Manager, Contracts

Qualcomm • San Diego, CA

20d • $129,300 - $193,900 • Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Contracts drafts, negotiates, executes, administers, and manages contracts throughout their lifecycle, aligning clear contract terms with business objectives and stakeholder needs. The role negotiates terms, resolves issues, applies negotiation strategies to achieve business goals and mitigate risk, and maintains an up-to-date understanding of Qualcomm policies, positions, operations, and applicable legal guidelines.

This position focuses on complex, high-impact supplier agreements, including procurement contracts supporting foundry, manufacturing, test, assembly, and component suppliers. It partners with legal, sourcing, finance, engineering, stakeholders, and other subject-matter experts to develop contract strategies that protect Qualcomm’s business, intellectual property, and leadership positions, while supporting early access to tools, advanced materials, and technologies. The Manager also leads contract systems and business processes, drives process improvements, and uses technology, including CLM and AI tools, to streamline contract creation and maintenance, improve velocity, assess risk, and support compliance.

The role works independently with minimal supervision, manages competing priorities and deadlines, and communicates practical, business-oriented contractual guidance to stakeholders with varied levels of contract, business, and technical knowledge. The position must be performed five days a week in a Qualcomm office in San Diego or a nearby market; relocation to San Diego is also an option.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business Administration, Business Law, Political Science, Communication, Business, a related field, or equivalent practical experience; the minimum qualification also lists a bachelor’s degree in Communication, Business, Political Science, or a related field.
• At least 6 years of contract administration experience or related work experience.
• The role description also specifies 10+ years of professional experience in contract management, legal, or procurement roles, focused on end-to-end contract lifecycle management.
• Professional experience drafting, reviewing, redlining, and negotiating procurement contracts.
• Experience supporting contracts for foundry, manufacturing, test, assembly, and component suppliers.
• Proficiency with contract lifecycle management (CLM) and AI solutions or tools to streamline and automate contract management.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and exercise sound judgment in complex contract matters.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines while maintaining accuracy, professionalism, and attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional and multicultural teams, including business, legal, sourcing, finance, engineering, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to interpret contractual, business, and risk considerations and use sound judgment to determine trade-offs and non-negotiables.
• Ability to communicate complex contractual issues clearly and influence stakeholder decisions with business-oriented guidance and risk-based recommendations.
• Must be willing to relocate to San Diego or work in a Qualcomm office in a nearby market five days a week.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or doctorate degree, including a Juris Doctorate, in Communication, Business, Political Science, or a related field.
• Certification in legal, contracts, or a related area.
• At least 8 years of contract administration experience.
• At least 2 years of work experience in a role requiring interaction with senior leadership, such as Director level and above.
• At least 2 years in a leadership role, with or without direct reports; applies only to positions with direct reports.
• Completed advanced degrees in a relevant field may substitute for up to two years of work experience: a master’s degree for one year and a doctorate for two years.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and execute complex, high-impact supplier agreements in collaboration with legal, stakeholders, sourcing, finance, and other cross-functional groups.
• Collaborate with sourcing, stakeholders, legal, and subject-matter experts to develop contract strategies that protect Qualcomm’s business, intellectual property, and leadership positions and support early access to tools, advanced materials, and technologies.
• Research, analyze, and present contractual positions, including liability and confidentiality, with stakeholders and subject-matter experts; assess and mitigate risk and manage contractual results through negotiation or other means.
• Lead and manage contract management systems and related business processes in accordance with business-unit requirements.
• Drive contract process improvements that support business objectives, reduce cycle time, and eliminate non-value-added costs.
• Manage complex contract matters independently, exercising sound judgment while balancing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Communicate complex contractual issues clearly to stakeholders with varying levels of contract, business, and technical knowledge.
• Lead contract-related initiatives, escalations, and process improvements to drive business objectives, mitigate risk, and improve operational efficiency.
• Influence stakeholder decisions by providing practical, business-oriented contract guidance and risk-based recommendations.
• Develop and implement contract strategies, templates, playbooks, and business processes aligned with organizational objectives.
• Use technology, including CLM and AI solutions, to streamline and automate contract creation and maintenance, improve velocity, conduct risk assessment, and ensure compliance.

Benefits

• Competitive annual discretionary bonus program.
• Opportunity for annual RSU grants; employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for the annual bonus.
• Competitive benefits package designed to support employees at work, at home, and at play.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager