Senior Manager – Contract Negotiation

Job Description: Senior Manager – Contract Negotiation

Work Location

Atlanta, GA | 191 Peachtree Street.

Overview

The Senior Manager – Contract Negotiation leads the development, negotiation, and execution of complex commercial agreements that support the organization’s strategic, financial, and operational goals. This role partners closely with Legal, Finance, Procurement, Sales, and Executive Leadership to structure deals, mitigate risk, and ensure contractual outcomes that protect the company while enabling business growth. The ideal candidate is a persuasive communicator, a strategic thinker, and a skilled negotiator with deep experience managing high-value contracts.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Strategy & Leadership

• Lead end-to-end negotiation of high-value, complex commercial contracts, including master service agreements, vendor contracts, licensing agreements, and strategic partnerships.
• Develop negotiation strategies that balance business objectives, risk tolerance, and long-term relationship value.
• Serve as the primary point of escalation for contract issues, disputes, and high-stakes negotiations.
• Advise senior leadership on contract structures, risk exposure, and deal viability.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Legal to ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual, and corporate policy requirements.
• Work with Finance to model deal economics, evaluate pricing structures, and assess financial impact.
• Collaborate with Procurement, Sales, and Operations to align contract terms with business needs and operational capabilities.
• Communicate negotiation progress, risks, and recommendations to executive stakeholders.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Identify, assess, and mitigate contractual risks across legal, financial, operational, and reputational dimensions.
• Ensure all agreements adhere to internal governance standards and approval workflows.
• Maintain a deep understanding of industry regulations, market trends, and best practices in contract management.
• Owns and drives the company’s Risk Screen process to identify and resolve T&C issues within contracts.

Process Optimization

• Develop and refine negotiation playbooks, templates, and standard terms to improve efficiency and consistency. Examples include—but are not limited to—leveraging precedents set in Risk Screens and applying them to other contracts in order to shorten deal negotiation cycles.
• Implement best practices for contract lifecycle management (CLM) and documentation.
• Mentor and guide junior team members on negotiation tactics and contract interpretation.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Law, Finance, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 8–12+ years of experience in contract negotiation, strategic sourcing, commercial operations, or legal/commercial management.
• Proven track record negotiating complex, high-value agreements.
• Strong understanding of contract law, commercial terms, and risk management principles.
• Exceptional communication, persuasion, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity in fast-moving environments.

Preferred

• Master’s degree or JD (not required but advantageous).
• Experience in a regulated industry (technology, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, etc.).
• Familiarity with CLM systems and contract analytics tools.
• Leadership experience managing negotiation teams or cross-functional deal teams.

Success Profile

A successful Senior Manager – Contract Negotiation is:

• Strategically minded and commercially savvy
• Calm and confident under pressure
• Skilled at balancing assertiveness with relationship-building
• Detail-oriented without losing sight of the big picture
• Comfortable influencing executives and guiding complex decisions