Contracts & Legal Administrator - 1O1K034

Our client is a design practice founded on the idea that buildings can serve as a bridge between nature, culture, and people and that inspiring surroundings positively affect people’s lives. The firm’s work can be found across the globe with projects as wide-ranging as huts to high rises, homes—often for art collectors—to academic, cultural and civic projects, museums and exhibition design, places of worship, creative production, urban design, and interior design.

Currently we are seeking a Contracts and Legal Administrator to join and support the inhouse Legal Affairs team.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Contracts and Legal Administrator will provide contracts and legal department project oversight and guidance in the areas of contract intake, drafting and negotiating, contract administration and contract process management, records management, general legal matters, corporate governance, and special projects that arise or as assigned. 

Primary Responsibilities

Responsible for creating, drafting, analyzing, negotiating, and coordinating the execution on an array of contracts for various types of projects, clients, vendors and staff.

Builds and maintains positive long-term relationships with employees, vendors, clients, and other business connections.

Maintains contract-related documents and correspondence.

Troubleshoots contract-related problems, such as breach of contract (nonpayment) or other non-compliance with contracting terms, advises Legal Director and other leadership of findings, analysis and guidance.

Coordinates with Project Managers and Administrators to track contracts and related follow-up by issuing any necessary amendments, change orders or other modifications, and also extends, renews, or closes out contracts when appropriate.

Minimize or eliminate risk factors related to the contractual relationship by incorporating the firms preferred and standard terms into all of its agreements.

In coordination with the Legal Affairs team, prioritizes the review, drafting, and revisions of a broad range of professional services agreements, including professional architecture and design project agreements, leases, consulting agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and various vendor agreements.

Responsible for maintaining and updating the firms contract templates and template/clause library to streamline the contracting process and interaction with the firms clients, while mitigating risk for the firm.

Conducts research and stays informed about changes to relevant rules, regulations, legal trends and new technologies impacting the business and legal landscape.

Provides gap analysis between existing policies and procedures and business activities, presents guidance to leadership on proposed change management, required updates, and other process improvements.

Coordinates and aligns contract management processes with the Firm’s retention policy and records management program to ensure compliance with retention and destruction schedules.

Participates in insurance renewals, provides oversight for required certificates of insurance and renewals (for consultants and clients).

Creates legal department presentations and reports, leads, and participates in various staff trainings and other learning initiatives, engages with staff to foster contract management and legal best practices.

Assists Director with corporate governance and administrative tasks, including state business and professional licensure filings, board and shareholder documents, updates to bylaws, articles, and annual meeting minutes.

Provides claim and litigation support to Legal Director, assists with review of claims and legal documents, conducts research, coordinates with outside counsel on dues dates, and other legal requirements for the resolution of claims or issues.

Requirements

Education/Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor’s in business administration, legal studies or a related field.
• Advanced legal studies preferred but not required.
• 2 - 4 years of contract administration experience and legal department support and administration;
• Experience within the AEC a plus
• High ethical standards, able to maintain a high level of discretion with confidential information
• Solid understanding of contract law principals, and familiarity with contract types, terms, and conditions.
• Familiarity with contract management software and tools, and ability to leverage technology for efficient contract management.
• Communicates effectively verbally and in writing, demonstrating the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of internal and external “clients” and vendors.

Benefits

The firm provides a generous benefits package that includes 16 days of paid time off, paid holidays, health plan, 401k match, bonuses, profit-sharing plans for qualified positions, a monthly travel subsidy for public transportation, and more. This position is a hybrid role with 80% being in office.

At the time of posting this job, the hiring range for this position in Seattle is between $70,000 and $80,000 annually.  Final salary decisions are made based upon the extent and relatedness of the candidate’s education and experience and considering internal equity and external market factors.