Job Title: Paralegal – Contract Lead

Location: Bengaluru (Sarjapur)

Department: Legal

Reporting To: Leader Legal

Experience Required: 10+ years

Employment Type: Full time Job Summary

Azim Premji Foundation is seeking an experienced and purpose-driven Contract Lead to manage and oversee the full spectrum of contracts supporting its operations and programs. This includes construction contracts, administrative/vendor agreements, grant agreements, intellectual property (IPR) matters, and other institutional engagements.

The role will be responsible for building robust contract governance practices while leading a small team of three professionals and collaborating closely with program, finance, legal, and administrative teams to ensure compliance, efficiency, and risk mitigation. Key Responsibilities

Contract Lifecycle Management

Lead end-to-end management of diverse contracts, including:

Construction and infrastructure-related agreements (EPC)

Administrative and vendor contracts

Grant agreements and donor-linked documentation

Intellectual property (IPR) and knowledge-sharing arrangements

Draft, review, negotiate, and finalize contracts ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s objectives and policies.

Develop and maintain standardized templates, playbooks, and documentation protocols. Governance, Risk & Compliance

Ensure all contracts comply with applicable laws and internal governance frameworks.

Identify contractual risks and recommend effective mitigation strategies.

Work closely with internal legal counsel to address complex legal issues.

Conduct periodic reviews and audits to ensure adherence to contractual and compliance standards.

Stakeholder

Collaboration

Partner with internal teams (Programs, Finance, Procurement, Admin) to understand contracting needs and provide timely support.

Support program teams in structuring agreements.





Act as a trusted advisor for contract-related decision-making across the Foundation. Team Leadership

Lead and mentor a team of three contract professionals.

Allocate responsibilities, set goals, and monitor performance.

Build capability within the team through training and knowledge sharing.

Process

Excellence & Systems

Strengthen contract management processes to improve turnaround time and accuracy.

Maintain a centralized contract repository with proper tracking and version control.

Introduce and optimize tools or systems for contract lifecycle management, where relevant.

Track key metrics related to contract efficiency, compliance, and risk.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in law, (postgraduate preferred).

Minimum 10 years of corporate or institutional experience, with significant exposure to contract management.

Exposure to infrastructure or construction-related contracting.

Demonstrated experience handling a variety of contracts, including construction (EPC), vendor agreements, grants, and IPR-related matters.

Proven track record of leading teams and managing stakeholders across functions.

Strong understanding of legal and commercial aspects of contracts.

Preferred

Attributes

Experience working in the non-profit / development sector or with philanthropic organizations.

Experience with contract management / contract execution tools or systems. Key Competencies

Strong alignment with the Foundation’s values and mission

High integrity and attention to detail

Excellent negotiation and communication skills

Structured thinking and problem-solving ability

Ability to manage complexity across diverse contract types

Collaborative and stakeholder-oriented mindset Success Indicators

Timely and high-quality execution of contract lifecycle processes

Strong compliance and minimal contractual risk exposure

Effective support to program and operational teams

Development and performance of the contracts team

📌 Legal - Contract Lead (Bengaluru)
🏢 Azim Premji Foundation
📍 Bengaluru