Sr. Contracts Manager

Summit Interconnect is seeking a highly skilled Senior Contracts Manager & Corporate Paralegal to operationalize our legal and commercial functions. As a key partner to the executive team, you will blend the commercial acumen of a Contracts Manager with the procedural expertise of a seasoned Paralegal.

In this hybrid role, you will not only manage the lifecycle of customer and vendor agreements but also handle corporate governance, support M&A due diligence, and act as the primary drafter of legal documents. You will serve as the internal legal gatekeeper, ensuring Summit Interconnect mitigates risk while maintaining the agility required to serve the Aerospace, Defense, and Medical sectors.

Key Responsibilities

1. Commercial Contract Management & Drafting

• Drafting & Redlining: Go beyond review—utilize paralegal drafting skills to create contract amendments, addendums, and termination letters from scratch.
• Complex Negotiations: Lead negotiations on Master Supply Agreements (MSAs), Long Term Agreements (LTAs), and complex NDAs, ensuring "flow-down" of critical clauses (ITAR, FAR/DFARS, quality specs).
• Battle of the Forms: expertly navigate "battle of the forms" scenarios in PO acknowledgments to ensure Summit's terms prevail over customer boilerplate terms.

2. Corporate Governance & Entity Management

• Corporate Records: Maintain the corporate minute books, operating agreements, and resolutions for Summit Interconnect and its subsidiaries.
• State Filings: Manage annual reports, foreign qualifications, and business license renewals across all operating states.
• M&A Support: Play a lead role in future acquisitions by organizing data rooms, conducting due diligence on target contracts, and assisting with post-merger integration of legal entities.

3. Compliance, Risk & LoA Enforcement

• LoA Guardian: Manage the Limitation of Authority (LoA) matrix. prepare "Executive Summaries" of high-risk contracts for C-Suite signature, clearly outlining deviations from standard terms.
• Regulatory Compliance: Partner with the Quality/Compliance team to ensure contract language aligns with ITAR, EAR, and NIST cybersecurity requirements.
• Insurance Management: Manage the Certificate of Insurance (COI) process for customers and vendors; review carrier policies to ensure adequate coverage for specific manufacturing risks.

4. Legal Operations & Litigation Support

• External Counsel Liaison: Act as the sophisticated interface for outside counsel. Prepare case briefs and gather evidence to reduce billable hours spent by external lawyers.
• Dispute Resolution: Draft initial demand letters for collections or vendor disputes. Gather facts and documentation (emails, POs, quality reports) to support potential litigation or settlements.
• Template Library: Build and maintain a library of pre-approved legal templates (NDAs, Reps & Certs, Consulting Agreements) to streamline internal operations.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree PLUS an ABA-Approved Paralegal Certificate (Required).
• Experience: 7+ years of combined experience in Contract Management and Corporate Paralegal work (preferably in-house at a manufacturing or technology company).
• M&A Experience: Prior experience assisting with mergers, acquisitions, or corporate restructuring is highly preferred.
• Technical Skills: Expert proficiency in contract management software (CLM) and legal research tools.
• Soft Skills: High emotional intelligence with the ability to "translate" legal jargon for Sales and Engineering teams.

Preferred Attributes

• The "Issue Spotter": You have a paralegal's trained eye for ambiguity. You spot the vague definitions in a contract that could lead to a lawsuit 3 years down the road.
• Drafting Precision: You pride yourself on clean, concise legal writing that eliminates confusion.
• Project Manager Mindset: You can manage a litigation hold or a due diligence checklist as effectively as you manage a contract renewal.

ITAR Compliance Notice

This position requires compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Under ITAR, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (e.g., "Green Card" holder), asylee, or refugee as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). Applicants who do not meet this requirement may not be eligible for employment in this position.

Summit Interconnect is an Equal Opportunity Employer
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone is valued and respected. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.