Senior Contracts Manager, California-based candidates preferred

Senior Contracts Manager

IT Contracts Specialist — Higher Education / Public Sector

Duration: 6–12 Months (Contract)

Location: Primarily remote with some onsite as needed; California-based candidates preferred

Role Overview

We are supporting a procurement reorganization within a major public university system and are seeking a senior-level Contracts Manager with deep specialization in IT contracts to manage a high-volume pipeline of complex technology agreements. This role owns contract lifecycle management from RFP finalization through to contract signing, driving agreements from redline

to signature while navigating procurement and legal review efficiently. The focus is on technology purchases — IT hardware, software, SaaS, AI, cloud, ERP, cybersecurity, and datawarehousing.

Key Responsibilities

• Own contract lifecycle management (CLM) from RFP finalization through contract execution — managing agreements from award to signed across procurement and legal review

• Lead negotiation, review, and execution of complex technology agreements covering IT hardware, software and SaaS, AI, cloud, ERP, cybersecurity, and data warehousing purchases

• Serve as subject-matter expert on IT-specific risk areas, including data privacy and security, cybersecurity obligations, service levels, and intellectual property terms

• Act as the primary liaison between Procurement, Legal Counsel, IT stakeholders, and external vendors to resolve contractual issues and reduce cycle time

• Review and redline MSAs, SOWs, amendments, and exhibits

• Navigate and negotiate key risk clauses (indemnification, insurance, liability, data privacy, etc.)

• Ensure compliance with university policies and public-sector procurement requirements

• Track contract status, approvals, and issues to drive timely execution during

organizational transition

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated specialization in IT contracts — IT hardware, software, SaaS, AI, cloud,ERP, cybersecurity, and data warehousing agreements

• Hands-on experience managing the contract lifecycle from RFP finalization through contract signing

• 7+ years of experience in contract negotiation, contract management, or strategic sourcing

• Proven ability to work closely with Procurement and Legal teams

• Strong contract redlining and negotiation skills

• Ability to manage multiple negotiations simultaneously in a fast-paced environment

• Some Higher Education or Public Sector contracting experience

• California-based, with availability for some onsite work as needed

• Experience supporting large university systems or multi-entity organizations

• Familiarity with IT procurement frameworks, cooperative purchasing vehicles, and enterprise technology vendors

• Experience supporting organizations undergoing procurement or legal process transformation