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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # VP Procurement - Technology And Digital - **Company:** Northwestern Mutual - **Location:** Milwaukee, WI, United States - **Salary:** $176,000 - $264,000 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Software as a Service, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, E-Procurement, IT Management, Procurement Software - **Published:** November 3, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.careerbuilder.com/job-details/vp-procurement-technology-and-digital-milwaukee-wi--4f37068a-fa06-45b3-8bc0-d5e05c5352d8 ## About the Role Procurement Software, Negotiation Skills, Procurement Strategy, Alliance/Partner Management, Finance, Technical Leadership, Purchasing/Procurement, Vendor/Supplier Planning, Vendor/Supplier Sourcing, Procurement Software, * 15+ years of experience in technology procurement, sourcing, or vendor management. * Proven experience partnering with CIOs/CDOs and senior IT leaders at an enterprise level. * Deep understanding of modern technology ecosystems, cloud platforms, AI, and digital transformation. * Strong executive presence with exceptional negotiation and relationship-management skills. * Experience operating in complex and matrixed organizations. * Experience in insurance, financial services, banking, and/or investment firms preferred. ## Description The Vice President of Finance for Technology and Digital Procurement leads enterprise-wide sourcing, vendor strategy, and commercial negotiations across technology domains, with a strong emphasis on building and sustaining strategic relationships with CIO/CDO and senior technology leaders. This role acts as a trusted partner to IT leadership, aligning procurement strategy with technology roadmaps, innovation goals, and business outcomes., Strategic CIO/CDO Partnership * Serve as the primary procurement strategic partner and day-to-day relationship leader for the CIO, CDO, and senior technology executives. * Partner with IT leaders to translate technology strategy and roadmaps into multi-year category strategies, sourcing plans, and vendor ecosystem decisions. * Build and sustain executive-level trust through proactive engagement, transparent governance, and clear articulation of value, risk, and tradeoffs. * Shape technology demand and investment decisions by leading early engagement and intake with IT teams-clarifying business outcomes, requirements, timelines, and budget assumptions before sourcing begins. * Establish and run joint operating rhythms with CIO/CDO organizations (quarterly business reviews, pipeline reviews, and steering committees) to drive decisions, remove blockers, and maintain alignment. * Define shared success metrics with IT (cost, time-to-contract, risk posture, service performance, innovation outcomes) and provide executive-ready reporting on progress and realized value. * Broker alignment across IT, Finance, Legal, Risk, Privacy, and Information Security to ensure deals are executable and balanced across value, compliance, and operational constraints. * Own executive escalation paths and conflict resolution for sourcing decisions, supplier performance issues, and commercial disputes-ensuring fast, well-governed outcomes. * Bring external market intelligence to CIO/CDO leaders (pricing benchmarks, contract terms, emerging vendors, platform shifts) and curate executive-level vendor engagement to accelerate innovation and modernization. * Lead change management for new procurement operating models, standards, and policies within technology teams through stakeholder communications, training, and adoption measurement. * Establish and manage business facing service level agreements, OKRs, and KPIs that drive success for EE&T. Technology Procurement Leadership * Set the enterprise technology procurement vision and multi-year strategy across software, cloud, infrastructure, SaaS, data, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies-aligned to CIO/CDO priorities and business outcomes. * Own technology commercial governance and portfolio outcomes, including executive prioritization, financial stewardship (budget impact, TCO), and risk posture across major programs and strategic suppliers. * Lead (and when appropriate, personally conduct) the most complex, high-value negotiations and approvals-setting deal strategy, ensuring contract structures and commercial models (subscription, consumption-based, enterprise agreements) protect the enterprise and enable speed, innovation, and scalability. Supplier Lifecycle Management * Define and lead the enterprise technology supplier lifecycle strategy including segmentation, preferred partner models, and build/buy/partner recommendations. * Establish executive governance with strategic suppliers through joint business planning and QBRs-driving roadmap alignment, performance commitments, innovation agendas, and supplier issue resolution. * Optimize enterprise value while managing concentration, operational, and third-party risk-ensuring resilience, contractual protections, and exit/transition readiness across critical vendors. * Architect a healthy vendor ecosystem by maintaining competitive tension, commercial optionality, and a clear rationalization roadmap (standardization, consolidation, and strategic diversification where needed). Governance & Value Realization * Establish procurement governance aligned with EE&T operating models and agile delivery. * Track and communicate total value delivered (cost savings, risk reduction, innovation enablement). * Ensure compliance with legal, security, and regulatory requirements. Leadership & Influence * Lead and develop a high-performing technology procurement team. * Influence senior stakeholders across IT, finance, legal, and business units. * Act as a change leader modernizing procurement practices and operating models.