Contracts Manager

Allen Institute; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 154,000; Full time

Job summary

The Allen Institute is seeking a Contracts Manager to lead and optimize the contracts program, manage the full lifecycle, and implement CLM technology and AI-driven improvements. This role will draft, negotiate, and standardize agreements while guiding contract specialists to deliver high-quality support across the organization.

Ideal candidates will have a strong background in contract law principles, staff supervision, and experience with CLM platforms, Microsoft Office 365, and SharePoint.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Minimum 6 years' experience managing contracts for a small to mid-size organization.
• Experience managing a contracts lifecycle management platform.
• Experience supervising staff and leading cross-functional projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the point of contact and subject matter expert for the Contracts Program.
• Organize and manage the Contracts Program for optimal performance for the Institute.
• Administer a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) platform, including maintaining the contracts playbook, form libraries, running reports, and optimizing automated workflows and templates.
• Draft, maintain, and regularly update all related contract program documentation, including processes, templates, playbooks, and other materials.
• Identify and implement process improvements by leveraging technology and AI tools that enable scalable and efficient contract management.
• Set and monitor SLAs for contracting activities.
• Draft and negotiate a wide variety of contracts, including collaborative research agreements, services agreements, and consulting agreements.
• Identify and collaborate with Legal team members to share best practices, align and document contract drafting, negotiation and risk management strategies
• Manage and lead a team of contract specialists to provide excellent service to internal and external stakeholders and achieve Contracts Program and Legal Team goals

Skills

Contract management

Team leadership

Project management

Process optimization

Strategic collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

MLS/CCCM or equivalent certification

Tools

Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM)

Microsoft Office 365

SharePoint

Adobe

Malbek

Job description

The Allen Institute accelerates science for a healthier world through large-scale research designed to answer some of the most complex questions in biology. Our multi-disciplinary teams generate foundational knowledge, tools, and data to understand how our brain, cells, and immune system work. We share our work openly so others can build on it, move faster, and ask bigger questions. We drive discovery forward and create new possibilities for improving human health.

The mission of the Administration team is to enable the people and science of the Allen Institute. We connect teams, steward resources, and build strong systems that give our accelerators the stability and flexibility to pursue ambitious questions, collaborate across disciplines, and share their work openly.

We are searching for a Contracts Manager that will who will lead and optimize the Allen Institute's contracts program, oversee the full contract lifecycle, administer the contract lifecycle management platform, and draft and negotiate a wide range of research and commercial agreements. This role will also improve contracting processes through technology and AI, maintain templates and playbooks, establish service standards, and lead contract specialists in delivering responsive, high-quality support to stakeholders across the Institute.

At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone - and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly.

We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We strive to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Essential Functions

• Serve as the point of contact and subject matter expert for the Contracts Program
• Organize and manage the Contracts Program for optimal performance for the Institute
• Administer a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) platform, including maintaining the contracts playbook, form libraries, running reports, and optimizing automated workflows and templates
• Draft, maintain, and regularly update all related contract program documentation, including processes, templates, playbooks, and other materials
• Identify and implement process improvements by leveraging technology and AI tools that enable scalable and efficient contract management
• Set and monitor SLAs for contracting activities
• Draft and negotiate a wide variety of contracts, including collaborative research agreements, services agreements, and consulting agreements
• Identify and collaborate with Legal team members to share best practices, align and document contract drafting, negotiation and risk management strategies
• Manage and lead a team of contract specialists to provide excellent service to internal and external stakeholders and achieve Contracts Program and Legal Team goals

Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of experience and education
• Minimum 6 years' experience managing contracts for a small to mid-size organization
• Experience managing a contracts lifecycle management platform
• Experience supervising staff and leading cross-functional projects

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree and 6+ years' experience in contract program management
• Master of Legal Studies (MLS), Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM), or similar certification
• In-house experience, nonprofit experience, and/or biotech experience
• Experience implementing and administrating Contract Lifecycle Management systems
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 products including SharePoint; Adobe; Malbek
• Uses independent judgment and advanced experience to plan and prioritize work that involves difficult problems and/or decisions; understands when to elevate potentially controversial matters and/or matters with material implications to attorneys for guidance and assistance
• Advanced knowledge of contract law principles and contract administration practices
• Ability to train and mentor others on contracts, the contracts process, and related work both within and outside the legal department
• Consistently exhibits strong project management and organizational abilities
• Operates under minimal supervision with significant independent judgment
• Work product is consistently complete and accurate; consistently ensures that the work product of others that is incorporated is correct and of high quality
• Holds a strong commitment to exceeding expectations on client service and work product; often looks beyond requirements of own job and offers suggestions for improvements; inspires others to be successful
• Has strong sense of urgency about solving problems and consistently gets work done timely
• Utilizes strengths of team members to achieve optimal performance; is flexible and can work with a wide variety of people on different tasks
• Consistently and effectively uses communication techniques appropriate to the person or audience; communicates with clients and third parties even when the answer is not known
• Occasional lifting up to 30 pounds
• Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment;
• Stooping, bending, crouching

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This role is currently able to work both remotely and onsite in a hybrid work environment. We are a Washington State employer, and the primary work location for all Allen Institute employees is 615 Westlake Ave N.; any remote work must be performed in Washington State.

Annualized Salary Range

$112,950 - $153,725 *

* Final salary depends on the required education for the role, experience, level of skills relevant to the role, and work location, where applicable.

Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institute's Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute's 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute's benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide: https://alleninstitute.org/careers/benefits .

It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

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