Contracts & Legal Operations Manager

Department:

Administration

Location:

Fort Worth, TX

Compensation:

$95,000 - $115,000 / year

Description

The Contracts & Legal Operations Manager leads the company’s contract and legal operations function, providing structure, oversight, and operational judgment across all contract workflows. This role supports the review of complex and high-risk agreements in partnership with executive leadership and outside counsel. Reporting directly to the CEO, this position serves as the primary point of coordination between Operations, Sales, Finance, and outside counsel.

Key Responsibilities Core Responsibilities

- Provide direct leadership, coaching, and oversight to the Senior Contract Administrator

- Set priorities, review work product, and ensure consistency, quality, and timeliness across contract administration activities

- Serve as the escalation point for complex or high-risk contract matters handled by the contract administration team

- Own and manage the end-to-end contract lifecycle across all entities, from intake through execution and closeout

- Establish, maintain, and enforce standardized contract workflows, review processes, and escalation protocols

- Serve as the primary internal authority on contract structure, risk positioning, and compliance standards

- Act as the central point of coordination between internal stakeholders and outside legal counsel

- Advise the CEO and executive leadership on contract-related risk, trends, and opportunities for improvement

- Review, redline, and negotiate commercial contracts, customer agreements, subcontracts, and related exhibits

- Identify and assess key risk areas including indemnity, insurance requirements, warranties, limitation of liability, payment terms, and schedule impacts

- Ensure contract language aligns with company risk tolerance, operational realities, and governance standards

- Escalate material risks and proposed deviations appropriately, providing clear recommendations and options

- Maintain and continuously improve contract templates, clause libraries, and playbooks

- Ensure accurate version control, documentation integrity, and audit readiness across all contract records

- Oversee use of contract management systems and review tools, ensuring consistency and usability

- Partner with Finance and Operations to ensure contracts align with billing, job costing, and execution requirements

- Work closely with Sales, Project Controls, Operations, and executive leadership to support timely and informed contract decisions

- Translate legal and contractual concepts into practical guidance for non-legal stakeholders

- Support negotiations by preparing issue summaries, redline comparisons, and recommended positions

- Build strong working relationships across departments to reduce friction and increase clarity

- Identify gaps, inefficiencies, and risk exposure in current contract practices and propose improvements

- Help lay the foundation for future expansion of the contract and legal operations function

- Support training and knowledge-sharing to strengthen contract awareness across the organization

- Perform other duties as assigned to support team priorities and business needs.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Required

- 7+ years of experience in contract administration, legal operations, or paralegal roles

- Demonstrated experience managing contracts end-to-end, including drafting, review, negotiation, and execution

- Strong understanding of commercial contract structures and risk concepts

- Experience partnering with outside counsel and senior leadership

- High level of judgment, discretion, and professionalism

- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently

Preferred

- Paralegal certification or equivalent legal training

- Experience supporting construction, engineering, infrastructure, or operations-driven environments

- Familiarity with multi-entity or multi-state organizations

- Experience building or refining contract processes, templates, or governance frameworks.

Working Style & Expectations

- Comfortable operating with autonomy and accountability

- Able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution

- Communicates clearly, calmly, and confidently across all levels of the organization

- Approaches contracts as both a risk management and business enablement function

Location

This is a full-time, in-office role based in Fort Worth, Texas.

Benefits

- Medical, dental, and vision insurance with company contribution

- 401(k) retirement plan

- Paid time off and company holidays

- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

- Professional development support