Contracts and Legal Operations Manager

Erikson Institute•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Contracts and Legal Operations Manager plays a key role in supporting the Office of the General Counsel in advancing Erikson’s legal, compliance, and operational priorities. Reporting to the General Counsel, within the Office of the President, this position is responsible for leading the implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of Erikson’s contract lifecycle management (CLM) platform and contract management processes. The Manager oversees end-to-end contract lifecycle operations—from intake and review through execution, monitoring, renewal, and archival—and serves as the institutional owner of the CLM system and centralized contract repository. The role works collaboratively across departments to promote operational efficiency, institutional accountability, risk mitigation, and adherence to policies and best practices.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field; paralegal certificate or related legal or business administration training strongly preferred.
Minimum 5+ years of experience in contract administration, contract lifecycle management, legal operations, or a related role.
Demonstrated experience implementing, administering, or significantly enhancing a contract management or CLM system.
Strong writing, editing, and research skills with exceptional attention to detail.
Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, exercise discretion with confidential information, and collaborate effectively across departments.
Proficiency in Microsoft 365, Adobe Acrobat, and contract or document management systems.
Impeccable judgment, ethics, and professional integrity
Process-oriented and detail-driven approach
Excellent communication and follow-through
Commitment to collaboration, equity, and institutional mission

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with higher education, nonprofit, or government grant environments a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the implementation, configuration, and ongoing administration of Erikson’s contract lifecycle management (CLM) platform and centralized contract repository.
Serve as the institution’s primary CLM system owner and contract operations lead, overseeing the full contract lifecycle, including intake, review, routing, approval, execution, obligation tracking, renewals, amendments, and recordkeeping.
Establish and maintain standardized contract workflows, approval paths, metadata requirements, and user roles within the CLM system.
Develop and maintain metrics, dashboards, and reports related to contract volume, turnaround times, compliance, and risk exposure.
Support drafting, negotiation, review, and advancement of contracts, amendments, addenda, and standard templates under the direction of the General Counsel.
Assist in the development and maintenance of a standardized contract and clause template library.
Coordinate cross-functional workflows to ensure timely approvals, compliance with institutional policies, and alignment with legal, financial, and risk standards.
Provide staff training and serve as a primary institutional resource on contract intake, CLM usage, competitive bidding, RFPs, and contracting best practices.
Partner with Legal, Finance, IT, and business units to select, implement, and deploy a CLM platform, including system configuration, data migration, testing, rollout, and user adoption.
Develop documentation, training materials, and change-management support to ensure successful CLM adoption across the institution.
Serve as ongoing liaison with CLM vendors and technology partners; manage enhancements, troubleshooting, and system optimization.
Identify opportunities to automate, streamline, and standardize contract-related workflows using the CLM platform.
Provide administrative and operational support to the General Counsel, including document review and management, correspondence, scheduling, and file maintenance.
Assist with research, drafting, and editing of institutional documents, including policies, procedures, Board governance materials, memoranda, and internal guidance.
Support preparation of materials for Board of Trustees and committee meetings, including resolutions, charters, and minutes.
Maintain the Office’s records, templates, and institutional policy library.
Support audit and compliance activities by organizing documentation, tracking deliverables, and coordinating responses to auditors.
Assist in maintaining compliance calendars and ensuring completion of required institutional filings and certifications.
Help identify and track areas of operational and contractual risk and support follow-up actions or process improvements.
Liaise with Finance, HR, and other departments to ensure consistent application of internal controls and compliance requirements.
Support development and delivery of staff training on contract management workflows, institutional policies, and compliance practices.
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, and user experience across legal and administrative processes.
Document and refine internal procedures to ensure clarity, accountability, and institutional alignment.