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Contract Specialist Resume Samples
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0-5 years of experience
Skills attained: Extensive knowledge of contract regulations, source selection procedures, and complex contract administration.
- Managed over 60 construction, service, utilities and commodity contracts valued in excess of $191M. Reduced acquisition time by 50% with increased savings of 30% through effective communication, planning, and contract negotiation.
- Administered a $250M construction contract and ensured compliance with vital completion targets.
- Oversaw a $95M infrastructure support contract, key to the renovation of facilities and recovery efforts for Hurricane Sandy.
- Successfully negotiated contracts in terms of quality, price, and performance to ensure receipt of the best value.
- Used independent judgment to coordinate work assignments, evaluate performance, and train fellow team members.
- Established and assured adherence to budgets, schedules, work plans, and performance requirements.
- Drafted unique, purchase specific, request for proposals (RFP), request for quotes (RFQ), invitation for bids (IFB), and request for information (RFI) for each requirement.
- Utilized seal bidding procedures, conducted public big openings, and reviewed and determined responsiveness and responsibility of low bidder in accordance with applicable requirements and regulations.
0-5 years of experience
Developed and wrote contract specifications, request for proposals, and invitation for bids
- Wrote and implemented contract language in accordance with State legal policies and procedures
- Monitored existing contracts, renewed contracts, renegotiated expiring contracts, wrote amendments to bring contracts in compliance with state policies, and termination of unused contracts
- Approved or denied requests for services outside the terms of the contact and wrote amendments to cover additional services
- Served as point of contact for vendor relationships, addressing any discrepancies and answering any questions or concerns
- Created and sourced purchase orders
0-5 years of experience
Performed timely contract drafting, reviewing and implementation of many types of contracts to achieve planned results.
- Identified needs and drafted profitable healthcare and general business contracts including fee for service, capitation
- Negotiated pricing, terms, supplies, equipment and provisions favorable to maintain profitability.
- Increased reimbursement with skilled negotiations to increase rates of provided services.
- Proactively maintained required contract documentation and credentialing to comply with terms and regulations.
- Protected company contractually by interpreting language and countered with more favorable terms and conditions.
- Reviewed and negotiated contracts with Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare and many other
0-5 years of experience
Generate market analysis, prepare RFQs, issue solicitations, asses quotes, negotiate, draft award for and administer fixed price medical and aircraft maintenance service contracts
- Manage customer budgets, project needs and provide business advice and formulate solutions
- Oversee completion of projects, ensuring PO compliance, delivery and installation requirements
- Develop project timelines, assemble project team and create solutions for project problems
- Compile and present weekly reports on team workload, activity and training progress. Utilize reports to increase productivity and fix problem areas
- Orchestrated team’s award of 30+ contracts within critical timeline and $10K under budget
- Constructed innovative contract to save Tyndall AFB $30K yearly in travel expenses
6-10 years of experience
Performed “cradle-to-grave” contract management on 40+ government contracts.
- Achieved Level 2 certification in Government Contracting
- Developed and managed RFP’s, sole-source solicitations, and other forms of purchases
- Served as business advisor on highly technical and complex acquisitions
- Displayed working knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations
- Granted secret security clearance and trusted with highly sensitive information on weapons systems
- Analyzed proposals to determine best value
0-5 years of experience
- Developed with client the solicitation specification or statement of work for RFP’s, ITB’s, RFI’s and IGA’s.
- Evaluated, negotiated and awarded contracts with a budget of $28 million and less, awarded based on solicitation evaluation requirements, FAR, ARRA, DAR, MIL-SPECS, state ORS 279, 285, 291, and OAR 123, 125 and 137.
- Managed contract to specified terms and conditions, disbursements, prepared all notice to cure notices, and allowable contract changes from contract origination to contract close out.
- Developed and delivered Statement of Work and Contract Management training.
- Trained and supervised new and junior employees.
0-5 years of experience
- Conducted market research and reduced government procurement costs by $10,000 through price analysis
- Determined contractor’s financial responsibility prior to contract award by analyzing company data, conducting interviews, and writing memorandums
- Created solicitations and contracts by interpreting Federal Acquisition Regulations and incorporating principles into Standard Procurement System (PD2) contracting software
- Negotiated large dollar purchases with contractors to resolve product features, pricing, and delivery
0-5 years of experience
- Implemented processes to efficiently document contract variables for upload to new contracting system
- Negotiated and drafted contractual addenda for equipment and service transactions, as well as Master
- Assessed risk to determine what legal, procedural, and business concepts should be included in policies and contract documentation
- Flagged non-standard changes to [company name] standard documents for approval through Policy 5.0 and monitoring purposes through Policy 6.0
- Communicated efficiently and successfully with members of [company name] to facilitate completion and approval of deals, and Customer to convey [company name]’s stance on particular issues
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.
Contract Law for Dummies – If you don’t have a full law degree, this book can help you understand the specific legal requirements that often go into creating and managing a contract. The For Dummies series helps explain topics in practical, clear ways that are highly rated.