Strategic Vendor Contracts Lead

Aston Carter; Hopkins (MN); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision benefits

401(k) Retirement Plan

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Aston Carter invites applications for a Contract Manager / Contract Negotiator role in Hopkins, MN, focused on leading contract negotiations with vendors, managing amendments and renewals, and drafting clear contract documents. The position emphasizes collaboration across teams, prioritizing tasks, and maintaining professional stakeholder communication.

The role requires a related bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with substantial contract experience, strong negotiation skills, and proficiency

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience.
• 35 years of related work experience beyond degree for high-level responsibilities, and 58 years for more complex contract work.
• Academic degree in Business, Marketing, Finance, or Pre-Law preferred.
• Proven understanding of contracts and negotiation principles.
• Drafting and editing contract documents.
• Strong collaboration and teamwork with professional interactions.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in an organized manner.
• Independent judgment in workload management.
• Clear and timely communication with stakeholders.
• Adapt communication style to audience levels.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving.
• MS Office proficiency.
• Experience with Zip HQ or similar tools.
• Experience with DocuSign.

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiations with existing vendors to secure favorable contract terms, including pricing and preferred conditions.
• Prepare and manage contract amendments and renewals for established relationships.
• Develop, review, and edit contract documents for accuracy and clarity.
• Collaborate with internal teams to translate business needs into contract language and negotiation strategy.
• Manage multiple contracting tasks and prioritize by business impact and timelines.
• Exercise independent judgment in workload organization and decision making.
• Communicate contract status, terms, and outcomes to stakeholders.
• Adapt communication style for different levels of stakeholders.
• Apply critical thinking to identify risks and resolve discrepancies.

Skills

Negotiation

Contract management

MS Office

DocuSign

Procurement tools

Stakeholder communication

Independent judgment

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Business/Marketing/Finance/Pre-Law preferred

Tools

MS Suite

Zip HQ

Electronic signature tools (DocuSign)

Job description

Aston Carter invites applications for a Contract Manager / Contract Negotiator role in Hopkins, MN, focused on leading contract negotiations with vendors, managing amendments and renewals, and drafting clear contract documents. The position emphasizes collaboration across teams, prioritizing tasks, and maintaining professional stakeholder communication.

The role requires a related bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with substantial contract experience, strong negotiation skills, and proficiency