Legal Support Specialist Jobs in New Jersey

Contract Specialist – Global Franchise Agreements

Reports To: Director, Franchise Enablement

FLSA Status: Non‑Exempt

Location: Madison, NJ HQ

Position Overview

The Contract Specialist is responsible for drafting, reviewing, and administering franchise agreements and related contractual documents across a global portfolio of franchising brands. This role supports the full contract lifecycle—from initial draft through execution, amendments, renewals, and post‑execution changes—while ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with approved legal templates, brand standards, and jurisdictional requirements.

The ideal candidate brings strong franchise contract drafting expertise, experience supporting international franchise transactions, and the ability to navigate complex, multi‑brand deal structures in collaboration with Legal, Franchise Sales, Finance, and Brand Leadership. This role does not negotiate deal terms, but plays a critical role in translating approved business and legal terms into executable contract documents.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft and Prepare Franchise Agreements

• Draft franchise agreements, addenda, amendments, consolidations, and renewal documents using approved templates and playbooks.

• Support both domestic and international franchise transactions, including the preparation of country‑specific addenda and jurisdictional modifications. Demonstrated familiarity with international franchising concepts, including master franchise structures, area development agreements, and country‑specific regulatory considerations.

• Ensure consistency and accuracy across multi‑brand and multi‑entity franchise structures.

• Global Contract Lifecycle Management

• Manage contracts through an electronic contract lifecycle management (CLM) system from draft through execution and ongoing maintenance.

• Implement post‑execution requirements.

• Ensure executed agreements are properly finalized, stored, and retrievable for audit and business needs.

• Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Legal, Franchise Sales, Finance, Brand Representatives, and Enablement teams to ensure contract documents accurately reflect approved deal structures.

• Serve as a subject matter resource on franchise agreement structure, standard provisions, and drafting requirements.

• Clearly explain contractual language and requirements to internal stakeholders.

• Process, Quality, and Governance

• Uphold strict adherence to established policies, procedures, and approval workflows.

• Conduct detailed reviews to ensure data accuracy and document completeness prior to execution.

• Identify drafting issues, inconsistencies, or risks and escalate appropriately.

• Operational Excellence

• Prioritize and manage multiple contracts concurrently, consistently meeting deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.

• Maintain strong attention to detail while managing high contract volume across multiple brands.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of drafting standards, templates, and contract processes, and share best practices across team members.

Required Qualifications

• Experience drafting, preparing, or administering contracts
• Direct experience with franchise agreements strongly preferred
• Exposure to or experience supporting international contracts
• Strong written communication and contract drafting skills
• Proven ability to manage multiple deadlines with precision and organization
• High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Ability to work independently while collaborating cross‑functionally
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and electronic contract lifecycle management systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Paralegal Certificate or equivalent legal training
• Franchise industry experience
• Experience working with global franchise models, such as master franchising or area development
• Familiarity with standardized contract playbooks and template governance

Core Competencies

• Contract drafting and document management
• Global mindset with jurisdictional awareness
• Strong judgment and issue‑spotting skills
• Professional communication and stakeholder partnership
• Process discipline and execution excellence