The Role
Manages contracts throughout their lifecycle, including drafting, review, negotiation, administration, compliance, renewals, and closeout. Identifies legal and financial risks, tracks contract milestones in CLM systems, coordinates stakeholders, and supports claims and litigation matters. Maintains accurate records, facilitates communications among legal, finance, project management, clients, consultants, and outside counsel, while ensuring contract processes comply with company policies and risk requirements.
Summary Generated by Built In
Overview:
HKS Dallas is seeking a Contracts Manager to join our Legal team.Assists with managing the firm’s contracts throughout the contract lifecycle, from drafting, review and negotiation through administration, compliance, renewals, and closeout. Supports risk identification and contract negotiations, maintains contract records and key milestones within CLM systems, and serves as a primary liaison. Ensures efficient, accurate, and compliant contract management while supporting claims and litigation-related processes.
Responsibilities:
- Creates, reviews, and edits contracts, proposals, and other legal documents to ensure accuracy and compliance
- Identifies and escalates potential legal, financial, and operational risks before contract execution
- Coordinates and supports contract reviews and negotiations by tracking redlines, and assisting legal or senior management to ensure terms comply with company policies and risk management requirements
- Administers and monitors contract lifecycles by managing intake and assignment processes, maintaining agreements within contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems and centralized digital repositories, and tracking key dates (deadlines, expirations, renewals, and milestones)
- Acts as the central point of contact for internal HKS contracts review, coordinating communication among legal, finance, and project management teams and external stakeholders, including clients and consultants
- Assists with claims and litigation matters by facilitating internal processing, maintaining documentation, and liaising with outside counsel
Qualifications:
- Typically with 15+ years of relevant legal experience in a law firm or in-house legal department handling contract review and litigation support
- Experience working with architecture and/or engineering design professionals strongly preferred
- Experience with contract lifecycle management (CLM) software, AI tools, and document repositories
- Experience in MS Office and Adobe tools
- Excellent work ethic with a commitment to produce high quality, accurate results with strong sense of ownership for projects and duties
- Excellent analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain contract terms and processes to diverse audiences
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, including the ability to escalate issues when appropriate
- Ability to hold sensitive and confidential information with the highest level of integrity and professionalism
- Ability to organize and adapt to changing priorities, manage competing demands, and meet deadlines, with high receptivity to feedback
- Ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment and work independently
- Travel may be required
If you currently work for HKS, please submit your application via the Internal Careers Portal.
HKS is an EEO/AA Employer: M/F/Disabled/Veteran
Skills Required
- 15+ years of relevant legal experience in a law firm or in-house legal department handling contract review and litigation support
- Experience with contract lifecycle management software, AI tools, and document repositories
- Experience with Microsoft Office and Adobe tools
- Experience working with architecture and/or engineering design professionals
- Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and attention-to-detail skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Interpersonal and negotiation skills, including the ability to escalate issues appropriately
- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with integrity and professionalism
- Ability to manage changing priorities, competing demands, and deadlines
- Ability to collaborate effectively and work independently
Am I A Good Fit?
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.
Success! Refresh the page to see how your skills align with this role.
The Company
What We Do
We are a design firm of more than 1,400 architects, interior designers, urban designers, scientists, artists, anthropologists and more. We work together across industries and across the globe to create places that delight, heal and stimulate peak performance. We nurture a culture of extraordinary people with curious and creative minds who are passionate about delivering elegant solutions. We also have a dedicated research team devoted to discovering processes and ideas that improve outcomes for everyone. In everything we do, we're mindful of the fragility of all life and of the planet.
