We are looking for an extremely detail-oriented, thorough, organized and experienced individual to join our growing team as our new Senior Manager, Contracts. The Senior Manager of Contracts role will play a key role in managing and drafting contracts while ensuring contracts are fully executed in a timely manner. To be successful in this position, you will need to possess excellent judgment skills and be a critical and analytical thinker. This position will report to the Vice President of Operations.
As a Senior Manager, Contracts on the Operations team, you will…
- Manage the day-to-day responsibilities of contract lifecycle management, including though not limited to: development, research, analyzing risk, negotiation, authoring, processing, routing, tracking, auditing and modifying existing contracts across our portfolio of 8+ companies
- Respond to bids, proposals and contract negotiations
- Analyze all contracts requirements and provisions, including terms and conditions, to ensure compliance with laws, regulations and company policies and procedures
- Provide internal guidance and staff training around contract processes
- Work alongside the finance department to ensure correct billing of contractual revenues
- Develop, maintain and improve standards for contract process, including presentation of budgets, payment terms, general language and provisions
- Engage relevant stakeholders in negotiation decisions involving legal or regulatory requirements and contract standards
- Maintain deadlines on deliverables and follow up with internal and external stakeholders as needed (e.g. prepare status reports on pending contracts, coordinate contract revisions and signatures with third parties)
- Provide administrative support for client audits, oversee required reporting with the U.S. government agencies, general internal compliance and special projects
- Research and stay up-to-date on industry best practices for contract management and support implementation of operational process improvement sorting with U.S. government agencies, general internal compliance and special projects
- Develop and monitor key performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of contract management activities
- Project manage contracts process integrations related to corporate expansion
- Troubleshoot process or contract systems issues, generate Standard Operating Procedures and knowledge sharing documentation
Essential skills:
- 7+ years of prior work experience in contract preparation, negotiation and management, preferably at a public relations, advertising agency or other client services company
- Proven ability to lead a team of contract professionals
- Experience applying organizational standards when developing requests for proposals, negotiating terms and drafting contracts
- Ability to systematically analyze complex problems, draw-relevant conclusions and implement appropriate solutions
- Strong verbal and written skills with the capability to convey and simplify complex information
- Demonstrated analytical, critical thinking and judgment abilities
- Capability to multitask in a high volume environment, prioritize and manage time and deadlines efficiently
- Accurate and precise attention to detail
- Experience reviewing, drafting and negotiating NDAs, MSAs (and similar professional services agreements) and Statements of Work/Work Orders, and familiarity with Retainer and Project based contracts
- Ability to identify term and legal issues for counsel escalation and liaise with counsel to create contract templates, fallback terms, and support contract dispute resolutions proceedings
Preferred skills:
- Juris Doctor (JD) or paralegal certification preferred
- Experience in reviewing, drafting and negotiating SaaS contracts
- Relevant experience with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace and the ability to quickly adapt to new systems or technologies
- Interest in researching and implementing current advances in contracts management technologies