Principal Contract Negotiator

Workday • McLean, VA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Your work days are brighter here. We’re obsessed with making hard work pay off, for our people, our customers, and the world around us. As a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, we’re shaping the future of work so teams can reach their potential and focus on what matters most. The minute you join, you’ll feel it. Not just in the products we build, but in how we show up for each other. Our culture is rooted in integrity, empathy, and shared enthusiasm. We’re in this together, tackling big challenges with bold ideas and genuine care. We look for curious minds and courageous collaborators who bring sun-drenched optimism and drive. Whether you're building smarter solutions, supporting customers, or creating a space where everyone belongs, you’ll do meaningful work with Workmates who’ve got your back. In return, we’ll give you the trust to take risks, the tools to grow, the skills to develop and the support of a company invested in you for the long haul. So, if you want to inspire a brighter work day for everyone, including yourself, you’ve found a match in Workday, and we hope to be a match for you too. About the Team The Global Legal Services team delivers world class legal shared services to Workday’s Legal team in a wide variety of transactional and in-depth work. This worldwide team comprises contract management professionals who handle work across Workday’s customers, partners, and vendors. The team is asked to manage a large volume of requests and interact with several cross functional teams, and it operates at scale through simplicity, speed, and skills. About the Role As a Principal Contract Manager at Workday, you will play a crucial role in managing the full contract lifecycle for a fast-growing, innovative company. This position demands critical thinking, high integrity, and strong operational management. You will be directly responsible for negotiating, drafting, and administering contractual documents that establish complex business relationships with vendors, customers, and partners. This involves collaborating closely with Procurement, Business Technology, Sales, Service, and Legal teams to structure agreements and ensure all contracts comply with company policies, government specifications, and other applicable legal requirements. Success requires a proactive approach, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to work independently while managing multiple, sensitive priorities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 10+ years of experience managing contracts and contractual operations in a corporate environment
• Direct experience drafting and negotiating complex agreements, particularly in vendor/buy-side and subscription/technology contexts
• Proven track record of independently reviewing and negotiating complex buy-side documents, including Supplier Agreements, SaaS Agreements, Sponsorship Agreements, and Data Protection Amendments
• Experience with data privacy rules and contracts
• Meticulous attention to detail and proven track record of strong organizational and project-tracking skills
• Demonstrated success in setting priorities, managing multiple tasks simultaneously, and adapting to dynamic business needs
• Exceptional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills necessary for effective collaboration with all levels of the company, including executive management
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and thrive in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Direct experience using a Contract Management System (e.g., SFDC, Apttus, Conga) and electronic signature software (e.g., AdobeSign, DocuSign)

Responsibilities

• Contract Drafting & Negotiation Lead the negotiation of proposed contract modifications with internal partners and third parties, securing necessary internal and external approvals.
• Draft, review, and revise contract wording, including amendments, to address specific business requirements and legal concerns as they arise.
• Act as a primary liaison for the Legal department, providing cross-functional teams with clear guidance on common edits, non-standard terms, policies, and contract-related questions.
• Process & Workflow Management Manage the end-to-end contract review workflow for a variety of contract types, from initial request generation through signature routing and final distribution.
• Contribute to the maintenance and continuous improvement of the contracts management system and associated operational processes.
• Support the Legal team in reviewing and responding to formal Requests for Proposals (RFP/RFI/RFQ).
• Legal & Business Support Maintain and enhance critical processes and collaboration points between the Legal department and other internal business groups.
• Provide administrative and operational support to in-house legal staff, including document research, correspondence management, and record-keeping.
• Execute assigned projects as determined by the evolving needs of the business and the Legal department.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees