Contracts Manager Jobs
Contracts Manager jobs are open across construction, defense, healthcare, technology, and government contracting, from entry-level to senior and director level, with specializations in procurement, commercial contracts, and government contracts administration. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Key responsibilities include:
- Preparing, drafting, reviewing, and negotiating the terms and conditions of contracts involving and supporting University at Buffalo research activities and intellectual property. These activities include, for example, serving as the lead negotiator for industry sponsored research, license, equity and option agreements.
- Responsible for drafting, negotiating, and executing the terms and conditions of a wide variety of agreements, primarily in the areas of industry-related research and intellectual property, to enable industry partnerships while ensuring compliance with University and Research Foundation policies.
- Responsible for coordinating with internal customers such as Principal Investigators, study staff, Technology Transfer staff, and the Office of Sponsored Projects Services to obtain technical information, budgets, protocols, and scopes-of-work for pre-award contract negotiation and execution, transitioning executed agreements to SPS for post-award activity, and utilizing and maintaining the contracts database.
The successful candidate is expected to stay apprised of evolving regulations, trends, and standards relative to technology transfer and industry sponsored research, and to incorporate those into future agreements in compliance with SUNY and Research Foundation policies.
Outstanding Benefits Package Working at UB comes with benefits that exceed salary alone. There are personal rewards including comprehensive health and retirement plan options. We also focus on creating and sustaining a healthy mix of work, personal and academic pursuit – all in an effort to support your work-life effectiveness. Visit our benefits website to learn about our benefit packages.
About UB The University at Buffalo is SUNY’s most comprehensive public research university, and an outstanding place to work. UB amplifies ambition for faculty and staff by offering endless possibilities to achieve more. Here, people from all backgrounds and cultures challenge and inspire each other to discover, learn and succeed. Dedicated staff and engaged faculty collaborate to further knowledge and understanding, and develop tenacious graduates who are valued for their talents and their impact on global society. Visit our website to learn more about the University at Buffalo.
As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer, the Research Foundation will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin and veteran or disability status.
- Bachelor’s degree, and 3 years of experience working in technology transfer, sponsored research, intellectual property, or other contract negotiations. The requirement may be satisfied by an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience substantively drafting and negotiating the terms and conditions of contracts. The requirement may be satisfied by an equivalent combination of education (ex – JD) or experience.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word and Outlook.
- Advanced degree in law, business, or science.
- Five or more years of experience working in technology transfer, business development, intellectual property, or other contract negotiations.
- Experience drafting and negotiating agreements related to technology transfer in a university setting.
- Experience drafting and negotiating contracts related to industry sponsored research in a university setting.
- Experience in reviewing, drafting and negotiating stock purchase agreements, membership interest purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, operating agreements and ancillary related documents and instruments.
- Experience in reviewing transactional diligence, including corporate governance matters.
Key responsibilities include:
- Preparing, drafting, reviewing, and negotiating the terms and conditions of contracts involving and supporting University at Buffalo research activities and intellectual property. These activities include, for example, serving as the lead negotiator for industry sponsored research, license, equity and option agreements.
- Responsible for drafting, negotiating, and executing the terms and conditions of a wide variety of agreements, primarily in the areas of industry-related research and intellectual property, to enable industry partnerships while ensuring compliance with University and Research Foundation policies.
- Responsible for coordinating with internal customers such as Principal Investigators, study staff, Technology Transfer staff, and the Office of Sponsored Projects Services to obtain technical information, budgets, protocols, and scopes-of-work for pre-award contract negotiation and execution, transitioning executed agreements to SPS for post-award activity, and utilizing and maintaining the contracts database.
The successful candidate is expected to stay apprised of evolving regulations, trends, and standards relative to technology transfer and industry sponsored research, and to incorporate those into future agreements in compliance with SUNY and Research Foundation policies.
Outstanding Benefits Package Working at UB comes with benefits that exceed salary alone. There are personal rewards including comprehensive health and retirement plan options. We also focus on creating and sustaining a healthy mix of work, personal and academic pursuit – all in an effort to support your work-life effectiveness. Visit our benefits website to learn about our benefit packages.
About UB The University at Buffalo is SUNY’s most comprehensive public research university, and an outstanding place to work. UB amplifies ambition for faculty and staff by offering endless possibilities to achieve more. Here, people from all backgrounds and cultures challenge and inspire each other to discover, learn and succeed. Dedicated staff and engaged faculty collaborate to further knowledge and understanding, and develop tenacious graduates who are valued for their talents and their impact on global society. Visit our website to learn more about the University at Buffalo.
As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer, the Research Foundation will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin and veteran or disability status.
- Bachelor’s degree, and 3 years of experience working in technology transfer, sponsored research, intellectual property, or other contract negotiations. The requirement may be satisfied by an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience substantively drafting and negotiating the terms and conditions of contracts. The requirement may be satisfied by an equivalent combination of education (ex – JD) or experience.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word and Outlook.
- Advanced degree in law, business, or science.
- Five or more years of experience working in technology transfer, business development, intellectual property, or other contract negotiations.
- Experience drafting and negotiating agreements related to technology transfer in a university setting.
- Experience drafting and negotiating contracts related to industry sponsored research in a university setting.
- Experience in reviewing, drafting and negotiating stock purchase agreements, membership interest purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, operating agreements and ancillary related documents and instruments.
- Experience in reviewing transactional diligence, including corporate governance matters.
Contracts Manager Jobs by Experience Level
Top Cities Hiring Contracts Managers
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Find Contracts Manager JobsContracts Manager Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Amazon12
- Raytheon10
- BAE Systems USA10
- ECC7
- Leidos7
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software11
- Construction & Real Estate9
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals8
- Electronics & Hardware7
- Consulting & Professional Services7
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in contracts manager jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in business, law, supply chain, or a related field
- Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial or government contracts
- Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations for government or defense contracting roles
- Proficiency with contract lifecycle management software such as Ironclad, Ariba, or Conga
- Certified Commercial Contracts Manager or Certified Professional Contracts Manager credential preferred
- Ability to collaborate with legal, finance, and procurement stakeholders across the organization
Tips for Your Contracts Manager Job Search
Quantify contract values on your resume
Hiring managers want to see the dollar value and complexity of contracts you've managed. List the total contract value, number of active agreements, and whether you handled prime or subcontractor relationships, not just the duties you performed.
Highlight your FAR and DFARS knowledge
Federal Acquisition Regulation and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement experience sets you apart for government and defense roles. Call out specific clauses you've negotiated or administered, and name any agencies or prime contractors you've worked with directly.
Target openings by contract type
Job listings often specify fixed-price, cost-reimbursable, time-and-materials, or SaaS subscription agreements. Filter your search by those terms to find roles where your specific contract background matches what the employer actually needs.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists contracts manager openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare scenario answers around disputes
Interviewers for contracts manager roles almost always ask how you've handled a breach, claim, or scope dispute. Prepare two or three specific examples with the contract type, the issue, your resolution approach, and the outcome.
Negotiate by anchoring to contract risk
When discussing compensation, frame your value around the financial risk you mitigate and the contract revenue you protect. Candidates who connect their work to business outcomes negotiate more effectively than those who lead with years of experience.
Contracts Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most contracts managers?
The companies hiring the most contracts managers right now include Amazon, Raytheon, and BAE Systems USA, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and Virginia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Defense primes, large health systems, and enterprise technology companies consistently post the highest volume of contracts manager openings.
How many contracts manager jobs are remote?
About 64% of contracts manager openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, making it one of the more flexible professional roles in the field. Commercial contracts and SaaS agreement management roles tend to offer the most remote flexibility, while construction and government contracts positions more often require an on-site or hybrid presence.
How do you become a contracts manager?
Start with a bachelor's degree in business, law, supply chain, or a related field, then build experience in contract administration, procurement, or paralegal work where you regularly handle agreement review and negotiation. Earning a professional certification such as the Certified Commercial Contracts Manager credential strengthens your candidacy significantly. Most contracts managers move into the role after several years in a specialist or coordinator position where they handled contract drafting and vendor relationships directly.
Can I get a contracts manager job with little experience?
Entry-level contracts manager roles do exist, particularly in government contracting and large procurement departments that hire contract administrators who grow into management. Your strongest path in is direct experience reviewing or drafting agreements, even in a paralegal, purchasing coordinator, or project management context. Familiarity with contract lifecycle management tools and a working knowledge of basic contract law concepts will help you compete with candidates who have more years in dedicated contracts roles.
What does the contracts manager interview process look like?
Most contracts manager interviews include an initial recruiter screen focused on your background and contract types you've managed, followed by one or two rounds with the hiring manager and cross-functional stakeholders such as legal, finance, or procurement leads. Expect scenario-based questions about how you've handled disputes, indemnification clauses, or scope changes. Some employers add a written exercise asking you to redline a short contract or summarize key risk provisions before the final round.
Where can I find and apply to contracts manager jobs?
You can find and apply to contracts manager jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your contract type experience and seniority level, then apply directly to each listing.
See All 459+ Contracts Manager Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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