Valley Bank · 10 hours ago
Contracts Specialist
Morristown, NJ
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
5+ years expValley Bank is a leading relationship bank built for growth, with a commitment to helping clients achieve their goals. They are seeking a highly motivated Contracts Specialist to draft, review, and negotiate various contracts while ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Banking
Responsibilities
Prepare, review and edit both standard and non-standard contracts, including Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), professional services agreements, purchase agreements, software license/SaaS agreements, and other business contracts
Ensure clarity, accuracy, and legal soundness in contract language to protect the bank's interests
Collaborate with internal stakeholders (legal, procurement, business counterparts, etc.) and external parties to negotiate favorable contract terms. This includes negotiating clauses on confidentiality, indemnity, liabilities, payment terms, and service level expectations to achieve mutually beneficial agreements while mitigating risk
Assist in managing the contract lifecycle from draft to execution and renewal. This may involve coordinating approvals, maintaining version control, and ensuring all obligations and milestones are tracked
Address inquiries related to contract interpretation and provide guidance to business teams on contract obligations. Serve as a point of contact for clarifying contract scope, terminations, or ambiguities. Advise internal departments on compliance with contractual obligations in cost-effective ways
Verify that contract terms comply with all relevant laws, regulations, and company policies (e.g. interagency guidance, data privacy laws, internal risk policies)
Analyze contract clauses to identify potential risks or conflicts
Recommend amendments or protective provisions to prevent future disputes
Resolve contract-related issues or escalate as needed, protecting the bank's interests
Contribute to improving contract processes and may help develop contract playbooks, templates, or checklists to streamline review of recurring contract types. Must have working proficiency with contract management software
Qualification
Required
Contract Law Knowledge: A strong understanding of contract law and legal terminology. Candidate should be well-versed in key contractual concepts (indemnities, warranties, limitations of liability, termination clauses, etc.) and stay updated on any laws or regulations that impact the bank's contracts (for instance, financial regulatory compliance, privacy laws like CCPA for data in vendor contracts, etc.)
Negotiation & Communication: Excellent negotiation skills and communication abilities are core skills for this role. Must confidently negotiate with outside parties (vendors, service providers, partners) to secure terms favorable to the bank, which requires persuasion and a clear understanding of the bank's risk tolerance. The candidate will also need to communicate complex legal concepts in plain language to internal stakeholders
Organization & Time Management: Given the high volume of contracts that the bank handles, the ability to manage multiple contracts simultaneously and prioritize workload effectively is mandatory. Strong organizational skills -- including maintaining meticulous records and tracking deadlines -- are required
Detail Orientation and Analytical Skills: Candidate must be detail-oriented and employ analytical thinking to catch discrepancies or unfavorable terms
Technical Skills: Proficiency with contract management software or database systems. Additionally, general MS Office proficiency (especially Word for redlining contracts and Excel for tracking) is expected
A willing team player who can collaborate with attorneys, procurement professionals, and business owners is critical
Candidate must be able to work cross-functionally and adapt to fast-paced or changing business needs
Bachelor's Degree and 5 years of relevant experience in commercial contract drafting management, analysis, and negotiation. Experience with emerging legal tech or AI tools is a plus
Preferred
Juris Doctor, Licensed Attorney: Strong preference for candidates who are licensed attorneys and have practiced law in the past. Familiarity with the banking or financial services industry is a strong plus
Experience with technology contracts (software licensing, SaaS, cloud services), outsourcing agreements, consulting agreements, and NDAs, is a strong plus
Preference for candidates who have shown initiative in improving contract processes -- e.g., developing contract templates, implementing a contract tracking system, or training business teams on contracting policies
Company
Valley Bank
Valley National Bank is a regional financial institution
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Curt Lang
Chief Banking Officer, New Jersey
Sanjay Sidhwani
Chief Data & Analytics Officer
Recent News
2025-12-02
alleywatch.com
2025-11-24
2025-11-21
Company data provided by crunchbase