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 Nuneaton
The county of Warwickshire forms a kidney shape wrapping around the north, east and south of Birmingham, and up at its north-eastern edge is the town on Nuneaton. If the whole borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth is counted, its population of this mini conurbation is around 125,000, making it the most populous in Warwickshire (a county with no cities). Nuneaton is 9 miles (14 km) north of Coventry and 20 miles (32 km) east of Birmingham. It is well connected to the M6, M69 and A5 and, as any traveller from the North West to London will know, is a stop on the railway express route into and out of the capital.
The town was little more than a hamlet in the Middle Ages, but its population shot up during the 18th and 19th centuries as industrialisation reached the town. Nearby coal fields helped boost the population, although industrial Nuneaton became best known for its textiles, as well as brick-making, tile-making and brewing. During World War 2 the town was a prime target because it was the site of several munitions factories.
Nuneaton today does have a commercial sector but it is one of the main commuter towns for Birmingham, Coventry and Leicester. The town is the location of the headquarters of dried fruit and alternative medicine seller Holland and Barrett, and RS Components and Dairy Crest have national distribution centres at Bermuda Park, just outside the town. Many factors combine to make Nuneaton a promising place to look for Contract Specialist work, so it’s always worth keeping an out on our pages or getting in touch for future vacancies.
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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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