What are the responsibilities and job description for the Contracts Counsel position at Harbor?
Harbor is seeking a Contracts Counsel to join our growing team. By providing strategic, technology and operational services to clients in the legal, professional and financial services industries, our Contract Specialists are a highly talented group of professionals who offer a unique blend of Legal experience across several industries and disciplines. Our employees are our greatest competitive advantage. The Vendor Governance Solutions (VGS) team assists clients in procuring goods and services, reducing costs across a variety of areas, optimizing business processes and improving stakeholder value.
As a part of Harbor's VGS team, we will rely on you to work closely with project team members and client personnel, facilitating the review of vendor contracts, supporting negotiations with vendors to optimize terms and conditions, and adhering to VGS’ contracts administration process. We look to you both to mitigate risk and create value by developing contracts that meet or exceed the needs of our clients.
This is a fully remote role that can sit anywhere across the US with little to no travel involved.
Responsibilities:
- Manage administration of contracts through the ability to track, analyze, aggregate, and report necessary information. This includes: Key milestones, incentives, notifications, commencement and expiration dates of agreements, support contact information, and collecting information to determine the Firm’s needs before negotiations.
- Redline and edit contract language, suggest alternate terms based on the needs of the engagement/stakeholder, as needed.
- Assist with first level legal review to ensure key terms and conditions are incorporated and liaise with in-house legal counsel in the review and final approval of initial contracts and renewals.
- Engage with department leaders to discuss upcoming contract renewals.
- Contribute to negotiations as liaison between internal and external personnel including in discussions on key contract terms, conditions, and pricing as required.
- Gather all contracts and accurately enter them into a contract repository system (includes updates).
- Determine key contract terms and conditions and communicate pertinent information in the Terms and Conditions of each contract to appropriate end users.
- Act as key point of contact for any questions / needs regarding contracts.
- Develop and administer standard agreement templates including Non-Disclosure Agreements, Standard contracts, and Statements of Work.
- Support Vendor Governance process including onboarding, relationship management and off-boarding of vendors
- Maintain and facilitate proactive planning and contract management meetings with key stakeholders.
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor (JD) is required.
- 4-6 years’ work experience in a professional service organization and related experience in contract development, redlining, legal terms review, negotiations, contract management
- Proven ability to interpret complex policies and legal language and effectively communicate to internal parties
- Good human relations skills and ability to effectively communicate (orally and written) with managers, internal clients, vendors, colleagues and support staff
- Demonstrates proactivity and takes ownership of daily responsibilities and projects
- Effective organizational skills in a multitasked environment
- Sourcing experience a plus
- Extremely responsive and customer-focused; appropriate follow-up and follow-through vendor management skills
- Ability to analyze data and recommend courses of action
- Commitment to superior quality and accuracy
- Strong interpersonal / teamwork skills
