Senior Director, Contracts & Risk

Overview:

The Senior Director, Contracts & Risk is responsible for leading enterprise-wide contract strategy and commercial risk management. This role oversees the drafting, negotiation, review, and administration of complex agreements while developing risk mitigation frameworks that protect the organization’s financial, operational, regulatory, and reputational interests.

The position partners closely with Legal, Finance, Procurement, Sales, Operations, Compliance, and Executive Leadership to ensure contracts align with corporate objectives and risk tolerance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead negotiation and execution of complex commercial agreements, including:
  • Vendor and supplier contracts
  • Customer agreements
  • Strategic partnerships
  • Licensing and technology agreements
  • Confidentiality and data protection agreements
• Establish contract standards, templates, workflows, and approval processes.
• Ensure contract compliance with company policies, legal requirements, and industry regulations.
• Oversee contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems and reporting.
• Provide guidance on contractual obligations, liabilities, indemnification, and dispute resolution.
• Develop and maintain enterprise risk management strategies and controls.
• Identify operational, financial, contractual, regulatory, cybersecurity, and reputational risks.
• Assess risk exposure in commercial transactions and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with insurance, compliance, and legal teams on risk transfer and claims management.
• Lead risk assessments for strategic initiatives, acquisitions, and new business ventures.
• Create KPIs, dashboards, and reporting metrics for contract performance and enterprise risk.
• Drive process improvements and operational efficiencies across contract and risk functions.
• Support internal and external audits.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required:

• 10 years of progressive experience in contracts management, risk management, legal operations, procurement, or related functions.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Risk Management, Law, or related field required.

• 5 years in senior leadership roles.
• Experience negotiating high-value, complex commercial agreements.
• Experience developing enterprise risk frameworks and governance processes.

Preferred:

• MBA, JD, JM or professional certification preferred (e.g., CPCM, CRCM, ARM, PMP).

Competencies:

• Strong contract negotiation and analytical skills.
• Deep understanding of commercial risk allocation and mitigation.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and corporate governance.
• Executive-level communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and decision-making abilities.
• Experience with CLM and enterprise risk management systems.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, talk and/or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee occasionally lift and/or move objects/equipment up to 35 pounds.  

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.