Contracts specialist job description: Contracts Specialist job description template

What is a Contract Specialist?

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• What is a Contract Specialist?

Contract specialists must be skilled in negotiation and legal terminology. Learn more about a contract specialist job description as well as contract specialist qualifications and salary information.

What Does a Contract Specialist Do?

Contract specialists are often called purchasing managers, directors, or agents, though the term contract specialist also refers to positions available at government agencies and manufacturing firms. These professionals act as shrewd negotiators and work to achieve the best possible deal for an organization, as well as supervise contractors’ performances to ensure that the stipulations of the contract are being met.

Contract Specialist Job Description

Contract specialist duties include creating, examining, and monitoring contractual agreements between the organization that he or she works for and materials or labor suppliers. Part of the job of a contract specialist is being aware of legislative and regulatory issues that may be related to the contracts you are overseeing. You might have to make revisions to contracts if new laws and regulations are established, or if old laws and regulations are changed or otherwise modified. Another important element of a contract specialist’s job involves building relationships with trusted vendors and keeping a detailed list of possible contractors that may be needed for any given situation.

Important Facts About Contract Specialists

Contract Specialist Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree is the typical education needed for employment as an entry-level contract specialist, and many fields of study are considered acceptable. Some contract specialist programs are available online. However, you are not always required to have earned a bachelor’s degree as long as you’ve taken at least 24 credit hours in areas like business, economics, law, contracts, or a similar field. For those interested in growing their career or in higher levels of professional employment, graduate education and prior work experience may be helpful in career advancement. On-the-job training is also fairly common for people in this field.

Voluntary certification also is available through agencies like the Federal Acquisition Institute. To earn Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting (FAC-C), you’ll need to meet education, training, and experience requirements. Other organizations involved in certification of those in this profession include the American Purchasing Society, Next Level Purchasing Association, and the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council.

Contract Specialist Salary and Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, purchasing agents and buyers made a mean yearly wage of $67,530, while purchasing managers earned $125,630 annually as of May 2018 (www. bls.gov). Purchasing managers who work in oil and gas extraction have the highest mean annual salary of $156,030. The states with the highest level of employment of purchasing managers are California, Texas, Illinois, New York, and Florida. Employment of purchasing managers, buyers, and agents is expected to decline by 3% in the 2016 to 2026 decade. This is partially because some features of procurement work is able to be automated.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs similar to purchasing managers include financial managers, logisticians, and wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives.

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10 Best Contract Specialist Job Description Templates With PDF Samples

Contract Specialist Job summary 1

The Contract Specialist provides expertise in the procurement of professional, engineering and/or architectural consulting services as well as goods and services contracts. In addition, the role involves managing and mitigating the risks inherent in design, construction and other professional services to protect the City from being subject to litigation, criticism or unanticipated costs due to unclear, ambiguous and non-compliant contract documents. We are looking for a Contract Specialist that has experience in negotiating cost and terms and conditions.
This position will work collaboratively with Procurement and Contracting staff, internal departments and external procurement stakeholders in all matters relating to the procurement of materials and supplies, procurement of hardware and software, and procurement of consulting services.

Contract Specialist Duties & Responsibilities 1

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Download all 10 Contract Specialist Job Descriptions

• Manages consultant procurement process for a business unit; coordinates preparation of and approves requests for proposals or qualifications (RFP/Q) and other documents related to consultant procurement; trains project managers in consultant selection procedures; participates in negotiations of consultant contracts; ensures that all contracts receive required approvals and meet all applicable laws and regulations.
• Prepares requests for proposals for procurement or publicly advertised technical, professional, engineering services contracts; develop solicitation strategy; write and edit scopes of work; determine approach to use in structuring the RFP and scope of work; and assist in determining appropriate selection criteria, phasing and weighting.
• • Propose alternate procurement approaches. Train department representatives on procurement code, policies, procedures and procurement waivers
  • Negotiate and document contract change orders.
  • Reviews requests for the procurement of and contracting for equipment, goods, and services including architects and engineers, small works and other procurements as assigned; analyzes the requirements and determines method of procurement; recommends improvements to the statement of work or specifications as necessary and decides on the type of contract, milestones and procurement plan; reviews justifications for sole source and prepares documentation; and determines applicability of requirements.

Contract Specialist Requirements & Skills 1

• Education: A baccalaureate degree in business or public administration, finance, economics or other field related to this work.
• Experience: A minimum of two years of professional experience in financial analysis, project management, grant administration, inter-agency agreements, contract administration. (Or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).
• CPPB (Certified Public Professional Buyer) or equivalent certification.
• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to work with challenging individuals.
• Experience with automated procurement systems (such as PeopleSoft) and the execution of queries.
• Previous experience creating reports in Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure, juggle multiple tasks, and handle sensitive information with a high degree of confidentiality.
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Diligent, flexible and of high integrity.
• Experience in consensus building and group dynamics.
• Self-starter and ability to meet deadlines.
• Detail oriented and well organized.
• • Industry principles and practices in Goods, Professional and other Services.
  • Public procurement systems and processes, and contract administration in the public sector.
  • Contracting laws, regulations, and best practices.

Contract Specialist Job summary 2

The Office is seeking a Contract Specialist. Work involves assisting in the development of policies; reviewing guidelines, procedures, rules, and regulations; establishing priorities, standards, and measurement tools for determining progress in meeting goals; and coordinating and evaluating program activities.

Contract Specialist Duties & Responsibilities 2

• Maintains the contract administration record-keeping and reporting system from the initial referral through the close out of contracts.
• Complies, reviews, and analyzes data to verify documentation.
• Assists with reviewing contract and other legal documents.
• Serves as a liaison to account managers to ensure vendor participation is consistent with contract terms and conditions, legal, and/or fiscal requirements.
• Oversees and monitors contract performance of assigned areas and assists with determining compliance with terms and conditions of the contract and policies by examining various performance indicators such as: reports, deliverables and other indicators.
• Provides support and collaborates with in the development, implementation, analysis, and documentation of agency policies and procedures.
• Assists with internal inspection of compliance issues.
• Assists with preparing written and/or oral reports on compliance issues for agency management and other staff.
• Assists in the collection, organization, analysis, and/or preparation of materials in response to requests for information and reports.
• Assists with the development of contract administration and procurement policies and procedures.
• Oversees and participates in contract post-award activities.
• Oversees divisions monitoring or monitors contractual requirements.
• May perform statistical sampling of data.
• • May provide guidance regarding contract administration, policies, and procedures.
  • May makes recommendations on improving existing departmental contract management processes and practices.
  • May recommend and coordinate activities to produce a more effective program.

Contract Specialist Requirements & Skills 2

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. Experience and education may be substituted for one another.
• Two (2) years of experience performing work as a Contract Specialist, purchaser, or related position.
• One (1) year of experience reviewing complex documents.
• • Experience reading and interpreting contracts.
  • Contract management experience.
  • Purchasing or procurement experience.

Contract Specialist Job summary 3

A Contract Specialist performs complex contract duties to include developing, analyzing, evaluating, reviewing, processing, ensuring applicable compliance, inspecting, implementing and/or monitoring contracts. Work requires extensive contact with governmental officials, division and district personnel. Employees at this level perform work independently on assignments; however, all unusual issues are referred to the supervisor.

Contract Specialist Duties & Responsibilities 3

• Assists in printing, collating and binding contracts/manuals for distribution.
• Assists in reviewing and verifying accuracy of payment invoices.
• Assists in reviewing and preparing contracts for accuracy, completeness and submission.
• Assists with visiting and inspecting contractor work sites; travels/drives as required and follows prescribed safety requirements.
• Assists in collecting, maintaining and updating files, records, and logs.
• Assists in answering routine questions, provides assistance regarding the correct processing of contracts, status of routine contracts and handles complaints.
• Meets with project managers to identify objectives, needs and issues concerning project contracts.
• • Assists in developing plans for implementing new contract evaluation requirements.
  • Assists in receiving payments, preparing deposit vouchers and entering data in an automated information management
  • Performs other job responsibilities as assigned.

Contract Specialist Requirements & Skills 3

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance or related field
• Relevant experience may be substituted for education on a year per year basis
• 1-3 years in Contract administration, administrative support, bookkeeping or accounting
• Experience can be satisfied by fulltime or prorated parttime equivalent
• No supervisory experience required
• Sedentary work: Lift up to 10 lbs at a time and occasionally carry files/small tools
• Light work: Lift up to 20 lbs at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 10 lbs
• Standing-prolonged periods of time
• • Repetitive Motion-substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
  • Close Visual Acuity-work includes data/figures; view a computer screen; extensive reading
  • Valid Driver’s Licensee at the time of application

Contract Specialist Job summary 4

The Contract Specialist will support Legal by operationalizing the contract creation process for Statements of Work (SOWs) and related contracting structures. We’re looking for a motivated self-starter who’s passionate about drafting and reviewing contracts, managing operational processes, analyzing trends and recommending and implementing process improvements.
This is a unique role, with similar functions to a business operations analyst and a contract analyst. The candidate will work side by side with Legal to create SOWs and ensure they meet legal requirements. Additionally, you will support Professional Services by providing operational and administrative guidance, enabling them to provide an outstanding customer experience.
The successful candidate must be inquisitive, enthusiastic about technology, like being continually challenged, demonstrate sound judgment, and attention to detail. You should have an interest in working in a space, where legal meets business.

Contract Specialist Duties & Responsibilities 4

• Own the SOW process, which includes drafting and reviewing SOWs to ensure alignment with business and legal requirements, gathering approvals, tracking status and communication between key parties.
• Retrieve and analyze data using Excel, Salesforce.com and other data management/BI Systems
• Support weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reporting
• Proactively identify and implement operational improvements and enhancements that meet business requirements
• Communicate daily with cross functional teams including Sales, Legal, Operations and Management
• Recruit, onboard, train and influence Contract Specialists
• • Create and maintain standard operating procedures
  • Drive continuous process improvement while developing relationships for long term solutions
  • Conduct quality assurance audits

Contract Specialist Requirements & Skills 4

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 4+ years of relevant contracting experience in reviewing and drafting contract terms in technology licensing and service contracts or other standard commercial contracts
• Excel Skills (Pivot Tables, VLookups and Charts)
• 2+ years of Salesforce Experience
• Strong attention to detail and excellent problem solving skills
• • Strong written and oral communication skills
  • Ability to communicate effectively across all functions and levels of the organization
  • Ability to work independently while being able to contribute successfully to cross-functional team

Contract Specialist Job summary 5

We are seeking a Contract Specialist to join our organization.

Contract Specialist Duties & Responsibilities 5

• Amend, finalize and present project budgets as required
• May negotiate budget changes with client
• Prepare payment schedules as required, to support bids and for inclusion in contract documents
• Direct client interaction with established contacts in conjunction with the assigned Contract Manager or Line Manager
• Provide quality client deliverables to strict deadlines
• Facilitate review and approval of contractual documents and budgets in accordance with relevant policies and procedures
• Participate in contract review meetings with clients and internal customers
• • Ensure contracts with client edits received back from the client show all the appropriate changes
  • Ensure contractual documents are processed into and maintained in relevant databases
  • May have involvement in discussing legal terminology for contractual documents as appropriate

Contract Specialist Requirements & Skills 5

• Ability to lead internal meetings
• Highly organized with excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent analytical skills, problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Highly confident dealing with internal staff, and external if required
• Established negotiation skills
• • Bachelor’s Degree in Life Science, Business, Languages or equivalent. MBA or Paralegal certification preferred
  • Knowledge of contract management principles
  • Comprehensive knowledge of relevant software (Windows, Word, Excel, Outlook, Databases)

Contract Specialist Job summary 6

We are looking for an organized and analytical Contract Specialist to join our Contract and Vendor Management team on a contract basis. The Contract Specialist will provide operational and administrative support for contract and vendor processes. Success in this position requires initiative, and high attention to detail.

Contract Specialist Duties & Responsibilities 6

• Responsible for managing daily inquiries to the contracts team, including responding to email
• Execute routine redline requests, and escalating as necessary
• Responsible for preparing documents for legal review and assisting with negotiating terms under the direction of management
• Perform defined daily contract management processes to ensure prompt delivery of agreements
• • Responsible for preparing contracts and associated documentation for e-signatures
  • Independently prepare reports, charts, graphs, slide decks, and spreadsheets at designated intervals and as requested.
  • Maintain all related records and documents, including exhibits, special provisions, supplemental agreements, tracking logs, spreadsheets, etc.

Contract Specialist Requirements & Skills 6

• Contact management experience
• Experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Analytical, research, reporting, and documentation skills
• • Strong documentation, communication, and technology skills
  • Ability to work comfortably under deadlines
  • Meticulous organization and time management skills

Contract Specialist Job summary 7

This position serves as a Contract Specialist in the performance of a full range of contracting duties. Assignments typically involve the preparation of various types of contracts and procurement for supplies/services/equipment, Construction/Architecture & Engineering (A&E), Information Technology, or Stewardship to meet the requirements of the agency.

Contract Specialist Duties & Responsibilities 7

• Responsibilities are listed at the full-performance level.
• Assists in performing market analysis to determine the availability of commercial items and possible vendors.
• Develops solicitations. Determines quantities to be included in a solicitation based on economical order quantities, market conditions, delivery requirements, production capabilities, specifications required, and pre-award samples.
• Evaluates bids of offers submitted and determines responsiveness to the solicitation
• Assists in performing price analysis, analyzing commercial pricing practices applicable to Government needs and economic developments relative to increased material, labor, or transportation costs as reflected in price indices.
• Participates in negotiations on price, technical requirements, terms, and conditions of the contract.
• • Recommends award in accordance with delegated authority. Reviews and signs awards if warranted.
  • Recommends approval or disapproval of progress payments, special payments on fixed-price contracts, requests for overtime, proposed subcontractors, and other special requests.
  • Upon contract completion, ensures necessary actions are taken to close the contract file.

Contract Specialist Requirements & Skills 7

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
  • Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level. Examples of specialized experience are: assisting senior professionals in drafting and editing standard contracts, or other legal documents, reports, and correspondence; maintaining files and statistical data on contracts, statements of work, and bid/solicitation documents; assisting in the preparation of statements of work and/or other contractual documents, as a trainee.

Contract Specialist Job summary 8

We are looking for a Contract Specialist to join our team in our Corporate Office. We are looking for positive individuals to fit our energetic culture.

Contract Specialist Duties & Responsibilities 8

• Set up and maintain project records
• Assist Project Managers in preparing Proposals/Contracts
• Monitor project costs/performance
• Review costs/draft invoices with Project Managers
• • Prepare & monitor sub consultant agreements
  • Project Related COI’s
  • Additional Accounting Assistance as needed

Contract Specialist Requirements & Skills 8

• Experience with project accounting software
• • Experience preferred
  • Ability to work independently
  • Organized and detail oriented

Contract Specialist Job summary 9

We are seeking a Contract Specialist to work with our attorneys in creating and managing contracts and other documents to help fulfill Company mission. This role is responsible for every phase of contract development from researching the legal regulations to negotiating the terms and preparing the print document. He or she may collaborate with a legal team or work independently to evaluate bids and draft documents.

Contract Specialist Duties & Responsibilities 9

• Ensure adherence to contract management policies and procedures
• Utilize and complete contract templates for variety of agreements including confidentiality, consulting, master services, etc.
• Identify key contract terms and conditions for categorization
• Collaborate with contract requestors, other business units and the legal team when preparing and negotiating agreements
• Perform mark-ups of counter-party documents
• Conduct negotiations of terms and conditions per SOPs
• Proofread, edit and fact-check contract documents for completion, consistency and accuracy
• Execute electronic and hard copy contract signature processes
• Clearly explain contract terminology to key stakeholders and other interested parties in simple, everyday language
• Self-monitor progress according to the schedule of completion to submit drafts and documents in a timely manner
• Utilize a contract management software system; input and extract system information
• Assist in the tracking of the contract documents (i. e. agreements, amendments, notices, expirations) toward execution, finalization and lifecycle management
• Log contract approvals and development activities according to established SOPs
• Perform regular monitoring of repository/common drive content to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Work with product and finance teams to answer and resolve contractual issues
• Serve as a point of contact for contract-related questions
• Monitor workflow, update any discrepant information and correct overdue items
• Run and distribute contract information reports (weekly, monthly, quarterly)
• Oversee user access to contract management system
• • Legal department liaison to IT
  • Provide support and training to other team members on contract procedures
  • Support entity/subsidiary formation and maintenance

Contract Specialist Requirements & Skills 9

• BS degree or higher in one of numerous possible fields including: science, accounting, business administration, economics, finance, and law to name a few
• 2+ years in-house law/contracting department or law firm experience
• High level of written communication skills
• Ability to identify, analyze and suggest solutions for problems
• Substantial experience in document preparation, editing and revision
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including an impeccable mastery of the English language
• Good organization skills and the ability to multitask on several projects simultaneously
• Knowledge of negotiation best practices, both in-person and written form
• Ability to support multiple team members
• Willingness to work virtually or in an office setting
• • Experience reviewing/revising licenses, sponsored research agreements, material transfer agreements a plus
  • Experience with intellectual property issues a plus
  • Experience with corporate governance, subsidiary formation and maintenance a plus

Contract Specialist Job summary 10

Provide on-site support services as Contract Specialist, supporting the Office’s effort.

Contract Specialist Duties & Responsibilities 10

• Conduct acquisition planning and market research. Together with project team and Small Business Specialist, determine contract type and area of solicitation. Consider all possible set-asides in conjunction with local socioeconomic and small business goals. Prepare other required pre-solicitation documentation.
• Prepare and issue solicitations, Requests for Proposals/Quotes, and amendments. Work with project team to address questions. Receive, record, and review proposals/quotes for responsiveness.
• Coordinate technical evaluation panels. Participate in and assist the Contracting Officer in all source selection activities and best value tradeoff evaluations. Prepare for and participate in negotiations; perform cost and/or price analyses; document source selection activities; and determine fair and reasonable pricing. Obtain certified and other than certified cost and pricing data as required.
• Process contract awards for government Contracting Officer signature. Prepare and distribute award packages and announcements.
• • Process modifications. Obtain and evaluate contractor proposals; participate in and document negotiations; prepare modifications with supporting documents for signature by the government Contracting Officer.
  • Prepare closeout documents.
  • Undertakes work that requires lifting and moving computers, monitors, printers, and smaller peripherals such as scanners, laptops, etc.

Contract Specialist Requirements & Skills 10

• Minimum Education: 24 Business credit hours. Preferred: Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum Experience: 8 years’ Contracting experience with the performance requirements for this position
• Must have the physical capacity to lift and carry boxes at least 25 pounds

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What is a contract specialist? Responsibilities and requirements

Why would a company hire a contract specialist?

At their core, contracts are essentially promises that exist on paper, or nowadays, in-browser; but they’re fundamental to so many functions of the business. In high-growth industries like B2B SaaS, they’re the mechanism by which recurring revenue is recognized. Finance can’t forecast without them, nor can risk and compliance functions evaluate the company’s risk profile.

With so many competing interests around contracts, it’s understandable why a company might hire a specialist to straddle the legal, procurement, sales, HR, finance and operations teams, helping to keep processes moving and taking ownership of the contract pipeline and repository.

Similarly, manual processes still plague contract creation, collaboration and management, with companies often using a mixture of Word, email, shared drives and eSignature to agree and store contracts. The amount of work involved in maintaining this process across multiple systems, and perhaps integrating them with additional systems of record like CRM, can make it seem sensible to employ someone full-time to handle it.

Does your company need a contract specialist?

As a GC considering their next hire, or a COO wondering which operations competencies to hire next, the slightly unhelpful answer to this question is ‘it depends’. It depends on the specifics of your company – what kind of contracts you primarily deal with, what the pain points are, and how well resourced your legal or legal operations teams are. The rise of legal ops as its own team or even function mean there’s often a mandate for roles related to legal that focus solely on process (as opposed to advising on legal matters and risk).

However, a contract specialist might not be the right choice in the long term. If contract volumes are growing, and you hire a contract specialist role to deal with the increase in manual process that comes with increased volume, then if volumes keep growing, you’ll need another contract specialist.

Instead of building out the manual, unscalable process, it would be better to use automation to remove manual work from the contracts process entirely, enabling business colleagues to self-serve their contract needs, rather than needing specialist headcount to support them.

All too often we see companies that find themselves caught between a digital solution for one function (like sales) and a manual process for another (like legal). This often results in a contract specialist, originally hired for their expertise with legal terms and conditions, spending the majority of their time maintaining a Salesforce integration and never getting to do any high-value work.

Instead of building out the manual, unscalable process, it would be better to use automation to remove manual work from the contracts process entirely

How to scale contracts without a contract specialist

If you don’t want to invest in a contract specialist to support a manual process, you can use browser-based automation to enable business colleagues to self-serve on the legal documents they need to drive business growth. Here’s how to do it.

Create templates

The legal team, or external counsel if you’re yet to hire an in-house team, creates the templates from which business colleagues can generate their own contracts. The terms and language of these templates should be optimized to encourage signing and to minimize negotiation, to reduce friction in the workflow.

Self-serve contracts

Colleagues who need a contract can use a simple, natural language Q&A flow to generate the contract they need. Juro customers often start with high-volume, low-complexity contracts like NDAs, MSAs or employment offer letters.

Collaborate in-browser

To reduce the time cost and painful manual process involved in moving between Word, email and cloud platforms, use a browser-based contracts platform like Juro that will let you handle negotiation with counterparties online. With single sign-on, colleagues can do this directly, rather than needing a contract specialist. This also preserves a digital audit trail of what changes were made and by whom.

Secure eSignature

Use a secure digital signature, like Juro’s native eSignature, to agree contracts online via desktop, laptop or any mobile device. This ensures that business colleagues (and their customers) don’t need to meet in person or exchange physical correspondence to agree contracts, making it faster and easier to close deals or hire new employees.

Track contract analytics

To make sure contract workflow progresses smoothly and quickly, it’s important to monitor analytics to spot bottlenecks and pain points in the contract process. Reporting on these metrics also helps legal or legal operations teams to show improvements to their managers, and make the business case for additional headcount or investment in technology.

If you decide to go down the route of self-serve, rather than hiring a contract specialist, it’s important to choose a contract automation platform that’s user-friendly. If software imposed on commercial colleagues is too complex, it won’t be adopted and contracts will revert to a messy, manual, opaque way of working.

Independent reviews consistently find Juro to be easier to use than its competitors – if you want to forego the contract specialist role for an intuitive software solution, hit the button below and find out how we can help you to automate routine contracts at scale.

• Enable your business to self-serve on and eSign simple templates.

  Schedule a live, personalized demo with a Juro specialist

• Power internal approvals and external negotiations without leaving your browser.

• Smart storage and reporting means you’ll never miss a contract deadline again.

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Contract Specialist Duties | Work

By Andra Picincu Updated September 25, 2020

A career as a contract specialist is ideal for assertive, detail-oriented individuals with strong negotiation skills. Government contract specialist training may be provided on the job for interns and new employees. As you gain experience, you may be asked to draft and negotiate new or specialized contracts and take on more responsibility.

Becoming a Contract Specialist

Contract specialists are responsible for drafting, editing and reviewing contractual agreements between an organization and vendors, suppliers and other third parties. Depending on the job, they may also develop procurement proposals, build relationships with reliable vendors and facilitate salary negotiations. Their primary role is to ensure that clients adhere to contractual obligations.

The Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) points out that contract specialists work under the guidance of a contracting officer. This profession requires a good knowledge of regulatory and legislative issues. New employees often start out as contract specialists and then move up to higher positions, such as contract officers or administrators, project officers, procurement analysts and more.

Most employers seek candidates with a bachelor’s degree in law, business management or a related field. A government contract specialist’s resume that mentions a master’s degree and work experience is more likely to get noticed. However, some organizations only require a high school diploma and several years of hands-on experience in the field.

The FAI’s Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Program (FAC-C) can increase your chances of being employed by the government. It has three certification levels and covers topics like contract planning and pricing, legal considerations in contracting, negotiation and acquisition law. Applicants must have one to four years of experience in contract work to enter the program.

Government Contract Specialist Job Description

Government agencies often work with private-sector organizations, suppliers and contractors. For example, they may hire construction companies to build new roads or restore old buildings. Contract specialists who work for the government are in charge of drafting contracts and negotiating prices between the parties involved. These professionals may also be asked to solve disputes between contractors and government agencies, evaluate bids, cancel or modify contracts, and maintain relationships with vendors.

A job listing posted by the U.S. Forest Service states that contract specialists (GS-11) may need to answer questions from bidders, approve or reject special requests and supervise other employees. Their day-to-day duties may also include developing budgets, training staff and monitoring employee performance. The ideal candidate should have strong communication skills and in-depth knowledge in math, accounting, business and contract law.

The grade level assigned to this role determines how much you’ll get paid, as well as your level of responsibility. Most contract specialists working for the federal government advance from GS-5 to GS-9 and GS-11. New employees (GS-5) receive on-the-job training and work under the guidance of a more experienced contract specialist. Those who advance to GS-9 may assist with contract writing, select bidders, monitor contract work and check bids for completeness.

A government contract specialist’s salary is calculated based on the General Schedule (GS) payscale. Experienced contract specialists (GS-11) earn a base salary of $55,204 to $71,764 per year, reports the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Those who are new to this profession will start as a GS-5 and earn $30,113 to $39,149 per year. The more experience you have, the higher the pay. GS-9 employees make around $45,627 to $59,316, according to the same source.

References

• Federal Acquisition Institute: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Government Contracting Careers
• University of New Mexico: Contracts Specialist
• Federal Acquisition Institute: Contracting (FAC-C)
• U.S. Forest Service: Contract Specialist (GS-11)
• U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Salary Table 2020-GS

Writer Bio

Andra Picincu is a digital marketing consultant with over 10 years of experience. She works closely with small businesses and large organizations alike to help them grow and increase brand awareness. She holds a BA in Marketing and International Business and a BA in Psychology. Over the past decade, she has turned her passion for marketing and writing into a successful business with an international audience. Current and former clients include The HOTH, Bisnode Sverige, Nutracelle, CLICK – The Coffee Lover’s Protein Drink, InstaCuppa, Marketgoo, GoHarvey, Internet Brands, and more. In her daily life, Ms. Picincu provides digital marketing consulting and copywriting services. Her goal is to help businesses understand and reach their target audience in new, creative ways.

What Does A Contracts Specialist Do: Job Description, Duties and Responsibilities

A contract specialist is responsible for evaluating contract agreements between the business and its clients. Contract specialists write beneficial deals that would develop good, professional working partnerships. They negotiate terms with clients, analyzing bid offers, review legislation processes and regulations, provide immediate resolution for breach of contracts, manage procurement proposals, and communicate with potential and existing clients for any amendments and clarifications. A contract specialist must have excellent communication and negotiation skills and broad knowledge of legal terminologies and contract styles.

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Contracts Specialist Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real contracts specialist resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

• Provide clarity on medical and drug cover benefits for a Medicare advantage insurance plan.
• Manage inventory and distribution activities of the third-party logistics provider.
• Develop marketing strategies to expand Medicaid manage care provider network and enrollment.
• Manage the influenza vaccine annual contracting and RFP process for a national specialty pharmaceutical distributor.
• Process purchase orders and subcontracts, including managing insurance requirement compliance and certify payroll documentation.
• Manage and approve supplier selections through RFQ process, cost optimization and historical price history comparison.
• Work closely with Medicare and Medicaid sales representatives.
• Conduct follow-up procedures that minimize the amount of time necessary to complete contract negotiations without sacrificing university legal and policy considerations.
• Procure medical supplies in support if veterans.
• Implement GSA assist acquisition service to provide task order support for federal agencies procuring ETS2 master contract.
• Review, negotiate and maintain contracts such as blanket purchase agreements, teaming agreements, subcontract agreements, and NDAs.
• Review / adjudication of terms and conditions, NDAs, supplemental agreements, and other documents with legal / contractual implications.
• Perform final disposition and property clearance of each complete contract.
• Serve as SharePoint administrator, making regular updates and improvements.
• Provide guidance to individuals requiring a country clearance for non-official travel.

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Contracts Specialist Job Description

Perhaps the hardest question to answer when deciding on a career as a contracts specialist is “should I become a contracts specialist?” You might find this info to be helpful. When compared to other jobs, contracts specialist careers are projected to have a growth rate described as “decline” at -6% from 2018 through 2028. This is in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What’s more, is that the projected number of opportunities that are predicted to become available for a contracts specialist by 2028 is -29,200.

Contracts specialists average about $30.64 an hour, which makes the contracts specialist annual salary $63,727. Additionally, contracts specialists are known to earn anywhere from $40,000 to $99,000 a year. This means that the top-earning contracts specialists make $73,000 more than the lowest earning ones.

As is the case with most jobs, it takes work to become a contracts specialist. Sometimes people change their minds about their career after working in the profession. That’s why we looked into some other professions that might help you find your next opportunity. These professions include a senior contract administrator/contract administrator, specialist-small business, contracting officer, and subcontract administrator.

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Contracts Specialist Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 8% of Contracts Specialists are proficient in Contract Documents, Veterans, and DOD. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Math skills, and Negotiating skills.

We break down the percentage of Contracts Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

• Contract Documents, 8%

  Provided leadership for project team gathering contract documentation and completed due diligence of contract files to determine what documentation was missing.

• Veterans, 7%

  Provided diagnostic services and recommendations to Veterans in the compensation and pension process.

• DOD, 7%

  Develop computer-related input/output in accordance with current procurement and administrative policies and procedures, and DoD Standard Operating Procedures.

• Contract Terms, 5%

  Administered multiple contracts, monitored performance and communicated with contractors regarding obligations, reviews, proposed contract changes and issue resolution.

• Customer Service, 5%

  Provided high quality customer service for providers and members in regard to claim resolution, benefit interpretation and plan utilization.

• Market Research, 4%

  Screened purchase requests against required sources of supply, determined funds availability, conducted market research and performed contract close-out documentation.

Most contracts specialists list “contract documents,” “veterans,” and “dod” as skills on their resumes. We go into more details on the most important contracts specialist responsibilities here:

The most important skills for a contracts specialist to have in this position are analytical skills. In this excerpt that we gathered from a contracts specialist resume, you’ll understand why: “when evaluating suppliers, purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents must analyze their options and choose a supplier with the best combination of price, quality, delivery, or service.” According to resumes we found, analytical skills can be used by a contracts specialist in order to “ensured maintenance of data quality standards for data entry of provider transactions and maintain accuracy in documentation daily in database. “

See the full list of contracts specialist skills.

After discovering the most helpful skills, we moved onto what kind of education might be helpful in becoming a contracts specialist. We found that 61.9% of contracts specialists have graduated with a bachelor’s degree and 13.5% of people in this position have earned their master’s degrees. While most contracts specialists have a college degree, you may find it’s also true that generally it’s possible to be successful in this career with only a high school degree. In fact, our research shows that one out of every eight contracts specialists were not college graduates.

Those contracts specialists who do attend college, typically earn either business degrees or accounting degrees. Less commonly earned degrees for contracts specialists include political science degrees or management degrees.

Once you’re ready to become a contracts specialist, you should explore the companies that typically hire contracts specialists. According to contracts specialist resumes that we searched through, contracts specialists are hired the most by WEConnect International, Intermountain Healthcare, and 3M Company. Currently, WEConnect International has 257 contracts specialist job openings, while there are 54 at Intermountain Healthcare and 51 at 3M Company.

If you’re interested in companies where contracts specialists make the most money, you’ll want to apply for positions at Google, Microsoft, and ConocoPhillips. We found that at Google, the average contracts specialist salary is $130,227. Whereas at Microsoft, contracts specialists earn roughly $117,424. And at ConocoPhillips, they make an average salary of $115,559.

View more details on contracts specialist salaries across the United States.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious contracts specialists are:

• WEConnect International257 Contracts Specialists Jobs
• Intermountain Healthcare54 Contracts Specialists Jobs
• 3M Company51 Contracts Specialists Jobs

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What Senior Contract Administrator/Contract Administrators Do

A Senior Contract Administrator evaluates, negotiates, and prepares contracts for projects, services, or goods. A Contract Administrator performs various administrative duties that are essential to the successful management and execution of contracts on behalf of organizations.

We looked at the average contracts specialist annual salary and compared it with the average of a senior contract administrator/contract administrator. Generally speaking, senior contract administrators/contract administrators receive $1,852 higher pay than contracts specialists per year.

While their salaries may differ, one common ground between contracts specialists and senior contract administrators/contract administrators are a few of the skills required in each craft. In both careers, employees bring forth skills like contract documents, dod, and contract terms.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. A contracts specialist responsibility is more likely to require skills like “veterans,” “customer service,” “market research,” and “acquisition strategy.” Whereas a senior contract administrator/contract administrator requires skills like “procedures,” “proposal preparation,” “legal requirements,” and “government regulations.” Just by understanding these different skills you can see how different these careers are.

Senior contract administrators/contract administrators receive the highest salaries in the finance industry coming in with an average yearly salary of $97,980. But contracts specialists are paid more in the government industry with an average salary of $81,199.

On average, senior contract administrators/contract administrators reach similar levels of education than contracts specialists. Senior contract administrators/contract administrators are 2.9% more likely to earn a Master’s Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a Specialist-Small Business?

A small business specialist develops new business programs to meet changing customer demands. They are responsible for ensuring integrity and consistency in the domain of business. They analyze causes of a business issue, obtain business data, and make enquiries. They are responsible for making purchase agreements, confidentiality arrangements, and joint venture arrangement.

Now we’re going to look at the specialist-small business profession. On average, specialist-small businesses earn a $8,591 higher salary than contracts specialists a year.

Not everything about these jobs is different. Take their skills, for example. Contracts specialists and specialist-small businesses both include similar skills like “customer service,” “business administration,” and “small businesses” on their resumes.

But both careers also use different skills, according to real contracts specialist resumes. While contracts specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like “contract documents,” “veterans,” “dod,” and “contract terms,” some specialist-small businesses use skills like “financial needs,” “customer relationships,” “business development,” and “sales goals. ”

When it comes to the differences in education between the two professions, specialist-small businesses tend to reach lower levels of education than contracts specialists. In fact, they’re 5.5% less likely to graduate with a Master’s Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Contracting Officer Compares

In government agencies, a Contracting Officer plays a vital role in securing contracts for different projects. They are responsible for liaising with internal and external parties, conducting research and analyses, developing plans to attain project requirements, negotiating contracts, and procuring materials according to standards. They are also responsible for supervising the administrative processes related to the deals, from planning to execution, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Moreover, it is essential to function as a contracting officer while adhering to government policies and regulations.

The contracting officer profession generally makes a lower amount of money when compared to the average salary of contracts specialists. The difference in salaries is contracting officers making $3,720 lower than contracts specialists.

While looking through the resumes of several contracts specialists and contracting officers we discovered that both professions have similar skills. These similarities include skills such as “contract documents,” “dod,” and “contract terms,” but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers as shown by resumes from each profession. Some of those differences include the skills required to complete responsibilities within each role. As an example of this, a contracts specialist is likely to be skilled in “veterans,” “customer service,” “business administration,” and “purchase orders,” while a typical contracting officer is skilled in “procedures,” “contractor proposals,” “clearance,” and “facility.”

Contracting officers make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $82,685. Whereas contracts specialists are paid the highest salary in the government industry with the average being $81,199.

When it comes to education, contracting officers tend to earn higher education levels than contracts specialists. In fact, they’re 5.6% more likely to earn a Master’s Degree, and 1.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of a Subcontract Administrator

As a subcontract administrator, you will be responsible for identifying the needs of a company and implement measures and initiatives to fulfill those needs. This role will require you to perform a few tasks, including responding to purchase requisitions, soliciting bids and proposals from new and existing sources, and evaluating terms and awarding the subcontract. You are then expected to monitor the subcontract terms, including plans, progress, and payments. You will also be responsible for negotiating additions, modifications, and deletions of subcontracts.

The fourth career we look at typically earns higher pay than contracts specialists. On average, subcontract administrators earn a difference of $1,959 higher per year.

While both contracts specialists and subcontract administrators complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like contract documents, dod, and contract terms, the two careers also vary in other skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a contracts specialist might have more use for skills like “veterans,” “customer service,” “contract management,” and “acquisition strategy.” Meanwhile, some subcontract administrators might include skills like “procedures,” “subcontract specifications,” “project management,” and “subcontractor” on their resume.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the financials in each career. The technology industry tends to pay more for subcontract administrators with an average of $84,146. While the highest contracts specialist annual salary comes from the government industry.

The average resume of subcontract administrators showed that they earn similar levels of education to contracts specialists. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master’s Degree is 0.4% less. Additionally, they’re less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 2.9%.

What a Contracts Specialist Does FAQs

How much does a contract specialist make?

A contract specialist makes $65,000 in a year, on average. The salary for a contract specialist typically ranges from about $50,000 per year to $80,000 in a year.

A contract specialist negotiates, administers, and terminates various contracts for an organization. They assess the organization’s needs, determine how to fulfill them, and plan the details of the contracts that will be used to satisfy those needs. They work in many industries, including universities, construction, healthcare, and law.

What makes a good contract specialist?

What makes a good contract specialist is being knowledgeable about their industry’s needs and potential risks. They also possess good communication and problem-solving skills and can organize and prioritize their workload.

Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.

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Contract Specialist Resume Example + Work History

Contract Specialists oversee the contracts of the organization or client they work for. Common duties listed on Contract Specialist example resumes are drafting contracts, soliciting, closing deals, negotiating, tracking payments and deadlines, analyzing risks and assessing performance. Those seeking to work as Contract Specialists should emphasize skills such as business law knowledge, accuracy, negotiation abilities and good communication skills. Educational requirements include at least a Bachelor’ Degree in acquisitions, contract management, business law or accounting.

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Contract Specialist Duties and Responsibilities

Contract specialists may need to possess different knowledge depending on the industry in which they work, but most contract specialists perform similar duties across the board:

Write and Edit Contracts Contract specialists’ main responsibility is to write and edit contracts between their company and potential clients. Writing contracts often requires specific terminology and style, both of which contract specialists know and understand in depth.

Evaluate Other Contracts Contract specialists may not be involved in the creation of every contract created for the company. However, they usually evaluate contracts they didn’t create. When evaluating contracts, contract specialists take special care to understand everything in the contract and report on their findings to upper management.

Negotiate with Clients Once the contract has been written, the company and the client transition into a negotiation phase. The contract specialist is often responsible for leading the negotiations with the client and may need to travel to the client’s location to perform negotiations.

Research Legislation and Regulations Contracts are regulated by legislation and regulations, which often differ depending on the industry. Contract specialists research legislation and regulations to ensure their contracts are current and in compliance.

Build Relationships with Vendors and Contractors Contract specialists build relationships with vendors and contractors who may do the work outlined in the contract. This is important because clients often require contract specialists to list specific vendors and contractors directly in the contract.

Contract Specialist Skills and Qualifications

Contract specialists should enjoy writing and editing contracts, and they should be able to do it well. Most employers require a bachelor’s degree, but the area of study can vary greatly. Successful contract specialist candidates should have two to four years of experience. Employers also look for candidates who have the following skills:

• Understanding of contract language – contract specialists have an intimate knowledge of contract language and contract style guides
• Negotiation skills – contract specialists negotiate both in-person and through written communication with clients; they understand where to stand their ground while keeping both the company and client’s best interests in mind simultaneously
• Writing and editing skills – contract specialists write contracts clearly and concisely, editing for clarity, as needed.
• Relationship management – managing relationships with upper management, clients, and vendors is an essential skill, as well as managing conflict between these parties Interpersonal communication skills – contract specialists work directly with a variety of people negotiating complex contracts, which requires excellent interpersonal communication skills, both written and verbal

Marketing Engineer Education and Training

Contract specialists have a bachelor’s degree. Employers like to see candidates with degrees in business administration or law. Depending on the industry, employers might like to see candidates with advanced degrees. Certifications specific to contract writing are especially helpful, and many employers prefer candidates who have the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C).

Contract Specialist Salary and Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for contract specialists is $64,850. Experienced contract specialists in the top ten percent may earn up to $119,820 per year, while entry-level contract specialists in the 10th percentile only earn around $36,770 per year. According to the BLS, this position is expected to experience a decline in availability through 2026, mostly due to automation in procurement and the combination of jobs to create better efficiency. Contract specialists are typically offered standard benefits packages that include health, vision, and dental insurance, with average vacation and sick time benefits. Contract specialists may also receive other benefits, depending on their employer.

Helpful Resources

If you’re interested in pursuing the path of a contract specialist, read through this list of resources to get a good start:

National Contract Management Association – The NCMA is a professional organization for contract specialists and managers. Its website includes helpful resources, including event lists, certification training, and job listings. This is a good place to start for both new and experienced contract specialists.

Contract Specialist-Government LinkedIn Group – This LinkedIn group gathers 5,000 contract specialists who work specifically in the public sector. Members network and speak to each other about resources they can tap to find jobs and increase their skills. Members are friendly and active.

Working with Contracts: What Law School Doesn’t Teach You – This book focuses on teaching practical lessons about contract management that can help you meet client and employer goals to make everyone happy with the contract you write. It uses a combination of legal, business, and technical knowledge to help you fully grasp the intricacies of creating a solid contract.