Contract Specialist

Targray is looking for a commercially minded Contract Specialist to join our legal team at our Montreal head office.

This is a hands-on, business-facing role for someone who enjoys contracts, negotiation, problem-solving, and working closely with commercial teams. The Contract Specialist will help move contracts efficiently through negotiation, approval, execution, implementation, and ongoing performance. Working under the direction of the Director of Legal, this individual will assist commercial owners in preparing and completing contracts, coordinate negotiations and internal reviews, maintain momentum toward signature, and support teams in understanding and managing their contractual obligations. The Contract Specialist will also play a key role in implementing Targray's contract management policy.

The role combines cross-functional collaboration with a strong focus on process and controls. The successful candidate will work closely with Targray's Commercial, Credit Risk, Market and Enterprise Risk, Compliance, Regulatory, Tax, Treasury and Trade Finance, Operations, Procurement, IT, Security, and Legal teams to resolve issues and translate contractual terms into practical business actions.

This role is based at our Kirkland, Montreal head office and requires in-office attendance four days per week, with Tuesdays and Thursdays being mandatory in-office days.

Responsibilities

You will support the negotiation, approval, execution, implementation, and ongoing management of a wide range of commercial agreements across Targray's trading and renewable energy businesses. Working closely with the Director of Legal and commercial teams, you will help keep contracts progressing, coordinate input from relevant stakeholders, and ensure contractual obligations are clearly documented and effectively managed throughout the contract lifecycle.

Your work will include:

Business Support and Contract Negotiation

• Act as a primary day-to-day contracting resource for commercial teams across trading, commodity, credit support, operational, and corporate arrangements.
• Work with commercial owners to clarify the proposed transaction, scope, commercial terms, operational requirements, timing, and intended outcomes before drafting or review begins.
• Assist commercial teams in selecting and completing the appropriate approved template, term sheet, confirmation, or other contract document, and identify any outstanding information or supporting documentation.
• Prepare initial drafts and revisions using approved forms and guidance. Coordinate mark-ups, comments, and negotiation points among commercial teams, Legal, counterparties, and relevant control functions.
• Participate in contract calls and help commercial owners evaluate and document contractual options by summarizing open points, departures from approved positions, operational impacts, deadlines, and matters requiring Legal review or escalation.

Review, Approval, and Execution

• Coordinate the Contract Approval Process with the stakeholders required based on the contract type, risk level, and requested deviations.
• Identify deviations from approved templates and help prepare clear exception records outlining the issue, associated risk, proposed mitigation, accountable risk owner, required approver, and any applicable expiry date.
• Flag escalation triggers, including counterparty paper, material amendments, non-standard governing law, unusual liability or indemnity provisions, weak termination or close-out rights, binding side letters, sensitive data or AI access, and regulatory or sanctions concerns.
• Coordinate signature packages, confirm that internal approvals and original-document controls are complete, and verify that required onboarding, KYC/AML, sanctions, credit, tax, licensing, and conflict checks have been completed before trading or services begin.

Implementation and Contract Performance

• Maintain a complete, accurate, and searchable contract repository containing executed agreements, confirmations, amendments, guarantees, collateral documents, approval records, and key contract metadata.
• Prepare contract summaries, obligation schedules, implementation checklists, and handover materials so commercial and operational owners understand key deliverables, conditions, payment terms, reporting requirements, notice procedures, and deadlines.
• Coordinate post-signature handover and help ensure contract terms are accurately reflected in onboarding, trading, invoicing, settlement, logistics, vendor, and other operational processes.
• Support commercial teams and Operations in monitoring contractual obligations, renewals, notice periods, expiries, pricing or fee changes, collateral requirements, termination rights, and other key dates. Issue timely reminders and follow up with responsible owners.
• Assist with amendments, extensions, renewals, notices, consent requests, change orders, termination documentation, waivers, and the resolution or escalation of contract performance issues.
• Connect contract information with relevant operational systems, working with IT and SharePoint or contract lifecycle management specialists as required, while applying records retention, access, privacy, legal hold, and archival requirements.

Controls, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement

• Maintain a complete audit trail for contract requests, negotiations, versions, approvals, exceptions, execution, and post-execution actions.
• Prepare dashboards and management reporting on contract volumes, cycle times, approval status, template usage, exceptions, upcoming renewals, overdue actions, and control effectiveness.
• Support reconciliations, control testing, policy reviews, internal audit requests, remediation tracking, and training on contract management policies, workflows, templates, repository requirements, and escalation triggers.
• Identify process gaps and recommend improvements that strengthen legal and commercial risk controls while supporting timely contract execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, paralegal qualification, law clerk diploma, business degree or other relevant education; an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• 3+ years of experience in contract negotiation support, contract management, legal operations, a corporate legal department, procurement, commercial operations or a comparable regulated environment.
• Demonstrated experience moving contracts from intake and negotiation through execution, implementation and ongoing lifecycle management.
• Strong ability to read contracts, identify non-standard terms and summarize issues accurately for Legal and commercial stakeholders.
• Experience with commodity trading, energy, environmental commodities, logistics, financial services or other regulated markets is an asset.
• Experience with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, electronic-signature platforms and contract management or workflow tools is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly, collaborate effectively, and build strong cross-functional relationships.
• Must be based in the Greater Montreal area and legally authorized to work in Canada.
• Strong written English skills, given Targray's international counterparties and business outside Quebec.

Core competencies:

• Exceptional organization, attention to detail and document-control discipline.

• Sound judgment and the confidence to enforce process requirements and escalate concerns appropriately.

• Clear, concise written and verbal communication with legal, commercial and control-function stakeholders.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and time-sensitive contracts in a fast-paced trading environment.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving and process-improvement skills.

• Discretion in handling confidential, commercially sensitive and personal information.

• Collaborative, service-oriented approach with a strong commitment to accountability and follow-through.

• Experience in commodities, trading, renewable fuels, energy, environmental markets, or regulated industries is considered an asset.

• French language skills are considered an asset.

What We Offer

Workplace & Perks

• Beautiful, spacious, and modern workplace environment.
• On-site gym and yoga studio reserved for employees.
• Subsidized, chef-prepared lunches served fresh daily, plus a well-stocked kitchen with snacks and drinks throughout the day.
• Free on-site EV charging for employees at head office.
• Our office is conveniently located just minutes from the Kirkland REM station, making commuting easy and accessible.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance.
• Retirement savings plan with employer matching.
• Fitness reimbursement program.
• Virtual health care and consulting services through TELUS Health Virtual Care.