Strategic Contract Development Manager

McKesson•Alpharetta, GA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Strategic Contract Development Manager (CDM) is a senior individual contributor who acts as a trusted advisor to Sales and cross-functional partners on highly complex, high-risk, and high-visibility contracts. This role independently manages contract strategy, structuring and process, applying deep expertise, judgment, and creativity within broadly defined policies. The CDM frequently represents the company with senior internal leaders and stakeholders and plays a critical role in achieving strategic business objectives.

Requirements

Degree or equivalent and typically requires 7+ years of relevant experience.
Advanced contract and commercial acumen, with the ability to interpret and apply complex business and legal concepts.
Understanding of contract lifecycle management, including deal intake, execution, and post-execution considerations.
Foundational knowledge of pricing and finance concepts to support accurate inclusion of cost and rebate terms in contracts.
Demonstrated ability to independently solve complex, ambiguous problems using sound judgment, discretion, and creativity.
Strong influencing, collaboration, and communication skills, with the ability to gain alignment and drive decisions across senior leaders and cross-functional partners without formal authority.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex issues and recommendations.
Proven ability to operate independently with minimal direction, managing multiple high-priority matters simultaneously.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assess risk, identify gaps, and evaluate downstream business impacts.
High attention to detail balanced with the ability to maintain a strategic, enterprise-level perspective.
Ability to translate business requirements into clear, comprehensive deal summaries and recommendations for stakeholders.
Must be authorized to work in the US. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Nice To Haves

Strong working knowledge of healthcare, pharmaceutical, or regulated industry contracting environments.
Project management capability to independently lead complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives (certification not required).
Ability to anticipate change and redirect efforts proactively as deal dynamics of a deal evolve.
Business acumen across multiple business units and solution areas; ability to quickly learn and apply enterprise-wide context.
Time management and prioritization skills suited to managing high-impact, high-urgency work.
Comfort acting as a subject matter expert and internal consultant on deal structuring and processes.

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted advisor to Sales and internal stakeholders on contract drafting process, pricing considerations, risk mitigation, and contract strategy for complex and enterprise-level agreements.
Lead end-to-end contract development for high-impact deals, including: Customer terms and conditions, Risk and gap analysis, Operational feasibility assessments, Coordination through contract execution.
Independently evaluate and resolve complex contract issues, exercising sound judgment within broadly defined policies and escalating only when necessary.
Anticipate contractual, operational, and financial risks; proactively recommend alternative approaches that align with business objectives while protecting the company.
Actively participate in contract negotiations with customers, vendors, and internal stakeholders, when appropriate.
Serve as a key liaison between Sales, Legal, Finance, Pricing, and Operations to ensure clarity, alignment, and efficient use of Legal resources.
Provide project leadership for contract-related initiatives, including timeline planning, cross-functional coordination, and issue resolution.
Identify recurring contract issues and contribute to process improvements, templates, and best practices that improve efficiency and scalability.
Mentor and support less experienced contract team members by sharing expertise and providing informal guidance (without formal people management responsibility).
Manage contract communications and follow through to ensure timely execution and resolution of outstanding issues.
Support broader Sales or business initiatives beyond contract development when specialized expertise is required.