Contract Lead

ABOUT THE BUSINESS: Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL) is a greenfield venture of the Tata Group with expertise in manufacturing precision components. Tata Electronics (a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd.) is building India’s first AI-enabled state-of-the-art Semiconductor Foundry. This facility will produce chips for applications such as power management IC, display drivers, microcontrollers (MCU) and high-performance computing logic, addressing the growing demand in markets such as automotive, computing and data storage, wireless communications and artificial intelligence. Tata Electronics is a subsidiary of the Tata group. The Tata Group operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with the mission 'To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long term stakeholder value creation based on leadership with Trust.’ KEY DELIVERABLES: - Lead end-to-end negotiations for complex and high-value contracts - Craft and execute negotiation strategies that secure favorable commercial terms and minimize risk exposure while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships (To support long-term business objectives) - Drive timely contract closures by balancing commercial value and risk - Leverage standardized templates, playbooks, and processes to improve deal velocity - Manage cross-functional internal stakeholders (Legal, Finance, Business Development, Sales, Supply chain and Operations) and external partners to drive consensus - Identify revenue opportunities, risk exposures, and commercial red flags, providing clear insights to support go/no-go decisions - Implement strong governance frameworks, approval workflows, and escalation paths; maintain an audit-ready contract repository and ensure compliance - Support ongoing partnerships by managing contract amendments and ensuring that execution and deliverables remain aligned with agreed terms ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES: - 15+ years of experience in contract management, commercial negotiations, or business development, with a proven record of closing complex, multi-stakeholder deals - Strong commercial acumen with the ability to structure win-win agreements across diverse contract types (MSAs, Licensing, Partnerships, Consortiums) - Ability to translate legal obligations, risks, and deliverables into commercial implications - Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly - Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior management - Experienced in collaborating with cross-functional teams—including Business Development and Design—to ensure successful project execution and alignment with business objectives - High ownership mindset, strong resilience under pressure, and exception attention to detail while maintaining strategic focus CRITICALITY OF THE ROLE: The Contract Lead is a senior role responsible for managing the entire lifecycle of contracts with key partners—including customers, suppliers, and strategic partners. This includes evaluating potential partners, leading contract negotiations, and finalizing agreements that are ready for execution. This role is critical to our business because it ensures that every partnership and commercial engagement is built on a strong, compliant, and favorable contract. The Contract Lead protects our commercial interests, speeds up deal execution, and reduces legal and operational risks. Beyond contract signing, the Contract Lead will continue to support the partnership by managing any contract amendments and ensuring that execution and deliverables remain fully aligned with the agreed terms. DESIRED EXPERIENCE: - Appx. 15 years’ experience in relevant areas of contract negotiation - Proven experience in the semiconductor/advanced manufacturing industry is preferred - Contract management certifications (e.g., CPCM, CFCM, IACCM) a plus