Contract Manager - Strategic

Lumen is the trusted network for AI. We’re transforming how businesses connect, secure, and scale in an AI-driven world.

By connecting people, data, and applications quickly, securely, and effortlessly, we help organizations move faster and unlock what’s next.

At Lumen, people power progress. Our culture is built on teamwork, trust, and transparency, giving you the flexibility, support, and opportunity to make a lasting impact. We’re looking for top-tier talent ready to take on the challenge. Join us in building the future.

The Role

At Lumen Technologies, we’re building the next-generation digital infrastructure that connects people, data, and applications—fast, secure, and everywhere. As a Contract Manager , you’ll be a key contributor to Lumen’s colocation and data center vendor management strategy, negotiating and executing renewals, amendments, and complex service orders that directly enable network expansion, capacity growth, and cost control across North America.

You’ll manage multiple vendor negotiations simultaneously and partner closely with Network Planning, Field Operations, Finance, and Legal. This role serves as the operational contract lead for assigned colocation portfolios, ensuring solutions are commercially sound and operationally executable.

Location

This is a work from home position within the U.S.

The Main Responsibilities

• Negotiate, renew, and execute colocation agreements, amendments, and service orders with third-party data center providers and infrastructure partners.

• Manage complex, high-volume colocation renewals and site augmentations to support network expansion, capacity delivery, and transformation initiatives.

• Coordinate closely with network planning, engineering, finance, legal, and operations teams to deliver timely and executable colocation solutions.

• Review and analyze contracts, pricing schedules, power configurations, and technical requirements to ensure alignment with business and network needs.

• Monitor vendor performance, enforce commercial and operational contract terms, and escalate issues to drive resolution and accountability.

• Serve as the contract execution and coordination lead for assigned colocation projects and vendor portfolios within a defined geographic region.

• Track agreement status, approvals, financials, and milestones to ensure accuracy and compliance with internal policies and processes.

• Maintain and update colocation inventory, contract records, and document repositories to support reporting, audits, and future sourcing activities.

• Prepare dashboards, progress updates, and executive-ready metrics related to cost, capacity, and delivery performance.

• Resolve complex, multi-variable challenges by evaluating financial, technical, and contractual tradeoffs to deliver business-aligned outcomes.

What We Look For in a Candidate

Required:

• 5+ years of relevant experience in contract management, colocation, vendor management, or infrastructure operations

• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills in complex commercial and technical environments

• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and negotiations simultaneously in a fast-paced environment

• Clear and effective communicator capable of working cross-functionally with technical, financial, and legal stakeholders

• Experience managing vendor relationships and driving accountability through contract terms

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Office tools; ability to manage detailed, data-heavy inventories and trackers

• Ability to work independently while operating within defined governance and approval frameworks

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, legal studies, or a related field

• Experience supporting large-scale colocation, data center, or network infrastructure programs

• Exposure to telecom, cloud infrastructure, financial operations, or contract/legal environments

• Experience partnering with strategic contract managers or sourcing teams on new agreements

Compensation

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors.

Location Based Pay Ranges

$67,703 - $90,270 in these states: AL AR AZ FL GA IA ID IN KS KY LA ME MO MS MT ND NE NM OH OK PA SC SD TN UT VT WI WV WY

$71,088 - $94,784 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI

$74,474 - $99,297 in these states: AK CA CT DC DE IL MA MD NJ NY TX VA WA

Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process.

Learn more about Lumen's:

• Benefits (

• Bonus Structure

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Requisition #: 341961

Background Screening

If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page ( . Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Equal Employment Opportunities

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.

Privacy Notice

Lumen is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected during the recruitment and hiring process. Our Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect applicant information, as well as how individuals may request access to or deletion of their personal data.

To review Lumen’s Privacy Notice, please visit:

Disclaimer

The job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Please be advised that Lumen does not require any form of payment from job applicants during the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings will be posted on our official website or communicated through official company email addresses. If you encounter any job offers that request payment in exchange for employment at Lumen, they are not for employment with us, but may relate to another company with a similar name.