Senior Contracts Counsel

Trystar Inc; Burnsville (MN); On-site; USD 145,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Trystar Inc in Burnsville, MN is seeking a Senior Contracts Counsel to lead development, review, and negotiation of complex customer agreements and NDAs, with cross‑functional collaboration across Legal, Sales, Sourcing, and Operations.

This senior, judgment‑driven position requires independent legal and commercial decision‑making, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to partner effectively with business leaders.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school is required.
• Active bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 3+ years of experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Ability to exercise independent legal and commercial judgment.
• Experience with CLM systems or AI-assisted contract review tools.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and communicate risk clearly.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and maintenance of standard contract templates (customer agreements, NDAs).
• Establish negotiation playbooks, clause libraries, and fallback positions.
• Review and negotiate complex customer contracts and related documents.
• Provide guidance on risk and contract terms to Sales and Operations teams.
• Collaborate with Legal, Sales, Sourcing, and Operations to optimize contracting processes and governance.

Skills

Independent judgment

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Legal tech savvy

Project management

Risk assessment

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Tools

Contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems

AI-assisted contract review tools

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Senior Contracts Counsel

Executive Full-Time Employee Professional Burnsville, MN, US

3 days ago Requisition ID: 3070

Salary Range: $145,000.00 To $185,000.00 Annually

Job Title: Senior Contracts Counsel

Job Description:

Trystar is seeking a Senior Contracts Counsel to support the company’s growing commercial and operational needs by leading the development, review, negotiation, and management of contracts across the organization. This role will have primary responsibility for customer‑facing contracts and non-disclosure agreements, while also supporting the review and negotiation of sourcing and supplier agreements in collaboration with Legal, Sales, Sourcing, and Operations.

This is a senior, judgment‑driven role requiring independent legal and commercial decision‑making, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to partner effectively with business leaders. The Senior Contracts Counsel will play a critical role in enabling revenue, managing risk, improving contracting efficiency, and leveraging contract management technology and AI‑assisted contract review tools to enhance speed, consistency, and risk identification.

In this role you will:

• Lead the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of Trystar’s standard contract templates, including customer agreements, NDAs, and related addenda.
• Establish and maintain negotiation playbooks, clause libraries, and fallback positions aligned with Trystar’s risk tolerance and business objectives.
• Ensure contract standards reflect current business practices, legal requirements, risk level, and evolving market conditions.
• Independently review, draft, and negotiate complex customer contracts, including master agreements, terms and conditions, and related commercial documents.
• Review and negotiate nondisclosure agreements with customers, suppliers, and other third parties.
• Support and advise on the review and negotiation of sourcing and supplier agreements in coordination with Sourcing and Operations.
• Identify legal, commercial, and operational risks and provide clear, business‑oriented guidance and solutions.
• Serve as a primary legal point of contact for contract‑related questions from Sales and other business teams.
• Use contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems and AI‑assisted contract review tools to identify risk, deviations from standard terms, and opportunities for efficiency.

Cross‑Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with Sales, Sourcing, Finance, Operations, and Project Management leadership to facilitate timely and commercially sound contract execution.
• Provide practical training and guidance to internal stakeholders on Trystar’s contracting process, contract terms, negotiation strategy, and risk awareness.
• Escalate significant legal or risk issues to the Chief Legal Officer as appropriate, with clear recommendations.

Process Improvement & Governance

• Drive improvements to contracting processes, governance, and approval workflows to increase speed, consistency, and transparency.
• Oversee contract tracking, key terms, and obligations to support compliance, audits, and business visibility.
• Contribute to the selection, implementation, and optimization of legal technology and AI‑enabled contract review tools.

Additional Responsibilities

• Monitor developments in contract law, commercial practices, and legal technology relevant to Trystar’s business.
• Support special projects and broader legal or commercial initiatives as assigned by the Chief Legal Officer.

Qualifications:

Required

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 3+ years of experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating commercial contracts, with significant experience in customer‑facing agreements and non-disclosure agreements.
• Demonstrated experience exercising independent legal and commercial judgment in a business environment.
• Experience with contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems and AI‑assisted contract review or legal technology solutions.
• Proven ability to partner with senior business stakeholders and influence outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate legal risk into practical business guidance.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

Preferred

• Experience in manufacturing, engineered products, or industrial environments.
• Familiarity with sourcing, supplier, or procurement‑related agreements.
• Experience leading or mentoring others on contracting standards, playbooks, or negotiation practices.

Skills:

• High integrity and sound legal judgment
• Business‑oriented, pragmatic approach to risk
• Advanced negotiation and problem‑solving skillsComfort applying legal judgment alongside AI‑driven insights and technology
• Ability to operate independently while collaborating effectively with leadership and cross‑functional teams
• Strong alignment with Trystar’s values of safety, integrity, customer focus, and teamwork