Legal - Contracts Specialist

Golden 1 Credit Union•Sacramento, CA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Golden 1 Credit Union is seeking a Contracts Specialist to independently review, analyze, and draft third-party and vendor contracts of varying complexity. The role evaluates contract terms for legal, regulatory, policy, and risk alignment, identifies risks and control gaps, and escalates issues according to established guidelines and thresholds. The Specialist serves as a key contract resource for vendor engagements, coordinating with attorneys and stakeholders in Compliance, Enterprise Risk Management, Information Security, and business units. The position supports contract standards and templates, contract review processes, contract data governance, and the Credit Union’s vendor management and third-party risk programs. It also maintains working knowledge of relevant laws and regulations and promotes organizational understanding of risk-based contract requirements and review processes. The role is hybrid in Sacramento, California, reports to the Associate General Counsel, and is classified as exempt. The stated annual pay range is $103,100 to $107,000.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, legal studies, or a related field.
At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in contract management, legal operations, procurement, or as a corporate paralegal.
Demonstrated experience handling complex, higher-risk vendor contracts.

Nice To Haves

Experience in financial services or another highly regulated industry is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Independently review, analyze, and draft contracts such as Master Services Agreements, Statements of Work, Order Forms, and Non-Disclosure Agreements.
Assess routine and non-routine contract terms for risk exposure, control gaps, and issues requiring escalation.
Serve as the primary contract resource for vendor engagements, coordinating with attorneys, Compliance, Enterprise Risk Management, Information Security, and subject matter experts.
Assist in developing, refining, and standardizing contract clauses and templates, especially those addressing risk, privacy, security, business continuity, and regulatory compliance.
Coordinate end-to-end review of higher-risk and complex matters among internal and external parties and required stakeholders.
Maintain contract data integrity and governance in contract management systems, including accurate risk classification, audit readiness, and traceability.
Develop and maintain advisory relationships with stakeholders across business units and corporate functions.
Maintain working knowledge of applicable state and federal laws and regulations affecting credit unions, vendor contracting, privacy, information security, and compliance.
Monitor trends and best practices in third-party risk, vendor contracting, and contract management, and translate them into practical improvements.
Educate stakeholders on contract review and vendor management programs, risk-based requirements, escalation thresholds, and expectations for higher-risk engagements.
Perform other duties as required to support the Legal Department and Credit Union.