ years of progressive procurement and strategic sourcing experience across one or more enterprise spend categories, including substantial experience with complex contracts and key supplier relationships.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Ability to work in a geographically diverse workplace.
• Excellent presentation, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Strategic thinking with tactical execution to drive results.
• Experience working with all levels of management, including C-level executives.
• Strong negotiation and world-class supplier relations skills.
• Some travel required.
• Excellent people management skills.

Pay

The salary range for this position (U.S. applicants) is $140,000 – $165,000 annually. The actual salary will vary based on education, experience, skills, internal equity, and geographic location. The range reflects a primary work location of Chicago, Illinois, and may differ for other locations. This role is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus under one of Aon’s incentive plans.

Benefits

Aon offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time and regular part-time colleagues, including:

• 401(k) savings plan with employer contributions.
• Employee stock purchase plan.
• Consideration for long-term incentive awards.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Various types of leaves of absence, including 12 paid holidays, 15 days of paid vacation, and paid sick leave as provided under state/local laws.
• Short-term disability and optional long-term disability coverage.
• Health savings account, health care, and dependent care reimbursement accounts.
• Employee and dependent life insurance, supplemental life, and AD&D insurance.
• Optional personal insurance policies.
• Adoption assistance, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, and an employee assistance program with free counseling sessions.

Eligibility for benefits is governed by applicable plan documents and policies.