Senior Manager - Legal

About Cognizant CorporateCognizant Corporate is a global community united by a shared purpose: to make a meaningful impact. We are committed to excellence and driven by outcomes that matter. Collaboration is at the heart of how we work, and our forward-thinking mindset fuels continuous learning, innovation, and growth.At Cognizant, careers transcend titles. We empower our people to think strategically, inspire others, and lead with purpose – always guided by our core values. Join us in shaping future of business.About the roleAs a Senior Manager - Legal, you will drive impactful contributions and focus on outcomes. You will be a key member of the Technology Transactions team, collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders including business, finance, procurement etc. The candidate will oversee the negotiation, review, and management of vendor and partner agreements, together with client contracts related to third party provisioning for Cognizant's business operations. The candidate will serve as a trusted legal advisor to the business, ensuring the protection of Cognizant's interests through the assessment of legal and commercial risks and the implementation of appropriate contractual safeguards and mitigation measures.As a team of self-starters, you can work with impact with our vibrant people and culture all while enjoying unmatched learning opportunities.In this role, you will:- Support strategic transactions and business opportunities by proactively engaging with deal teams, evaluating contractual and commercial risks, and providing timely visibility of material issues and potential exposures to senior management.- Partner with Cognizant's business, procurement, alliances, and delivery teams to develop and implement contractual frameworks that support business objectives and enable sustainable growth.- Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on a broad range of global commercial agreements, including software license and subscription agreements, alliance and teaming agreements, subcontracting arrangements, vendor services agreements, RFPs, statements of work, and non-disclosure agreements.- Identify, assess, and advise on legal, commercial, operational, regulatory, and compliance risks arising from contractual arrangements, and develop pragmatic mitigation strategies that balance risk and business objectives.- Collaborate closely with cross-functional stakeholders, including procurement, finance, tax, information security, privacy, compliance, and business leadership teams, to obtain subject matter input and appropriately incorporate such requirements into contractual documentation.- Foster knowledge sharing and collaboration within the legal function to drive consistency, operational efficiency, and continuous enhancement of legal service delivery.- Champion AI Fluency and continuous improvement initiatives, including process optimization, standardization, automation, and the adoption of best practices to enhance the effectiveness of the legal organization.- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of legal professionals, ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal support, effective management of escalations, and meaningful career development for direct reports.- Develop and deliver training, coaching, and mentorship programs to enhance contracting capability, legal awareness, and risk management acumen across the legal team and broader business organization.- Embrace our vibrant culture by striving for excellence, focusing on meaningful outcomes, and collaborating effectively. Take ownership, build relationships, and focus on personal growth to drive business strategy and foster an inclusive culture, creating unmatched career opportunities and impactful work.What you must have to be considered