IT Contracts Lead

Job Description

The IT Contracts Lead plays a critical role in guiding and optimizing the organization's technology-related contractual landscape. This position is responsible for developing and executing enterprise-wide contract strategies that align with business objectives while safeguarding financial, legal, and operational interests. Serving as a strategic partner to IT leadership, legal teams, business stakeholders, and vendors, the IT Contracts Lead ensures that all technology agreements - ranging from software and cloud services to hardware and telecommunications - are negotiated, structured, and managed to support the company's long-term goals. Through strong analytical, communication, and vendor management skills, this role drives consistency, compliance, and value across all IT contracting activities.

This position is not hybrid/remote and will be located at our Cleveland Headquarters office.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning

• Develop, define, and implement company-wide IT contract strategies, policies and procedures.
• Accomplish business objectives while protecting SW's financial, legal, contractual and future business interest(s).
• Participate in the risk assessment process for business and legal issues.
• Manage vendor agreements and ensure consistency in costs and business processes across all vendors; establish/enforce company "ground rules" for all current and potential vendors.

Acquisition & Deployment

• Negotiate complex and strategic technology business contracts involving IT software licensing, hardware purchases, cloud service agreements, telecommunication agreements, maintenance/support agreements and professional services engagements.
• Lead end-to-end proposal project management for RFPs, which includes coordinating across functional teams, timelines, and deliverables to produce high-quality, compliant, and compelling proposal submissions
• Solicit feedback on improvement opportunities with regard to the contract process.
• Effectively communicate contract negotiation strategies to team members and stakeholders in a timely and clear fashion.
• Work closely with the business owners on contract renewals to ensure the renewals are optimized for the current business environment and processed timely.

Operational Management

• Gather and document business requirements.
• Review supplier compliance with established agreements.
• Work closely with IT management, legal, and business owners throughout the corporation.
• Establish and maintain written and in-person communication with IT management, legal, and business owners throughout the corporation.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, including conversion to H1-B visa.

Job duties include contact with other employees and access confidential and proprietary information and/or other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised. The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the Company's staff, employees, and business relationships.

Must be eighteen years or older

Qualifications

EDUCATION

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in the field of Information Technology (IT) or business, or in lieu of a degree, at least 9 years of experience in the field of Information Technology or Business

Preferred:

• Certification or degree in law including Juris Doctor (JD) or Doctor of Juridical Science (JDSc)

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Required:

• 6+ years IT and/or Business experience
• 5+ years of experience with detailed contract negotiations in the IT field
• 5+ years of contract management experience
• Understanding of general contractual terms and conditions
• Understanding of IT technologies
• Understanding of business operations

About Us

At Sherwin-Williams, our purpose is to inspire and improve the world by coloring and protecting what matters. Our paints, coatings and innovative solutions make the places and spaces in our world brighter and stronger. Your skills, talent and passion make it possible to live this purpose, and for customers and our business to achieve great results. Sherwin-Williams is a place that takes its stability, growth and momentum and translates it to possibility for our people. Our people are behind the strength of our success, and we invest and support you in:

Life ... with rewards, benefits and the flexibility to enhance your health and well-being
Career ... with opportunities to learn, develop new skills and grow your contribution
Connection ... with an inclusive team and commitment to our own and broader communities
It's all here for you... let's Create Your Possible

At Sherwin-Williams, part of our mission is to help our employees and their families live healthier, save smarter and feel better. This starts with a wide range of world-class benefits designed for you. From retirement to health care, from total well-being to your daily commute-it matters to us. A general description of benefits offered can be found at Click on "Candidates" to view benefit offerings that you may be eligible for if you are hired as a Sherwin-Williams employee.

Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case and will impact where actual compensation may fall within the stated wage range. The wage range listed for this role takes into account the wide range of factors considered in making compensation decisions including skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. The wage range, other compensation, and benefits information listed is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws including with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act where applicable.

Sherwin-Williams is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic information, creed, marital status or any other consideration prohibited by law or by contract.

As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, Sherwin-Williams requests state and local employment services delivery systems to provide priority referral of Protected Veterans.

Please be aware, Sherwin-Williams recruiting team members will never request a candidate to provide a payment, ask for financial information, or sensitive personal information like national identification numbers, date of birth, or bank account numbers during the application process.