Duties and responsibilities of the contract specialist

Contract specialists are experts in all things related to contracts between your company and your clients. They negotiate and create contracts that provide a beneficial solution for both the company and the customer. This is a full-time, entry-level position that requires astute negotiation skills and excellent interpersonal skills. Although contract specialists are based in an office, they often visit clients' locations during contract negotiations. Depending on the organization of a company, a contract specialist may report directly to a contract manager or work independently, reporting to the project manager.

Duties and responsibilities of the contract specialist

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

Write and edit contracts

The main responsibility of contract specialists is to draft and modify the contracts between your company and potential clients. Contract writing often requires specific terminology and style, which is well known and understood by contract specialists.

Consider other contracts

Contract specialists cannot participate in the creation of all contracts created for the company. However, they often value contracts they haven't created. When evaluating contracts, contract specialists pay particular attention to understanding the entire content of the contract and report their findings to senior management.

Negotiate with clients

Once the contract is signed, the company and the client go through a negotiation phase. The contract specialist is usually responsible for conducting negotiations with the client and may have to travel to the client's premises to complete the negotiations.

Legislation and regulation of research

Contracts are governed by laws and regulations, which often differ by industry. Contract specialists research laws and regulations to make sure your contracts are up to date and compliant.

Develop relationships with suppliers and contractors.

Contract specialists establish relationships with suppliers and contractors who can perform the work outlined in the contract. This is important because clients often require contract specialists to list specific suppliers and contractors directly in the contract.

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