Contract Specialist jobs
The value of watertight contracts cannot be overestimated in procurement. Any company that produces things relies entirely on the suppliers literally coming up with the goods exactly as determined by the factory’s production speed and warehousing capacities. Good contracts make sure both parties to the deal have understood their responsibilities and are confident that they can meet their requirements on time and on budget.
The contract specialist will be employed by the buyer to ensure that the procurement process runs as smoothly and as efficiently as possibly. The way to achieve this is for the contract specialist to be involved with as much of the contract-making process as possible, from bidding to negotiating to drafting to signing off. Because he or she is an expert in the field of contracts, errors should be kept to a minimum and the contracts themselves should be better drafted and more likely to be agreed upon sooner.
Since there are many thousands of pages of law, both domestic and international, regarding the sourcing, importation, payment for and transporting of goods, experience in the specific area in which the employer deals would be of great benefit. An expert in contracts for one particular product or material might not be the best person to deal with another.
For these reasons, a skilled contract specialist in a busy procurement operation is a valued member of the team.
The skills required
The eye for detail that you’d expect of a solicitor is a key requirement of the contract specialist. They should be able to analyse any proposed deal and flag up any areas that have the potential for conflict in the short or long term, and correct these elements of the draft without ignoring the effect they might have elsewhere.
The contract specialist is on the front line of protecting the employer’s interests, so trustworthy and reliable individuals will do well. However, since a procure and supply contract is supposed to be to the benefit of both parties, the good contract specialist will always look at the deal from the supplier’s viewpoint, too; identifying stumbling blocks at an early stage will prevent costly and time-consuming redrafts.
Important personal attributes will be analytical skills and a good command of English (or other languages when dealing internationally). Many employers will demand the minimum of a business degree, but good experience of drafting contracts can stand applicants in good stead.
Contract Specialist Jobs in Brighton
A seaside city on the south coast, Brighton is an energetic location known for its friendly atmosphere, pebble beaches, buzzing nightlife and quirky charm.
It has long been a favourite weekend getaway for Londoners seeking a bit of sunshine and sea air and in 1787 the Prince of Wales set up his holiday home here, creating an extravagant building now known as the Royal Pavilion.
The tourism industry further increased when the London and Brighton Railway arrived in 1841, making day trips easy between the resort and the capital.
Of course, there's far more to Brighton than the social scene and those seeking Contract Specialist vacancies will have a good range of options to consider.
The city's economy, which was mainly based in manufacturing and engineering during the 19th century, has been transformed over the last 30 years. These days, Brighton is home to a number of businesses based in digital media - Like FDM and Semantio - and it has earned itself the nickname Silicon Beach.
Financial giant American Express has its European headquarters in Brighton and employs thousands of people in the city centre.
Cosmetics company The Body Shop was founded here in 1976; it is now part of the L'Oreal group and is now based in nearby Littlehampton.
In addition, Brighton is home to two large universities, a number of tourist spots, various retail centres and the UK's second largest arts festival, which occurs every May.
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Cast UK’s procurement opportunities
Whether you’re relocating for personal reasons or are simply looking for more job fulfilment, there could well be an employer who’s looking for the skills you have. At any given time, Cast UK have jobs all over the UK, so wherever you live, or plan to live, we are well placed to find work that suits your skills.
We were founded by specialists in the logistics, supply chain and procurement trade, and our consultants are also drawn from these backgrounds, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for. In fact, employers often approach us to find managerial and executive candidates, so if you’re in procurement, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Contract Specialist for your business or find you a job as a Contract Specialist then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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