Director, Contract Management

Raymond James•Saint Petersburg, FL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Vice President of Procurement Sourcing and Operations, the Contract Management Director will lead the strategy and execution of supplier contracting. The Director will serve as a strategic thought leader and as such the position requires comprehensive knowledge in contract management, negotiations, contracting, supply market intelligence, supplier relationship management and Procure to Pay (P2P). This role ensures that all supplier agreements – covering technology, professional services, and third-party solutions – are negotiated, executed, and managed in alignment with regulatory requirements, risk standards, and business objectives. The Director will oversee contract governance, implement best practices, and partner with Legal, Risk, Compliance, and Procurement Sourcing to mitigate exposure while enabling operational efficiency. The individual in this role will need to have a strong leadership focus to lead a team of contract managers in advancing the organization's procurement initiatives.

Requirements

Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
Deep understanding of regulatory requirements (SEC, FINRA) and third-party risk management frameworks.
Proven experience negotiating supplier agreements and managing contract governance.
Procurement processes, policies, governance, and compliance mechanisms within the Financial Services regulated framework.
End to end P2P and procurement processes, controls, and technologies, including CLM platforms, eSourcing tools, and integration with ERP systems
Change Management.
Project Management methodology.
Financial markets, their required products and services, and corresponding regulations.
Leadership best practices to include coaching and performance management.
Advanced negotiation and influencing skills for complex supplier agreements.
Strategic planning and operational process design.
Analytical and problem-solving skills for risk assessment and mitigation.
Provide leadership, directions, and influence for internal and external stakeholders, inclusive of the value of center-led Procurement strategies.
Motivating, mentoring, and leading others.
Thinking critically and structuring analysis to solve poorly defined problems.
Establishing personal credibility.
Interpreting and applying policies and procedures.
Ability to balance commercial objectives with regulatory compliance and risk posture.
Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and drive consensus among stakeholders.
Ability to implement technology solutions and optimize workflows
Interface, influence, articulate, and present at the highest corporate levels inside and outside of the company.
Comprehend the big picture and communicate a clear visionary business plan
Convert complex ideas into real executable action steps with a focus on results.
Work independently or lead team(s).
Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with all organizational levels, including executive management.
Lead meetings and contribute to team efforts by ensuring all relevant information is included in the outcomes.
Identify training needs and develop subordinates.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Solicit and respond to customer feedback.
Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) in Business, Law, Finance, Supply Chain, Procurement or related field; JD or MBA preferred.
10+ years in contract management, vendor management, or procurement within financial services in a senior-level corporate position.
Or, Any equivalent combination of experience, education, and/or training approved by Human Resources.
Proven experience negotiating supplier agreements and managing contract governance.
Familiarity with CLM platforms and integration with ERP systems
Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Juris Doctor (JD) or Master of Business Administration (MBA) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement the contract management framework, policies, and playbooks for supplier agreements.
Lead a team of contract professionals responsible for drafting, negotiating, and managing supplier contracts.
Leads, assigns, and evaluates the work of others, including performance management.
Further adhering to the culture of the firm, coaches and mentors subordinates, identify training needs, and recommend development programs.
Serve as the escalation point for complex supplier negotiations and risk assessments, and act as the liaison between Procurement Sourcing and Legal.
Oversee end-to-end contract processes: intake, drafting, negotiation, approval workflows, execution, and repository management.
Ensure compliance with Raymond James’ third-party risk management program, regulatory obligations (SEC, FINRA), and internal policies.
Implement and optimize CLM technology for efficiency and transparency.
Partners with Legal, Risk, Compliance, clause owners, procurement team members, and other stakeholders to ensure contracts meet regulatory standards and include required clauses (such as data privacy, cybersecurity, business continuity, audit rights, etc.).
Lead negotiations for supplier agreements, particularly for high-value, strategic engagements (technology platforms, SaaS, consulting services).
Establish standard templates and fallback positions to reduce cycle time and maintain risk posture.
Collaborate with Procurement Sourcing, Finance, IT, and business units to align contract terms with operational and financial goals.
Provide training and guidance to stakeholders on contract processes and risk considerations.
Define KPIs for contract cycle time, compliance, and vendor performance.
Deliver executive reporting on contract portfolio, risk exposure, and renewal timelines.
Ensures compliance with Raymond James and Procurement policies, procedures, and processes.
Maintains appropriate technical and industry knowledge for Procurement.
Performs all other duties as assigned.