What does a Contract Administrator do?
Contract Administrators develop, negotiate and evaluate company contracts on behalf of an organization. They are charged with ensuring that both parties are complicit with the terms of the contract, as well as ensuring that all contracts abide by local and federal laws. Contract Administrators may work in a variety of different industries and typically begin their careers as a Contract Specialist before working their way up to Contract Administrator or Contract Manager.
Contract Administrators typically hold a bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting or Law, though an MBA is often preferred. Overall, the most successful Contract Administrators have a strong knowledge of business financial best practices, an understanding of contract law, and possess a strong attention to detail. They must also be skilled communicators and have excellent negotiation skills.
- Develop contract proposals to support organizational goals
- Review contract estimates, including proposed materials, production costs, etc and determine whether they seem reasonable and accurate
- Ensure that all records are accurate and up to date
- Write contract letters and other communications and notices
- Negotiate and approve contract terms while ensuring that projects remain within the established budget
- Attend meetings to assess progress on projects which are in motion, and take detailed notes to share with stakeholders
- Create regular status reports regarding progress on projects
- Analyze contracts to ensure they comply with state and federal laws and regulations
- 3+ years prior experience in a contract administration role or a related field
- Exemplifies knowledge of contract law, accounting principles and finance
- Has strong negotiation and mediation skills
- Possesses superior attention to detail in order to spot inconsistencies in contracts
- Has previous experience in customer service and strong communication skills
- Able to work productively independently and as part of a team
- Must have excellent analytical thinking skills and problem solving abilities
- Previous experience as a project manager, or coordinating large projects is an asset
- Should exhibit strong organizational and time management abilities
How much does a Contract Administrator make near United States?
Base Pay
Additional Pay
$65,660
/ yrContract Administrator Career Path
Learn how to become a Contract Administrator, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Contract Administrator Insights
Defense Contract Management Agency“Money is not the best but there is the ability to climb and get higher paying jobs.”
bluewaveSELECT“Everyone at BluewaveSelect is great to work with and have helped me learn so many new things.”
Feldco Factory Direct“I also love the work life balance here and have never been required to work outside my work hours.”
Defense Contract Management Agency“Not as many opportunities to progress your career if you’re looking to stay at one location.”
Extrastaff (UK)“A great company to work for with many opportunities to progress and advance your career as well as deeply encouraging of personal development.”
Steele Auto Group“People I worked with are nice and helpful.”
CrossCom National“workers are friendly and enjoyable to work with.”
YipitData“The company really wants you to take pride in your work and make an impact.”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of contract administrators
The typical day of a contract administrator includes reviewing and negotiating contracts on behalf of a business. Once a contract is accepted, contract administrators ensure compliance with the requirements of the contract, while suggesting amendments when needed. They work closely with the legal department to manage conflict disagreements.
One of the best parts about being a contract administrator is that it's a fast-growing field as businesses rely on internal resources to review and create contracts. Contract administrators usually have great work environments, sometimes with remote work capabilities. The analytical and accountability skills of a contract administrator are transferable, offering good job security.
Yes, the average salary for a contract administrator is $65,660 per year in the United States. Level of experience and the industry in which a contract administrator works can affect salary expectations, with more experienced administrators earning up to $82,363 per year.
Working as a contract administrator requires careful attention to detail and accountability. One of the challenges of being a contract administrator is that they're often under a lot of pressure when facilitating or negotiating a contract. Becoming a contract administrator also requires staying up-to-date on the latest contract laws and regulations.
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