Job Description:

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.