What does a contracts manager do?
A contract manager is responsible for finalizing contract agreements between the company and its clients, revising documents, creating procurement proposals, and managing breach of contracts immediately. Contract managers respond to clients' inquiries and concerns about the contract's terms, conditions, and adjustment requests. They should be highly knowledgeable with legal terms and legislation regulations, ensuring that documents align with their objectives. The contract manager should also stay updated with the latest trends to meet contract demands, identify more business opportunities to boost revenues, and achieve profitability goals.
Contracts manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real contracts manager resumes:
- Manage ISO requirements for sales and marketing.
- Manage IDIQ contracts including task and delivery orders.
- Manage RFI's and change orders through close out.
- Manage all material for a non MRP driven program manually.
- Coach and direct the IPT for use of proper policies to achieve goals.
- Lead two DCAA audits for a $60 million project resulting in no-cost findings during tenure as manager.
- Administer various IDIQ vehicles including GSA, CMS, NIH, etc.
- Provide guidance in setting up QA group.
- Spearhead transition to DELTEK and full CAS compliance.
- Submit such reports to upper management to present to the FDA.
- Ensure all orders' compliance to government FAR/ DFAR, GSA requirements.
- Provide the QA manager with key material used in the selling of the QA methodology to corporate executives
- Assist in the review, submission and negotiation of DOD, SBIR/STTR proposals to various DOD and NIH agencies.
- Utilize MRP system to insure continuous production for the parent company in the UK and all 3rd party customers.
- Manage all commercial and government product pricing and other pertinent data to CMS, DOD, VA and other federal agencies.
Contracts manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Contracts Managers are proficient in Contract Management, Contract Administration, and Contract Terms. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Math skills, and Negotiating skills.
We break down the percentage of Contracts Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Contract Management, 9%
Contract position for independent energy developer with responsibilities that include proposal/contract management, project/client research, and various reports as required.
- Contract Administration, 6%
Coordinated internal and external efforts in the execution of contract administration, strategy and resolution of contract issues internally and externally.
- Contract Terms, 5%
Collaborated with senior management to develop strategy and contract terms to address emerging corporate challenges, including rapidly rising material costs.
- Project Management, 5%
Project management of delinquent and bankruptcy accounts, negotiation of settlements with opposing counsel, provided legal assistance in litigated cases.
- Customer Service, 4%
Maintained communication with contractor to ensure excellent customer service and handled all conflicts and resolutions for employer and contracted trucking.
- Proposal Preparation, 3%
Collaborated with Client and management consultant to ensure proper support in proposal preparation, as well as contract negotiations and administration.
Most contracts managers use their skills in "contract management," "contract administration," and "contract terms" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential contracts manager responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a contracts manager to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "when evaluating suppliers, purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents must analyze their options and choose a supplier with the best combination of price, quality, delivery, or service." Contracts managers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "prepared contractual analysis and cost basis for termination for default litigation following prime contract termination. "
Math skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling contracts manager duties is math skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents must possess math skills." According to a contracts manager resume, here's how contracts managers can utilize math skills in their job responsibilities: "specialized quantitative analysis for program management and evms support. "
Negotiating skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of contracts managers is negotiating skills. This skill is critical to many everyday contracts manager duties, as "purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents often must negotiate the terms of a contract with a supplier." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "assisted with negotiating gsa renewals. "
The three companies that hire the most contracts managers are:
- CBRE Group192 contracts managers jobs
- Pwc133 contracts managers jobs
- Randstad North America, Inc.53 contracts managers jobs
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Compare different contracts managers
Contracts manager vs. Director, procurement
The responsibilities of a procurement director revolve around ensuring the efficient and smooth flow of supplies within the company, developing procurement strategies for optimal services and operations, assessing risks, and overseeing the implementation of new policies and regulations in the company. It is essential to coordinate with analysts to identify areas with potential opportunities or those needing improvements. Moreover, a director, procurement may directly communicate with stakeholders or higher-ranking officials, participate in recruiting new members of the workforce, and create programs for profit growth and significant results.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, contracts manager responsibilities require skills like "contract administration," "contract terms," "project management," and "proposal preparation." Meanwhile a typical director, procurement has skills in areas such as "supplier performance," "continuous improvement," "logistics," and "lean manufacturing." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Directors, procurement earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $148,169. On the other hand, contracts managers are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $89,882.The education levels that directors, procurement earn slightly differ from contracts managers. In particular, directors, procurement are 5.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a contracts manager. Additionally, they're 4.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Contracts manager vs. Supply officer
A director of purchasing oversees the procedures related to buying resources and supplies, directing operations from planning to execution while adhering to standards and company policies. They primarily perform research and assessments to understand project needs in terms of price, quality, and delivery time. They also identify ideal suppliers, negotiate deals, and build positive business relationships. Additionally, a director of purchasing has the authority to make significant decisions, delegate responsibilities among staff, oversee employment procedures within the department, and solve issues and concerns when any arise.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that contracts manager responsibilities requires skills like "contract management," "contract administration," "contract terms," and "project management." But a supply officer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "logistics support," "financial management," "food service," and "inventory control."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Supply officers tend to reach similar levels of education than contracts managers. In fact, they're 4.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 4.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Contracts manager vs. Manager of purchasing & materials
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, contracts managers are more likely to have skills like "contract management," "contract administration," "contract terms," and "project management." But a manager of purchasing & materials is more likely to have skills like "supplier performance," "inventory control," "logistics," and "materials management."
Most managers of purchasing & materials achieve a similar degree level compared to contracts managers. For example, they're 3.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 5.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Contracts manager vs. Director of purchasing
Even though a few skill sets overlap between contracts managers and directors of purchasing, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a contracts manager might have more use for skills like "contract management," "contract administration," "contract terms," and "project management." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of directors of purchasing require skills like "supply chain," "product development," "vendor relations," and "logistics. "
In general, directors of purchasing earn the most working in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $119,626. The highest-paying industry for a contracts manager is the technology industry.The average resume of directors of purchasing showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to contracts managers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 3.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 5.2%.Types of contracts manager
Updated January 8, 2025
