Legal Operations and Contracts Specialist

Erikson Institute • Chicago, IL

10h

About The Position

Erikson Institute ("Erikson") is seeking a highly organized and resourceful Legal Operations and Contracts Specialist to provide direct support to the General Counsel/Corporate Secretary under the Office of the President. To support Erikson’s legal, compliance, and operational priorities. Reporting to the General Counsel, this position is responsible for implementing and managing the institution’s contract management system and processes; coordinating contract administration from start to finish; and providing administrative, research, and operational support for legal, policy, governance, and compliance matters. The position works collaboratively across departments to promote operational efficiency, institutional accountability, and adherence to policies and best practices. The successful candidate will have demonstrated sound judgment, discretion, strong project-management skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a collaborative higher education and nonprofit environment.

Requirements

• Strong proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint, and the ability to learn and master contract-management, document-management, electronic-signature, project-management, and financial systems.
• At least five+ years of relevant experience in a law firm, in-house legal department, higher education institution, nonprofit organization, contracts function, or comparable professional environment.
• Working familiarity with contracts and legal documents and the ability to organize information, identify issues, and escalate questions appropriately.
• Excellent organizational, project-management, proofreading, recordkeeping, and document-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a collaborative, service-oriented work style.
• Ability to work independently within established authority, manage concurrent assignments, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated discretion and sound judgment in handling confidential, privileged, and sensitive information.
• High standards of integrity, ethics, professionalism, and accountability.
• Strong writing, editing, and research skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, exercise discretion with confidential information, and work collaboratively across departments.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with contract management platforms is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in relevant field from an accredited program; paralegal certificate or related legal or business administration training or experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with contract administration, contract lifecycle management systems, legal operations, project coordination, policy administration, governance, or compliance support strongly preferred.
• Experience in sponsored research or grants, procurement or related fields a plus.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and managing a contract management or similar workflow system.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day paralegal, administrative, and project support to the General Counsel/Corporate Secretary.
• Conduct research and assist with correspondence, summaries, presentations, forms, and other legal or governance materials.
• Coordinate legal requests, maintain matter files and trackers, monitor deadlines, and follow up on action items.
• Assist with governance, compliance, risk-management, and other matters under the direction of the General Counsel.
• Coordinate the contract lifecycle from intake and review through approval, signature, filing, renewal, amendment, or termination.
• Receive and triage contract requests, confirm required information is complete, and coordinate legal, finance, operational, and stakeholder review.
• Support the launch, administration, and ongoing management of Erikson's dedicated contract lifecycle management platform, including workflow configuration, user support, data quality, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Organize and submit agreements, renewals, and other documents for review by the General Counsel.
• Support the review and administration of vendor and service agreements, MOUs, grants, sponsored-research agreements, data-sharing and licensing agreements, and other institutional contracts.
• Track key dates, deliverables, notice requirements, approvals, insurance documentation, and compliance obligations, and provide timely reminders and follow-up.
• Coordinate electronic signature and maintain complete contract records, templates, forms, reports, and dashboards.
• Coordinate legal and cross-functional projects through work plans, timelines, trackers, meeting materials, and follow-up communications.
• Help design, document, and implement efficient legal and contracting workflows, intake procedures, approval processes, and recordkeeping practices.
• Facilitate policy reviews and updates by maintaining an inventory and review calendar, coordinating stakeholder input, tracking revisions and approvals, and organizing final records.
• Assist with drafting, formatting, publishing, and implementing policies, procedures, forms, guidance, training materials, and compliance documentation.
• Support internal information requests, audits, due-diligence reviews, insurance and claims matters, and other compliance activities as assigned.
• Collaborate with internal departments and as directed, outside counsel, vendors, governmental agencies, partners, and other third parties.
• Guide internal stakeholders through established contract and legal processes while referring legal judgments and advice to the General Counsel.
• Support meetings, special projects, and institutional initiatives involving the Office of the General Counsel.
• Support vendor set up, invoice payment, communication and related tasks.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Erikson Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, family responsibilities, or any other classes protected by federal, state, or local laws.
• In addition, Erikson Institute provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws (including during the application or hiring process).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree