Contract Specialist

DAT•Seattle, WA

10d•$78,000 - $99,000•Hybrid

About The Position

DAT is looking for a Contracts Specialist to join our outstanding Legal team. DAT Freight & Analytics operates the largest and most trusted freight marketplace in North America, connecting shippers, carriers, and brokers through a suite of SaaS and data products relied on across the transportation industry. As DAT continues to scale as a diverse software business, our Legal team is looking for an experienced Contracts Specialist to manage the full contract lifecycle for a fast-growing, technology-driven organization. In this role, you will own the day-to-day administration, drafting, and negotiation of commercial agreements that support DAT's customers, vendors, and partners, from enterprise SaaS subscriptions and data licensing arrangements to procurement and partnership agreements. You will work cross-functionally with Sales, Finance, Product, Security, and Revenue Operations to keep contracting fast, consistent, and low-risk, while helping mature DAT's contract lifecycle management (CLM) practices as the business grows. This position offers a hybrid work schedule based out of our Seattle office.

Requirements

5+ years of relevant contracts experience, ideally within the software, SaaS, or broader technology industry.
Working knowledge of standard commercial contract language, including SaaS/subscription terms, licensing, data protection, indemnification, and limitation-of-liability provisions.
Experience with leveraging AI tools to solve complex problems, streamline contract review and analytics, and create a modern and efficient contracting environment. Being an AI-native thinker is a plus.
Experience operating within a corporate legal or contracts department at a growth-stage or public software company.
Hands-on experience with a contract lifecycle management (CLM) platform (e.g., Ironclad or similar) and e-signature tools.
Familiarity with data governance (including artificial intelligence), data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), and information-security frameworks (e.g., SOC 2) as they relate to commercial contracting is a strong plus.
Experience working within a CRM/CPQ environment; Salesforce experience strongly preferred.
Exceptionally organized and detail-oriented, with strong project and time management skills across a high volume of concurrent contracts.
Analytical, solution-oriented mindset with sound business judgment and the ability to exercise independent decision-making under broad supervision.
Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with internal stakeholders, business leaders, and external counterparties.
Strong sense of ownership, with the ability to both give and receive direct feedback.
Familiarity with typical enterprise sales cycles, renewal motions, and revenue operations practices.
Collaborative, self-motivated, and adaptable, with experience working across distributed and remote teams.
Bachelor's degree, paralegal certificate, or equivalent professional experience.

Nice To Haves

Being an AI-native thinker is a plus.
Familiarity with data governance (including artificial intelligence), data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), and information-security frameworks (e.g., SOC 2) as they relate to commercial contracting is a strong plus.
Salesforce experience strongly preferred.
Familiarity with typical enterprise sales cycles, renewal motions, and revenue operations practices.

Responsibilities

Manage the end-to-end contracting process for SaaS subscription agreements, data licensing agreements, Master Service Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work, order forms, procurement agreements, consulting agreements, partner agreements, and non-disclosure agreements.
Draft, evaluate, redline, and negotiate assigned contracts in accordance with company policy, approved playbooks, and risk tolerance, including utilizing approved AI tools to facilitate such work, escalating novel or high-risk issues to Legal leadership.
Review terms and conditions, assess commercial and legal risk, and recommend positions that protect the company's interests while supporting deal velocity.
Partner closely with Sales, Deal Desk, Finance, Security, Product, and Revenue Operations to keep quote-to-cash and contract workflows moving efficiently, including reviews tied to CRM systems.
Support data privacy, security, and information-governance requirements in customer and vendor contracts, including Data Processing Agreements (DPAs), security addenda, and SOC 2-related terms.
Translate contract terms and legal concepts into clear, practical language for internal stakeholders and external counterparties.
Manage contracts through the contract lifecycle management (CLM) platform and contracts database, ensuring accurate metadata, version control, and searchability across the contract portfolio.
Communicate fully executed agreements to relevant stakeholders and support downstream implementation, renewal tracking, and obligation management.
Maintain organized contractual records, correspondence, and audit trails to support internal controls and compliance reviews.
Support the continued rollout and adoption of contract lifecycle management software, including process design, template governance, and user training.
Consistently utilize contract templates, playbooks, policies, and standard operating procedures, and monitor adherence across the organization.
Track all contracting work and report on contracting metrics (cycle time, volume, turnaround) to support Legal operations and leadership visibility.