AGM – Contracts Management 72992

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Assistant General Manager (AGM) – Contracts Management will serve as the head of the Contracts Management Team within the Legal function. This senior leadership role is responsible for building and operating an end-to-end contracts lifecycle management function across diverse business verticals — including technology, media, manufacturing, real estate, financial services, and institutional partnerships.

The role demands a commercially astute legal professional who can balance legal rigour with business pragmatism, provide reliable strategic counsel to business teams, and manage a growing team of contracts professionals.

POSITION DETAILS

Designation AGM – Contracts Management

Department Legal, Contracts & Compliance

Location Manipal, Karnataka

Experience Required Minimum 12 years post-LLB qualification

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Contracts Lifecycle Management

Lead the end-to-end contracts management process — origination, drafting, review, negotiation, execution, storage, and post-execution monitoring — across all TMG entities and business lines.

Establish and continually refine standard operating procedures (SOPs), contract templates, playbooks, and clause banks to ensure consistency, speed, and quality.

Implement and oversee a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system or equivalent process automation to track contract milestones, renewals, obligations, and SLAs.

Review and approve high-value, complex, or sensitive contracts prior to submission to the GC or senior management.

B. Drafting & Negotiation

Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements including but not limited to: technology/IT service contracts, SaaS and software licensing agreements, manufacturing and supply chain contracts, media licensing and content agreements, EPC/construction contracts, real estate and lease deeds, joint venture and shareholders’ agreements, insurance and financial services contracts, MoUs and strategic partnership agreements, government/PSU contracts, and employment/consultancy agreements.

Lead negotiation sessions with counterparties, vendors, partners, and clients, ensuring TMG’s interests are protected and that commercially sound positions are maintained.

Advise business teams on negotiation strategies, risk trade-offs, and acceptable deviations from standard templates.

C. Risk Management & Compliance

Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and commercial risks in contracts, escalating material issues to the GC with clear recommendations.

Ensure contractual compliance with applicable Indian laws including the Indian Contract Act 1872, Companies Act 2013, IT Act 2000, FEMA, labour laws, sector-specific regulations (printing, media, NBFC), and emerging data privacy obligations.

Ensure contracts with international counterparties address cross-border legal considerations including choice of law, dispute resolution, export regulations, and international trade compliance.

Maintain a risk register for significant contracts and oversee timely resolution of contractual disputes, notices, and claims.

D. Team Leadership & Development

Lead, mentor, and develop the Contracts Management Team, setting clear KPIs and performance standards.

Review and guide the work product of team members, providing structured feedback and ensuring quality output.

Build team capability through training, knowledge sharing, and exposure to complex matters.

Manage workload distribution and prioritisation within the team, ensuring timely delivery to internal clients.

E. Stakeholder Management & Advisory

Act as the primary legal interface for business heads, operations teams, procurement, finance, and HR on all contract-related matters.

Conduct periodic contract awareness and compliance training sessions for business units.

Support the GC on special projects including M&A due diligence, group restructuring, regulatory matters, and board-level submissions.

Liaise with external legal counsel as required, managing scope, quality, and cost of external instructions.

F. Governance & Reporting

Prepare periodic reports and dashboards for the GC covering contract volumes, TAT, risk heat maps, and pending renewals.

Drive adoption of a Contracts Governance Framework across TMG entities, standardising approval matrices and delegation of authority.

Ensure proper archiving and version control of all executed contracts in the document management system.

QUALIFICATIONS

LLB (Bachelor of Laws) from a recognised institution — mandatory.

Post-graduate qualification in Law (LLM) or Company Secretary — preferred, not mandatory.

EXPERIENCE

Minimum 12 years of post-qualification experience in contracts management, commercial law, or corporate legal practice.

Prior in-house experience in a large diversified corporate group, conglomerate, or multi-business entity — strongly preferred.

Demonstrated experience managing a contracts or legal team of 2 or more professionals.

Proven track record of independently drafting and negotiating high-value, complex commercial agreements across multiple sectors.

Experience with regulated industries (technology, printing/smart cards, media, financial services, or real estate) will be an added advantage.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Technical / Legal Skills

Expert-level knowledge of Indian contract law, corporate law, intellectual property, and commercial transactions.

Strong command over a wide range of contract types — commercial, technology, manufacturing, real estate, JV, finance, and services.

Proficiency in legal risk identification, risk assessment frameworks, and mitigation strategies.

Working knowledge of Indian regulatory environment across TMG’s business segments (IT Act, SEBI, FEMA, printing/packaging regulations, media laws, etc.).

Experience with CLM tools or contract management platforms (e.g., Icertis, Ironclad, ContractPodAi, or equivalent) is desirable.

Ability to read and interpret technical documents and translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable business language.

Leadership & Soft Skills

Strong leadership and people management capabilities; ability to build, inspire, and develop a high-performing team.

Excellent drafting skills — precision, clarity, and the ability to produce commercially balanced, well-structured contracts.

High business acumen with the ability to understand commercial context, sector dynamics, and business priorities.

Strong negotiation and influencing skills — calm, persuasive, and firm under pressure.

Exceptional communication skills — written and verbal — with the ability to engage senior stakeholders and board members.

Organised, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Integrity, confidentiality, and sound professional ethics.