Contract Manager

A Contract Manager is a contract-related practitioner who oversees the contract management process, which include drafting, reviewing, negotiating, executing, and storing contracts.

• Context:
  • They can (typically) develop and implement Contract Management Processes to optimize efficiency and adherence to company policies.
  • They can (typically) use Contract Management Tools to streamline contract creation, execution, and analysis, enhancing operational efficiency.
  • They can (often) ensure that all contracts are stored in a secure Contract Repository, accessible and compliant with legal standards.
  • They can (often) engage in Strategic Planning for high-value contract negotiations to align with organizational goals and legal requirements.
  • They can (often) serve as the primary liaison between the company and third parties during the Contract Negotiation process, ensuring terms are favorable and comply with all regulations.
  • ...
  • They can be involved in Dispute Resolution processes when contractual issues or breaches arise.
  • They can provide training and guidance to other departments on contract-related matters and best practices.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • a Government Contract Manager who specializes in government contracts involving federal government or state government entities, ensuring compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
  • an IT Contract Manager who specializes in information technology contracts related to information technology services and products, ensuring alignment with technological standards and data privacy laws.
  • a Healthcare Contract Manager who specializes in healthcare contracts with healthcare providers, health insurers, and healthcare vendors, ensuring compliance with regulations like HIPAA.
  • a Construction Contract Manager who specializes in construction contracts for construction projects, including agreements with contractors, subcontractors, and construction material suppliers.
  • an International Contract Manager who specializes in international contracts across different countries, navigating various legal systems and cultural norms.
  • an Intellectual Property Contract Manager who specializes in intellectual property contracts related to patents, trademarks, copyrights, and licensing agreements.
  • a Non-Profit Contract Manager who specializes in non-profit contracts for non-profit organizations, ensuring compliance with grant requirements and donor agreements.
  • a Real Estate Contract Manager who specializes in real-estate-related contracts such as for property transactions, property leases, and property management services.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Paralegal Assistants, who provide general legal support but do not typically manage the full contract lifecycle.
  • Lawyers, who may negotiate and draft contracts but do not typically manage the full lifecycle of contracts within an organization.
  • Project Managers, who might oversee specific projects but do not focus exclusively on the legal aspects of contracts.
  • Procurement Specialists, who focus on the purchasing of goods and services but may not handle the legal aspects of contracts.
  • Compliance Officers, who ensure compliance with regulations but do not directly manage contracts.
• See: Contract Lifecycle Management, Deductive Reasoning, Contract Negotiation, Contract Repository, World Commerce & Contracting, Strategic Planning, Dispute Resolution, Public Sector Contracts.

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References

2024

• (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_management#Managerial_functions Retrieved:2024-4-19.
  • In 2008, the International Association for Contract and Commercial Management (IACCM, now World Commerce & Contracting) began a project intended to clarify the role of a contract manager, which has since been updated on several occasions. This work identified that among contract managers themselves, there is a "widespread belief that the title (and its variants, such as Commercial Manager) masks massive variations in job role, status and responsibilities". However, the IACCM's research found indications that "the core responsibilities of Contract Managers (and by deduction, Contract Management Departments) are very similar" and applied across a range of tasks from bid preparation and contract negotiation to a "middleman" role between an organization's employees and its customers, and compliance and ensuring contract close-out, extension or renewal at its end point. IACCM, The Role of a Contract Manager, updated 24 January 2014, accessed 14 May 2021 Scholars in business and management have paid attention to the role of contracts in managing relationships between individuals or between organizations. In particular, contracts work as instruments of control and coordination. On the one hand, contracts can moderate the risks of exploitation or misappropriation by an opportunistic partner. On the other hand, contracts can help foster communication and information sharing between parties.

2024

• [1]
  • QUOTE: "We’re looking for a Senior Contracts Manager to join our Legal Supplier TEAM, reporting to the Director of Supplier Contracts."
  • Responsibilities:
    • In this role, you will:
      • Partner with our Procurement team to ensure legal related contract provisions, such as provisions concerning privacy, intellectual property, employment and compliance issues, are resolved in line with Atlassian standards, with an eye toward providing pragmatic and business-minded solutions.
      • Structure, draft and negotiate key inbound supplier contracts such as consulting, marketing, professional service, SaaS, and data processing agreements.
      • Partner with other Atlassian teams in Finance, Procurement, Risk and Compliance, Security and Legal to ensure contracts are consistent with internal corporate policies and processes.
      • Contribute to various contract process improvement projects, including the creation and updates of legal templates, playbooks, training sessions, and CLM processes.
    • Experience With/knowledge Of The Following Is a Plus:
      • GDPR compliance requirements, such as Data Transfer Impact Assessments.
      • CCPA/CPRA.
      • HIPAA and benefits/HR agreements.
      • AI compliance and contract terms.
      • Working within a contract lifecycle management system, slack, and/or zoom (Jira and Confluence is a plus+).
  • Qualifications:
    • On your first day, we’ll expect you to have:
      • At least 5+ years of experience drafting and negotiating supplier contracts, with an emphasis on technology and data privacy matters (supplier-side GDPR knowledge is a must).
      • BA or BS (J.D. and/or CIPP-E certification is a plus, but not required).
      • Passion and diligence to embrace our business model and Atlassian culture.
      • Ability to collaborate cross functionally and play as a TEAM.

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