The Contract Strategist facilitates successful commercial contracting and negotiations for assigned Deluxe business segments, supporting customer and strategic partner agreements involving standard to moderately complex commercial terms. This position provides contract language, policy, pricing, and business risk guidance to sales and business leadership while negotiating directly with customer and partner contacts. The role leverages analytical thinking, sound business judgment, and influence skills to help optimize revenue, accelerate deal execution, and mitigate contractual, financial, operational, and regulatory risk.

• Negotiate and support customer and strategic partner agreements, including NDAs, MSAs, SOWs, amendments, and related commercial documents, collaborating with Sales, Legal, Finance, Tax, Compliance, Information Security, and other stakeholders to obtain approvals for non-standard terms while maintaining alignment with company policies.

• Provide timely, practical, and risk-based guidance to Sales and business leaders to support revenue goals, customer experience, and efficient deal execution.

• Identify, evaluate, and communicate contractual, financial, operational, and regulatory risks to business stakeholders and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.

• Support strategic business initiatives, including merger and acquisition due diligence, integration activities, new product offerings, and other commercialization efforts.

• Assist with contract related components of the RFP/RFI process, including identification and coordination of internal review for non-standard contractual terms.

• Recommend enhancements to Deluxe standard contract templates, contract language, and contracting processes to improve consistency, efficiency, risk management, and deal velocity.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies, Business, or a related field; or High School Diploma/GED and 4 years of relevant experience.

• 2-4 years of experience drafting, reviewing, redlining, and negotiating commercial contracts with large businesses or banks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD), Paralegal Certificate, or related legal/business credential preferred.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong attention to detail, organization skills, and issue-spotting abilities.

• Ability to assess business and contractual risk and communicate recommendations effectively to stakeholders.

• Experience working cross-functionally with Sales, Legal, Finance, Product, Compliance, and Operations.

• Experience supporting business-to-business or financial services contracting.