We are an outcomes-focused learning company with a steadfast focus on improving learning environments, one classroom at a time. Working with us means joining a remote team of diverse, committed, mission-driven employees who are inspired by our vision, dedicated to our customers, and ready to roll up their sleeves. Guardians put their heads together to solve problems, learn together from experiments that fail, and stand together by their work with full accountability. We balance our diligence with an inclusive culture that invites everyone to bring their whole self to work. Join us and learn why “I love the people here” is one of the most frequent comments we hear from Guardians.
The Role
The Lead Contract Manager is a strategic leader responsible for optimizing the entire contract lifecycle within the Commercial Legal team. This individual will serve as a key resource for the Head of Commercial Counsel, driving efficiency and risk mitigation across the organization's vendor and customer agreements. The ideal candidate has significant experience managing technology contracts and possesses the leadership skills necessary to mentor a team while aligning legal operations with strategic business objectives.
What You'll Do
- Team Leadership & Mentorship: Directly manage and mentor a team of two Contract Specialists, overseeing daily workflow, performance reviews, and career development. Proactively identify and implement training to advance the team's technical and negotiation skills.
- Advanced Negotiation & Drafting: Independently structure, draft, negotiate, and redline vendor contracts (SaaS, services, events/marketing) and customer contracts (MSAs, DPAs, and software licenses).
- Privacy & Risk Management: Apply in-depth knowledge of student data privacy laws (FERPA, COPPA, and state-specific laws) to negotiations, ensuring compliance and managing contractual risk when dealing with customer paper.
- Legal Operations & CLM: Serve as the functional owner and expert for the Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system, ensuring data integrity, driving system adoption, and optimizing efficiency.
- Metric Reporting & Strategy: Develop and generate complex reports to track critical commercial legal metrics (e.g., contract velocity, risk exposure), providing regular updates to leadership.
- Procurement & Sales Support: Act as a primary legal contact for both the Procurement team (for vendor contracts) and the Sales team, driving process improvements to remove contractual friction and expedite deal closures.
- Strategic Project Execution: Identify, design, and implement new scalable processes (playbooks, approval frameworks, and automation strategies) to elevate legal support across the organization.
Who You Are
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.
- Pacific time zone strongly preferred.
- 8+ years of experience as a contract manager in a company that specializes in technology transactions.
- Possesses strong people management experience and the ability to mentor, develop, and inspire a team of junior professionals.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; adept at articulating complex legal and operational issues clearly, concisely, and persuasively to diverse internal audiences (from Sales to Engineering to Executive leadership).
- Demonstrates a proactive, solution-oriented approach; willing to take on strategic projects, act decisively with imperfect information, and drive continuous process improvement.
- Highly responsive and effective at building trusting, collaborative relationships with cross-functional stakeholders to align contract strategy with broader business goals.
- Strong understanding of the SaaS business model, revenue recognition principles, and the K-12 EdTech ecosystem.
- Fueled by the opportunity to truly impact the education landscape.
- Something else? Tell us! We want to learn more about you…
What We Offer
- Competitive pay, complete health insurance, 401(k) matching, and an employee equity plan.
- Flexible time off, paid holidays, paid parental leave, wellness days, and a paid year-end holiday break.
- A robust catalog of benefits that support your professional growth and personal well being, including work from home funds, fertility &adoption reimbursement, and more…
Plus the intangible:
- A varied and challenging role in a global and highly innovative high-growth company.
- Supportive, driven colleagues who have your back and share your passion.
The typical base salary range for this position is $125,000 - $140,000 per year. The range displayed on this job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire base pay for this position and your pay will be determined by a variety of factors, including your primary work location, skills, qualifications and experience. Additional benefits information is listed on our careers page.
Please share this with your friends or co-workers who may be interested in working at GoGuardian! We have multiple openings and are always looking for talented people.
Top Skills
What We Do
At GoGuardian, we’re helping shape the future of digital learning by providing educators, students, and schools with tools to create equitable and engaging learning environments. Together, we build innovative solutions to empower students, deliver insights, encourage experimentation, and reduce inequity. We’re growing fast and looking for passionate team members to join us!
Why Work With Us
Our team is made up of a diverse group of highly motivated, mission-driven individuals. As a remote-first company, most of our teammates work from the space that suits them best, wherever they may live. To collaborate in person, we have beautiful headquarters in sunny El Segundo, California.
Gallery
