Contracts Manager

Norstella Group; India; Remote; INR 2,500,000 - 4,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Norstella Group is seeking a highly skilled Contracts Manager to oversee the full spectrum of contract negotiations, drafting, and lifecycle management. You will report to the Head of Contract Management and influence senior stakeholders across sales, procurement, and operations.

The role requires 7–10 years of experience in complex corporate contracts, strong knowledge of US/UK law, and exceptional negotiation and risk‑management skills.

Qualifications

• Law or related degree; advanced degree preferred.
• 7–10 years in a complex corporate legal environment with high‑value contracts.
• Experience with US or UK law; regulatory compliance.
• Strong leadership and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Experience with contract lifecycle management systems.
• Excellent negotiation, risk management and advisory skills.
• Fluent English, written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic contract negotiations for complex commercial agreements.
• Advise senior stakeholders on legal and commercial issues impacting operations.
• Manage end‑to‑end contract lifecycle from negotiation to renewal.
• Design and deliver training on negotiation strategy and risk management.
• Identify and mitigate contractual risks and regulatory compliance gaps.
• Collaborate with Head of Contract Management, Legal Counsel and leadership.
• Streamline processes to accelerate contract cycles while preserving quality.
• Lead dispute resolution and provide practical legal guidance on obligations.

Skills

Contract negotiations

Cross‑functional leadership

Contract lifecycle management

Regulatory compliance

Risk assessment

Negotiation strategy

MS Office

Communication skills

Education

Law degree

Advanced law degree

Business background

Tools

MS Office

Contract lifecycle management systems

Job description

At Norstella, our mission is simple: to help our clients bring life-saving therapies to market quicker—and help patients in need.

Founded in 2022, but with history going back to 1939, Norstella unites best-in-class brands to help clients navigate the complexities at each step of the drug development life cycle —and get the right treatments to the right patients at the right time.

Each organization (Citeline, Evaluate, MMIT, Panalgo, The Dedham Group) delivers must-have answers for critical strategic and commercial decision-making. Together, via our market-leading brands, we help our clients:

• Citeline – accelerate the drug development cycle
• Evaluate – bring the right drugs to market
• MMIT – identify barrier to patient access
• The Dedham Group – think strategically for specialty therapeutics

By combining the efforts of each organization under Norstella, we can offer an even wider breadth of expertise, cutting-edge data solutions and expert advisory services alongside advanced technologies such as real-world data, machine learning and predictive analytics.

As one of the largest global pharma intelligence solution providers, Norstella has a footprint across the globe with teams of experts delivering world class solutions in the USA, UK, The Netherlands, Japan, China and India.

Job Description:

We are seeking a highly skilled and strategically-minded Contracts Manager to oversee and manage the full spectrum of contract negotiations, drafting, and lifecycle management. Reporting directly to the Head of Contract Management, you will be responsible for driving complex commercial contracts across various verticals, including high-stakes customer agreements, vendor contracts, and intricate licensing and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

This role is integral to managing and mitigating legal risks across the organization, ensuring that all contractual matters align with business objectives while maintaining legal and regulatory compliance. The Senior Contracts Manager will act as a key advisor, working collaboratively with senior stakeholders and legal experts to influence decision‑making and streamline processes that will impact the company’s bottom line.

Responsibilities:

As the Contracts Manager, you will assume the following responsibilities:

• Strategic Contract Negotiations: Lead, manage, and negotiate highly complex commercial contracts with minimal oversight, ensuring that key business objectives are met while minimizing risk. Contracts include sales agreements, vendor contracts, strategic partnerships, licensing agreements, and more.
• Cross‑functional Leadership: Serve as a legal advisor to key business leaders, providing strategic counsel on complex legal and commercial issues that impact business operations, profitability, and growth. Navigate multi‑departmental input and execute high‑level negotiations that balance risk and reward.
• Contract Lifecycle Management: Implement advanced contract management processes and systems. Oversee the entire contract lifecycle, from negotiation to execution and renewal, ensuring all contracts comply with internal policies and external regulations.
• Training and Development: Design and deliver training for management, internal teams (e.g., sales, procurement, and operations), and external stakeholders on advanced contract negotiation strategies, risk management, and compliance requirements. Ensure knowledge transfer to enhance organizational capabilities in contract management.
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation: Take proactive measures to identify potential risks in contractual terms and advise on necessary strategies to mitigate such risks. Develop and implement risk mitigation protocols and strategies in collaboration with other senior stakeholders.
• Internal Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with the Head of Contract Management, Legal Counsel, General Counsel, and other senior executives to develop internal policies and best practices for contract negotiation, ensuring that contracts align with corporate strategy and protect the company’s interests.
• Process Optimization: Continuously analyze and refine the contract negotiation and management processes to ensure maximum efficiency, and enhance overall compliance. Drive process innovation that accelerates contract cycles without compromising quality.
• Dispute Resolution and Legal Advisory: Lead the resolution of complex contractual disputes, working with the legal team and senior leadership to devise strategies that protect the company’s interests while fostering positive business relationships. Provide sound legal and commercial advice on contractual obligations, potential breaches, and enforcement.
• Compliance and Regulatory Oversight: Ensure that all contracts adhere to relevant local, regional, and international regulations. Stay updated on industry trends, legal developments, and compliance requirements to ensure the organization’s contracts remain legally sound and business‑focused.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Reporting: Act as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders in the contracting process. Prepare and deliver reports, updates, and legal insights to senior leadership on contractual risks, opportunities, & performance metrics.

Qualifications:

• A degree in Law, Business, or a related field preferred (Advanced Law degree strongly preferred)
• At least 7-10 years of relevant experience in a complex corporate legal environment, with a proven track record in negotiating high-value and high-complexity commercial contracts, regulatory matters, and corporate governance
• Expertise in key legal domains including corporate law, commercial contracts, licensing agreements, dispute resolution, data protection, and regulatory compliance of United States or United Kingdom law required
• Strong leadership capabilities, driving strategic decision‑making, and influencing cross‑functional collaboration
• In‑depth experience with contract lifecycle management systems and advanced tools for tracking, managing, and reporting on contracts
• Exceptional negotiation skills with the ability to manage challenging and high‑stakes situations, resolving complex issues with innovative solutions
• Proficiency in risk management strategies, contract law, corporate compliance, and legal best practices
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders effectively
• Understanding of United States or United Kingdom law required
• Full professional proficiency in English, both written and verbal, is essential. Preference will be given to candidates with an official language proficiency certification (e.g. ACTFL or CEFR rating of Advanced (B2 or higher))
• Proficiency in MS Office required
• Strong organizational skills with an ability to prioritize tasks, meet tight deadlines, and manage high‑pressure situations while ensuring quality and compliance
• Work Hours: Availability to work 8:30 am to 5:30 pm EST (6:00 PM IST to 3:00 AM IST} , with flexibility for occasional out‑of-hours work based on project deadlines and stakeholder requirements
• Ability to handle a large portfolio of complex contracts while maintaining a high level of attention to detail
• Strong ability to think commercially and offer practical legal advice that aligns with the company’s strategic goals

Preferred:

• Experience in a high-growth or scaling technology company where product operations was built from early stages.
• Background in healthcare IT, life sciences, or enterprise SaaS.
• Familiarity with OKR frameworks and experience running planning cycles across multiple product teams.
• Prior experience as a product manager — you understand what PMs need because you have been one.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in business, engineering, information systems, or a related field.

Our Guiding Principles for success at Norstella:

• 02: Integrity, Truth, Reality
• 03: Kindness, Empathy, Grace
• 04: Resilience, Mettle, Perseverance
• Reimbursement of Certification Expenses

Norstella is an equal opportunity employer. All job applicants will receive equal treatment regardless of race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy‑related conditions), marital or domestic partner status, military or veteran status, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, reproductive health decision making, or any other protected characteristic as established by federal, state, or local law.

Sometimes the best opportunities are hidden by self-doubt. We disqualify ourselves before we have the opportunity to be considered. Regardless of where you came from, how you identify, or the path that led you here- you are welcome. If you read this job description and feel passion and excitement, we’re just as excited about you.