Junior Category Manager - Market Data

About Northern Trust:

Northern Trust, a Fortune 500 company, is a globally recognized, award-winning financial institution that has been in continuous operation since 1889.

Northern Trust is proud to provide innovative financial services and guidance to the world’s most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity. With more than 130 years of financial experience and over 22,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

Junior Category Manager – Market Data Brokerage

Role Summary

The Junior Category Manager supports the Market Data Brokerage vendor category, partnering with business units, sourcing leadership, and vendors to execute sourcing strategies, manage contracts and renewals, and deliver cost, risk, and service outcomes. The role requires sound commercial judgment, strong execution skills, and the ability to operate independently on complex engagements under general direction.

This is an individual contributor role with accountability for defined workstreams and opportunities to represent the category in cross‑functional forums.

Key Responsibilities

Business Partnership

• Partner with internal business units to ensure understanding of Enterprise Market Data sourcing processes, governance requirements, and available services
• Maintain regular engagement with stakeholders to support delivery, issue resolution, and service quality
• Translate business requirements into sourcing and commercial actions aligned with policy and market data licensing frameworks

Vendor & Commercial Management

• Support vendor negotiations, renewals, and commercial reviews within the Market Data Brokerage portfolio
• Analyze pricing structures, fee increases, usage models, and contractual terms to inform recommendations
• Assist in development and execution of category strategies focused on cost control, contractual discipline, and vendor risk management

Execution & Delivery

• Independently manage multiple sourcing and contract activities with financial, vendor, and operational impact
• Coordinate contract lifecycle activities, including amendments, renewals, and new engagements
• Ensure documentation, approvals, and decisions align with enterprise governance and compliance standards

Judgment, Influence & Leadership

• Represent the category in working groups, governance discussions, and selected senior‑level interactions
• Serve as a functional subject matter resource for market data brokerage use cases and vendor commercial models

Quality & Decision Support

• Deliver clear, accurate work products that require minimal revision
• Facilitate structured discussions to support decision‑making across business, sourcing, legal, and compliance partners
• Escalate risks, issues, and trade‑offs appropriately, exercising sound judgment

Knowledge & Competencies

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Solid understanding of financial services environments and vendor commercial models
• Working knowledge of sourcing, contract management, and vendor governance processes
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a deadline‑driven environment
• High attention to detail with the ability to synthesize complex information into concise recommendations
• Adaptable to evolving regulatory, commercial, and business requirements

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience required
• 2+ years of experience in financial services, sourcing, procurement, vendor management, or contract management
• Experience supporting or leading vendor negotiations in complex environments
• Familiarity with market data vendors, brokerage‑related use cases, or data consumption models preferred
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with legal, compliance, finance, and business stakeholders

Role Characteristics

• Individual contributor role (not a formal people manager)
• High degree of ownership and accountability
• Exposure to senior stakeholders and complex commercial decisions
• Developmental path toward senior category management or strategic sourcing roles

Salary Range:

$76,760 - 126,730 USD

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Working with Us:

As a Northern Trust partner, greater achievements await. You will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture in an organization where financial strength and stability is an asset that emboldens us to explore new ideas.

Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to assisting the communities we serve! Join a workplace with a greater purpose.

We’d love to learn more about how your interests and experience could be a fit with one of the world’s most admired and sustainable companies! Build your career with us and apply today. #MadeForGreater

Reasonable accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [email protected].

We hope you’re excited about the role and the opportunity to work with us. We value an inclusive workplace and understand flexibility means different things to different people.

Apply today and talk to us about your flexible working requirements and together we can achieve greater.