POSITION SUMMARY
AccuWeather is seeking an experienced Contracts Manager to join its Legal team. The Contracts Manager is responsible for managing the development, review, negotiation, execution, and administration of AccuWeather's commercial contracts. Reporting to Counsel, this individual contributor serves as a key liaison between the Legal department, Sales, Operations, Finance, clients, vendors, and other business stakeholders to facilitate timely contract execution while identifying and managing contractual and business risk. The role independently manages a portfolio of agreements, supports contract process improvement, and leverages approved contract management and AI-enabled tools to improve drafting, review, administration, and workflow efficiency.
This role is onsite 5 days per week in our State College, PA HQ office.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manage the preparation, review, negotiation, execution, and administration of a broad range of commercial agreements, including customer, vendor, confidentiality, licensing, services, and other business agreements.
- Draft and revise contracts, amendments, addenda, statements of work, and related legal and commercial documents using approved templates and established contracting standards.
- Independently review contract terms and identify legal, financial, operational, and commercial risks, escalating significant or non-standard matters to Counsel as appropriate.
- Negotiate contractual provisions with customers, vendors, and other external parties within established parameters and in consultation with Counsel when necessary.
- Partner closely with Sales, Operations, Finance, and other internal stakeholders to understand business objectives, resolve contractual issues, and facilitate timely contract execution.
- Liaise with clients and outside counsel to ensure contract documentation is accurate, complete, and consistent with negotiated business terms and company requirements.
- Evaluate information and documentation entered into the contract management system for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and overall acceptability.
- Manage contract workflows, approvals, renewals, amendments, obligations, and other key contract lifecycle activities within company systems.
- Utilize approved AI and contract management technologies to assist with contract drafting, review, analysis, and comparison of contractual provisions while ensuring appropriate human review and judgment.
- Identify opportunities to improve contract processes, templates, procedures, and workflows and assist with implementation and adoption of contract management system enhancements or changes.
- Develop and maintain standardized contract templates, clause libraries, procedures, and related resources in collaboration with Counsel.
- Monitor contract activity and provide reporting and analysis on contract status, turnaround times, renewals, obligations, and other relevant metrics.
- Provide guidance to business stakeholders regarding contracting processes, documentation requirements, and established contractual standards.
- Maintain organized and accurate contract records while ensuring the confidentiality and security of sensitive business and legal information.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Contract Management, Legal Studies, Finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
- 5-7+ years of progressively responsible experience in contract administration, contract management, commercial contracting, legal operations, or a related contracting role.
- Demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts and related legal documents.
- Experience independently identifying contractual risks and working with legal counsel and business stakeholders to resolve contract issues.
- Experience managing contracts through multiple stages of the contract lifecycle, including drafting, negotiation, approval, execution, amendment, renewal, and closeout.
- Proficiency with contract management systems and common business applications.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including demonstrated contract drafting and editing capabilities.
- Strong organizational, time-management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Professional contract management certification through the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), such as Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM), or another relevant professional certification.
- Experience working within or closely supporting a corporate Legal department.
- Experience with commercial customer agreements, technology agreements, data-related agreements, licensing arrangements, professional services agreements, or other complex business contracts.
- Experience implementing or improving contract lifecycle management systems, workflows, templates, or contracting processes.
- Experience using AI-enabled tools for contract drafting, review, comparison, analysis, or contract lifecycle management.
- Experience supporting a Sales organization and working directly with customers and outside counsel.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong commercial contract drafting, review, and negotiation skills.
- Ability to identify and evaluate contractual and business risks and determine when matters require escalation to Counsel.
- Sound judgment and the ability to work independently within established contracting guidelines.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining accurate contract documentation and records.
- Ability to balance legal and risk considerations with business objectives and commercial timelines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with Legal, Sales, Operations, Finance, clients, vendors, and outside counsel.
- Ability to manage multiple agreements, negotiations, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
- Strong analytical and process-improvement capabilities.
- Technology aptitude and willingness to effectively and responsibly utilize contract management and AI-enabled tools.
- Demonstrated discretion when handling confidential, proprietary, and legally sensitive information.
Benefits
- At AccuWeather we invest in our team members with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your career, health, finances, family, and overall well-being — from day one.
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience
- Comprehensive healthcare and dental benefits.
- 401(k) retirement plan with 50% company match.
- A collaborative work environment.
- Commitment to individual growth and development.
AccuWeather is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified candidates to apply. We are an equal-opportunity employer. If you are a highly motivated, organized, and dynamic professional with the skills and experience to excel in this role, we invite you to join our team and make a significant impact on our organization's success.
About AccuWeather
AccuWeather, recognized and documented as the most accurate and most used source of weather forecasts and warnings in the world, has saved over 12,000 lives, prevented injury to over 100,000 people, and saved companies tens of billions of dollars through better planning and decision-making.
Billions of people around the world rely on AccuWeather’s proven Superior Accuracy™ across our consumer digital platforms. AccuWeather.com is the #1 weather destination and one of the top 100 most-visited websites in the world, and our award-winning AccuWeather app delivers detailed real-time forecasts to millions of smartphones. AccuWeather forecasts also appear on digital signage, in 700 newspapers, are heard on over 400 radio stations, and viewed on 100 television stations. The AccuWeather Network and AccuWeather NOW® reach an audience of over 125 million on cable and streaming platforms including DirecTV, Charter Communications - Spectrum, Verizon, Philo, Frndly TV, Comcast’s Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Stream, Roku, Xumo, Rockbot, LG, and Amazon Freevee.
AccuWeather For Business serves more than half of the Fortune 500 companies and thousands of other businesses and government agencies globally. Dr. Joel Myers, Founder and Executive Chairman, established AccuWeather in 1962 and is considered the “father of modern commercial meteorology.” Myers, a leading creative thinker and visionary, has been called “the most accurate man in weather” by The New York Times and has been recognized as one of the top entrepreneurs in American history by Entrepreneur’s Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurs.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
AccuWeather is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity to all applicants and existing employees and we evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity/expression), sexual orientation, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religion, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
AccuWeather is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to human.resources@accuweather.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
