Legal Operations and Contracts Manager

Energy Toolbase•Asheville, NC

15h

About The Position

The Legal Operations & Contracts Manager plays a critical role at Energy Toolbase (ETB) by owning and administering the company’s contractual framework and supporting sound risk‑based decision making across the organization. This role is responsible for maintaining ETB’s internal legal terms and conditions for products and services, reviewing and supporting contract negotiations, identifying contractual and legal risks, and presenting those risks to the operations and leadership teams for internal decision‑making. As ETB does not have in‑house legal counsel, the Legal Operations & Contracts Manager will act as the primary internal point of coordination for legal matters, escalating to and liaising with external legal counsel when additional legal support or specialized advice is required. Success in this role requires strong judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively across teams while balancing legal risk with business objectives.

Requirements

Strong understanding of commercial contracting principles, including risk allocation, liability, confidentiality, and commercial terms.
Ability to identify, assess, and clearly communicate contractual and legal risk to non‑legal stakeholders in a practical, business‑focused manner.
Sound judgment and decision‑making skills, with the ability to balance legal risk and business objectives.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft clear documentation and summarize complex issues.
High level of professionalism and discretion, with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
Ability to work independently, take initiative, and operate effectively in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.
Strong relationship‑building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and with external partners.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office
Post‑secondary degree or diploma in Business Administration, Commerce, Legal Studies, Paralegal Studies, or a related field.
An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
5+ years of progressive experience in contracts administration, legal operations, commercial administration, or a closely related role.
Hands‑on experience supporting the review, administration, and negotiation of commercial agreements, including customer, vendor, and partner contracts.
Experience maintaining and managing contract templates, repositories, and contract lifecycle documentation.
Experience working in an environment without in‑house legal counsel, including determining when to engage external legal advisors and coordinating that support.
Experience collaborating with cross‑functional business teams such as Operations, Finance, Sales, Product, and Leadership.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a technology, SaaS, energy, or renewables environment is an asset.

Responsibilities

Develop, document, and maintain internal processes related to contract intake, review, approval, execution, and renewal.
Manage ongoing communication with external customers, vendors, and partners regarding contract status, outstanding items, and documentation requirements.
Train and support internal team members on contract processes, standard terms, and risk considerations.
Maintain strong working relationships with internal teams and external counterparts to support efficient operations.
Own, maintain, and continuously improve ETB’s standard legal terms and conditions for products, services, customers, vendors, and partners.
Review, analyze, and support negotiation of customer, vendor, partner, and other commercial agreements, ensuring alignment with ETB’s risk tolerance and business objectives.
Identify contractual, legal, and operational risks within agreements and clearly present findings and recommendations to the leadership team to support informed internal decisions.
Create and maintain contract templates, playbooks, and internal guidance to promote consistency and efficiency in contract negotiations.
Act as the primary internal point of contact for all contract‑related inquiries, directing matters appropriately and ensuring timely follow‑up.
Determine when matters require escalation to external legal counsel and coordinate the engagement accordingly.
Prepare background materials, summaries, and risk assessments for external counsel to ensure efficient and cost‑effective legal support.
Liaise with external law firms as required for contract review, corporate matters, or specialized legal issues.
Create and maintain ETB’s contract repository and related tracking tools to ensure accurate records, version control, and accessibility.
Assist with due diligence activities related to corporate structuring, entity setup, partnerships, and strategic initiatives.
Support audit requests and internal reviews related to contracts and legal documentation.