Manager, Procurement & Vendor Management

Acadian Asset Management LLC is a Boston-headquartered investment management firm with wholly owned affiliates located in Singapore, London, and Sydney. As of September 30, 2024, the firm managed approximately US$120 billion on behalf of major pension funds, endowments, foundations, governments and other investors based in the U.S. and abroad.

Position Overview:

This role will be a leader on the Procurement team with a focus on technology, professional services, and investment data spend categories. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in procurement processes with proven experience in sourcing technology solutions and investment-related data services, with the ability to ‘dig into the details’ as well as think strategically. This role involves working closely with the Director of Procurement and key stakeholders to manage vendor relationships, negotiate contracts, and ensure efficient procurement operations that align with the firm's strategic objectives.

Acadian supports a hybrid work environment, employees are on-site in the Boston office 3 days a week.

What You’ll Do: 

• Develop and execute procurement strategies that support the organization’s goals, with a particular emphasis on technology platforms, professional services agreements, and investment data services.
• Identify potential cost-saving opportunities and ensure alignment with the overall procurement and budgetary strategy.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with technology and investment data service providers while ensuring service quality and compliance with contractual terms.
• Lead the end-to-end sourcing process for services, technology, and investment data, including RFPs, RFQs, and vendor selection.
• Negotiate contracts, service agreements, and licensing arrangements to achieve favorable terms for the organization.
• Play a key role with the procure-to-pay and contract renewal process ensuring timeliness and efficiency.
• Work closely with legal teams to review contract terms and mitigate potential risks.
• Partner with investment, IT, global client service, compliance, and operations teams to understand and address procurement needs.
• Act as a key liaison between internal teams and external suppliers, facilitating communication and ensuring stakeholder requirements are met.
• Work closely with finance and department heads to help manage vendor spend and budgeting.
• Continuously review procurement processes, leading the implementation of improvements to enhance efficiency and compliance, utilizing technology and automation where applicable.
• Stay informed on industry trends, emerging technologies, and procurement best practices to keep the organization competitive.

We’re Looking for Teammates With: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a business related field. A master’s degree or relevant certifications (e.g., CIPS, CPSM) is a plus.
• Minimum 5-7 years of procurement experience in the investment management or financial services industry, with a focus on technology and investment data categories.
• Team player with strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Ability to diplomatically influence stakeholders to make decisions and execute with their support.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines in a fast paced environment.
• Familiarity with market data providers, financial information platforms, and IT infrastructure relevant to the investment industry.
• Business knowledge including robust understanding of business use cases, vendor product offerings, contract terms, and contract execution.
• Ability to negotiate complex licensing and pricing models with the ability to suggest sourcing and contracting alternatives.
• Efficient with Microsoft Office applications and procurement software. Concur and Conga Contracts a plus.