Vendor Management Legal - Manager

Manager– Legal (Corporate Functions & Vendor Contracting)
GROUP LEGAL
Location Mumbai Experience 10 years of relevant post-qualification legal experience Role type Individual contributor Primary focus Corporate, technology, Admin, HR, SaaS vendor contracting
Role Overview
Crisil is seeking an experienced commercial contracts lawyer to join its Group Legal function as Manager – Legal (Corporate Functions & Vendor Contracting). The role will provide dedicated legal support for technology and other corporate-function procurement, with a strong focus on IT, SaaS, cloud, outsourcing, consultancy and strategic vendor arrangements.
The successful candidate will partner closely with Technology, Information Security, Procurement, Administration, Finance, Human Resources, CSR and other corporate functions. The role requires a hands-on lawyer who can independently manage the vendor-contract lifecycle, negotiate balanced contractual protections and provide practical advice on information security, data protection, intellectual property, service performance, business continuity and liability risks.
Key Responsibilities
1. Technology & Vendor Contracting
Draft, review and negotiate agreements with vendors, SaaS and cloud providers, IT service providers, consultants, outsourcing partners and other strategic suppliers.
Handle master services agreements, software licence and subscription agreements, cloud-service agreements, statements of work, professional-services agreements, support and maintenance agreements, and related procurement documentation.
Manage legal aspects of vendor relationships from initial contracting and change requests through renewal, dispute management and termination.
Negotiate appropriate protections relating to confidentiality, data protection, privacy, information security, Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, intellectual property, service levels, audit rights, business continuity, indemnities, warranties, liability and exit assistance.
Support negotiations with global vendors and advise on legal issues arising throughout the vendor lifecycle.
Identify non-standard contractual positions, assess legal and commercial exposure, and escalate material risks with clear recommendations.
2. Corporate Function Legal Support
Provide day-to-day contracting and legal advisory support to Technology, Information Security, Procurement, Administration, Finance, Human Resources, CSR and other corporate functions.
Partner with internal stakeholders to understand operational requirements and translate them into appropriate contractual terms and risk controls.
Advise on contract interpretation, performance concerns, change control, service credits, disputes, renewals and termination rights.
Coordinate with privacy, information-security, finance, tax and other subject-matter stakeholders to ensure relevant requirements are addressed in contracts.
Manage external counsel on specialist or jurisdiction-specific commercial matters where required.
3. Contracting Governance & Process Improvement
Develop and continuously improve contract templates, clause libraries, negotiation playbooks, fallback positions and approval protocols.
Promote consistent contracting standards and proportionate risk positions across corporate functions.
Maintain appropriate contract records, trackers, negotiation notes and supporting documentation.
Support the rollout, adoption and ongoing improvement of Crisil’s contract management tool.
Contribute to initiatives that improve contracting turnaround times, governance, management information and stakeholder experience.
Support budgetary controls process of the team.
Skills & Competencies
10 years of relevant post-qualification legal experience, with substantial hands-on experience in commercial and technology contracting.
LLB from a reputed university.
Strong experience drafting and negotiating IT, SaaS, cloud, software, outsourcing, consultancy and strategic vendor agreements.
Sound understanding of contractual provisions relating to information security, cybersecurity, data protection, privacy, confidentiality, intellectual property, service levels, business continuity and liability allocation.
Experience supporting procurement, technology, information-security and other corporate-function stakeholders in a complex organisation.
Experience working in a global IT/ITeS, technology, SaaS, fintech, BFSI or technology-enabled organisation is preferred.
Ability to independently manage a high-volume and varied contract portfolio while identifying and prioritising material risks.
Strong drafting, negotiation, stakeholder-management and communication skills.
Practical and commercially minded approach to contracting and legal risk.
High level of ownership and attention to detail, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
Comfortable working as an individual contributor with limited supervision.

Work arrangement
No