Contracts Manager

The Contracts Manager is responsible for managing an assigned portfolio of customer and vendor contracts throughout the contract lifecycle, including contract review, risk assessment, negotiation, drafting, revision, execution coordination, and ongoing contract administration.
The position serves as a primary point of contact for contract-related matters within an assigned portfolio and collaborates closely with senior management, sales, operations, finance, and customers to facilitate efficient contract execution while protecting Company interests.
The Contracts Manager must exercise sound business judgment, identify contractual and commercial risks, recommend practical solutions, and escalate matters when appropriate. The role requires the ability to manage multiple priorities, work in a fast-paced environment, and maintain high standards of accuracy and responsiveness.
Our larger customers expect us to sign their contract forms, which require careful review and editing to protect our interests. Some of these edits will require negotiation with the customer to resolve. Other customers make edits to our standard contracts, which require careful review. Contract manager must be comfortable on making calls on the risk of losing a project versus the risk to the company of a given set of customer proposed contract terms and be skillful at making arguments to customers as to why fair contract terms are in both companies interests. Often the contract drafting and negotiations are being handled under time pressure to keep up with upcoming project schedules and the Contracts Manager must be able to juggle multiple priorities and able to accommodate occasional periods of high workload.

Responsibilities:

• Primary responsibility is the management, review, negotiation, drafting, and administration of contracts and contract-related documentation within an assigned contracts portfolio.
• Review customer, vendor, subcontract, confidentiality, service, rental, and liability provisions to identify and mitigate risk.
• Negotiate contract terms directly with customers, vendors, and their representatives within established Company guidelines.
• Draft contract language, amendments, addenda, notices, and other contract-related documents.
• Provide contract guidance and risk assessments to internal stakeholders, including sales, operations, project personnel, finance, and management.
• Ensure contract terms are compliant with Company policies, approved risk positions, and business objectives.
• Coordinate contract execution and maintain accurate contract records throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Track contract status, approvals, correspondence, amendments, renewals, notices, and other key contractual obligations.
• Maintain organized electronic contract files and contract management records.
• Protect company interests and effectively communicate the same to the sales team and/or customers during negotiations over contract terms.
• Analyze and mitigate risk in contracts and contract-related documents.
• Support proposal preparation and pre-award contract review activities.
• Prepare and distribute contract status updates, reports, and performance metrics.
• Identify issues requiring management review and escalate matters to the Director of Contracts in a timely manner.
• Work closely with sales personnel regarding customer contract requirements and project-specific contractual matters.
• Assist internal departments with interpretation of contract provisions and resolution of contract-related issues.
• Support billing, collections, insurance, operations, and other business functions as contract terms require.
• Participate in process improvement initiatives and implementation of contract management best practices.
• Utilize contract lifecycle management technologies and AI-supported contract review tools, where applicable, to improve efficiency and consistency.
• Perform special projects and related assignments as directed.
• Occasional travel to a branch offices, project locations, customer locations, or industry events may be required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
Essential:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required.
• Minimum five (5) years of direct contract management, contract administration, contract negotiation, or related commercial contracting experience.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing, negotiating, and managing commercial contracts with limited supervision.
• Strong understanding of contract terms and conditions, including indemnity, insurance, limitation of liability, payment, termination, dispute resolution, and related risk allocation provisions.
• Excellent written, verbal, negotiation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail.
• Ability to manage a high-volume contracts portfolio and prioritized competing deadlines.
• Proficiency with: Microsoft 365 Applications, Salesforce, SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat, Docusign.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records, reports, and contract files.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and appropriately escalate complex issues.
• Must be able to pass a drug test, background check, and fit for duty test.

Preferred:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
• Experience supporting construction, equipment rental, industrial services, transportation, or related industries.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating customer-drafted contracts.
• Experience with AI-supported contract review platforms, including tools such as Spellbook, Evisort, ContractPodAi, Ironclad AI, Legora, or similar technologies.
• Knowledge of commercial contracting principles, contract lifecycle management processes, and applicable business regulations.