Contract Counselor Jobs in Dallas, TX (NOW HIRING)

Summary
The Senior Contract Administration Manager and Paralegal serves as a key member of the in-house Corporate Legal Department, responsible for the end-to-end management of the organization's commercial contract portfolio and assisting with other legal matters. This position leads contract drafting, negotiation, administration, and compliance activities for a broad range of commercial agreements, with an emphasis on technology and SaaS contracts. The Senior Contract Administration Manager and Paralegal also works directly with the general counsel on a wide range of legal matters, develops and implements contracting best practices, manages escalations, and provides strategic guidance to business stakeholders on contractual matters.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
% of Time
Duties and Responsibilities
30%
Drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and managing commercial contracts, including but not limited to software license agreements, non-disclosure agreements, statements of work, master service agreements, SaaS agreements, and sales contracts. Execute all aspects of contracts ensuring conformance with company policy while maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction and responsiveness.
15%
Providing cradle-to-grave legal assistance and contract administration. Facilitate effective implementation of contract responsibilities within organizational objectives and requirements; ensure proper monitoring of contract compliance across business units. Assist the General Counsel on other legal matters under the direction of the General Counsel.
10%
Working with internal legal counsel on non-standard contract terms, escalated issues, and matters requiring subject matter expertise. Serve as a focal point for communications with legal, finance, and business groups for resolution of significant contract issues and disputes.
10%
Advising business teams on legal matters and contract interpretation, risk assessment, and dispute resolution. Anticipate problems, initiate actions, and participate in projects as necessary to ensure contracts are managed and processed efficiently.
10%
Managing and maintaining contract templates, playbooks, and clause libraries. Draft and revise contract templates and other legal documents with a continuous improvement mindset. Maintain central department archive tools and support company-wide training on best contracting practices.
10%
Supporting RFP/RFQ responses and proposal reviews. Provide guidance to ensure contractual requirements can be achieved; assist in developing alternate strategies to maintain compliant responses and proposals. Provide risk assessments and offer creative contracting approaches to mitigate risks.
10%
Developing and implementing contract policies, procedures, and best practices. Partner with the General Counsel to establish and refine enterprise policies, methods, operating practices, and performance standards. Assist the General Counsel with reviewing and updating company policies and training materials, issuing legal holds, responding to subpoenas and government inquiries, and managing corporate governance documents.
5%
Identifying opportunities for process improvement and legal technology solutions. Employ best practices to increase the efficiency of the legal department and contract operations, including identifying and implementing automation opportunities.
Prerequisites
Education:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Paralegal certificate or Juris Doctor (J.D.) preferred.

Experience:

• Eight (8) or more years of progressive contract management experience in commercial, technology, or communications industries.
• Paralegal experience required; demonstrated ability to apply paralegal skills in a corporate legal or contract management environment.
• Software as a Service (SaaS) contract experience required.
• Strong understanding of contractual terms, including the ability to independently interpret, revise, and negotiate complex agreements with minimal oversight.
• Proven experience developing, implementing, and training on contract playbooks, policies, and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to independently move projects forward by gaining support from others while working in a cross-functional role.
• Proven track record of collaborating with cross-functional groups (e.g., Finance, HR, IT, Procurement, Sales) to set objectives and produce results.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and successfully manage multiple deadlines.

Certifications, Licenses, etc.:

• Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) or paralegal certification strongly preferred.
• Contract management or procurement certifications (e.g., NCMA, IACCM/WorldCC) are a plus.

Specialized Knowledge and Skills
Language Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft, interpret, and summarize complex legal documents clearly and concisely.

Mathematical Skills:

• Basic mathematical skills; ability to understand financial terms, pricing models, and contract cost structures.

Reasoning Skills:

• Ability to read, analyze, interpret, and summarize bids, proposals, contracts, and other legal documents efficiently and effectively to verify accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Ability to evaluate options, assess risk, and arrive at solutions that support organizational objectives.
• Must be able to prioritize, plan, analyze, and execute multiple complex contract-related activities simultaneously.

Computer and/or Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Experience with contract lifecycle management (CLM) software and legal technology solutions.
• Strong experience in developing, implementing, and using legal department technology tools.

Work Environment & Physical Demands
The work environment and physical demand characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
General Work Environment: Office; Hybrid or Remote available.
Noise: Dependent on Work Environment
Standing/Lifting: Primarily sedentary; minimal lifting required.
Visual: Extended use of computer monitors.
Stress: Must be able to meet deadlines and work under pressure in a dynamic legal environment.
Travel: Minimal travel required (less than 10%).
Supervisory Responsibility
This position does not have direct supervisory authority but may be expected to mentor and provide work direction to hired junior contract staff and paralegals. May oversee the work of hired contract coordinators or interns on a project basis.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. NEC does not offer sponsorship for this role, now or in the future.
Disclaimer
This list is intended only as a guide and summary of the typical functions of the position. It is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible responsibilities, tasks, and duties to which the employee may be assigned. An employee's supervisor may ask the employee to perform additional duties or take on additional responsibilities without notice. This list is neither complete nor permanent and may be amended at any time in the Company's sole discretion.
The anticipated salary range for this position is $111,000 to $139,500; depending upon the selected candidate's relevant experience, the exact salary for the role may fall outside of this range. This role will also be eligible to participate in the Company's bonus/incentive program(s). NEC offers an extensive benefits program and the role will also include, a Health Insurance package with options that include multiple Medical and Dental coverage options, Pharmacy Insurance, Vision Insurance, Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Salary Continuation and Voluntary Long-Term Disability Coverage, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Adoption Assistance Program, 401(k) with a 50% match up to 6% of employee contribution, 15 PTO days, 10 paid sick days, 11 paid public holidays, Continuing Education and Tuition Reimbursement, 2 paid Community Service Days, a Travel Assistance Program, Pre-Paid Legal plans.
Specialization Description
Responsible for management of contracts with customers, vendors, suppliers, partners, or employees. This includes contract drafting, execution, and analysis for the purpose of maximizing financial and operational performance and minimizing risk. Negotiates the terms and conditions in contracts and ensures compliance with them. Documents any changes/amendments that may happen during execution of the contract. Creates and maintains contract database for easy access and retrieval.
Level Description
Fully proficient and mostly independent individual contributor. A recognized subject matter expert in job area typically obtained through advanced education and work experience. Works on large projects to achieve operational targets with a significant impact on function / sub-function results. May be responsible for setting day-to-day operational objectives for the team, as well as may direct workflow to other team members. Coaches and reviews the work of lower level professionals. Problems faced are difficult and often complex.