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Negotiator vs contracts specialist

The differences between negotiators and contracts specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a contracts specialist has an average salary of $63,727, which is higher than the $63,632 average annual salary of a negotiator.

The top three skills for a negotiator include financial statements, powerpoint and nielsen. The most important skills for a contracts specialist are veterans, DOD, and contract administration.

Negotiator vs contracts specialist overview

NegotiatorContracts Specialist
Yearly salary$63,632$63,727
Hourly rate$30.59$30.64
Growth rate5%-6%
Number of jobs8,74827,244
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

What does a negotiator do?

A Negotiator is primarily in charge of communicating with clients and business partners to negotiate and establish sales, building positive relationships in the process. They typically perform market research and analysis to develop plans and sales pitches, coordinate with the company's legal team, arrange appointments with clients to discuss contract terms, and address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Moreover, a negotiator maintains an active communication line with staff, regularly reporting to managers for a smooth and efficient workflow.

What does a contracts specialist do?

A contract specialist is responsible for evaluating contract agreements between the business and its clients. Contract specialists write beneficial deals that would develop good, professional working partnerships. They negotiate terms with clients, analyzing bid offers, review legislation processes and regulations, provide immediate resolution for breach of contracts, manage procurement proposals, and communicate with potential and existing clients for any amendments and clarifications. A contract specialist must have excellent communication and negotiation skills and broad knowledge of legal terminologies and contract styles.

Negotiator vs contracts specialist salary

Negotiators and contracts specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

NegotiatorContracts Specialist
Average salary$63,632$63,727
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $114,000Between $40,000 And $99,000
Highest paying CityIslip, NYWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkDelaware
Best paying companyBloombergGoogle
Best paying industryMediaGovernment

Differences between negotiator and contracts specialist education

There are a few differences between a negotiator and a contracts specialist in terms of educational background:

NegotiatorContracts Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-Western Carolina University

Negotiator vs contracts specialist demographics

Here are the differences between negotiators' and contracts specialists' demographics:

NegotiatorContracts Specialist
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 47.4% Female, 52.6%Male, 40.2% Female, 59.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between negotiator and contracts specialist duties and responsibilities

Negotiator example responsibilities.

  • Manage the sales per FHLMC guidelines to ensure the integrity of each sale.
  • Identify and select Medicaid manage care providers for contracting opportunities.
  • Manage expectations of DCMA / DCAA regulators and when necessary defend evaluated/negotiated positions.
  • Provide assistance with escrow questions pertaining to taxes and insurance.
  • Prepare and submit reports as required by the IDIQ contracts.
  • Initiate initial mortgage insurance claims on cases that are covered by PMI.
  • Show more

Contracts specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage multiple task orders in an IDIQ environment.
  • Provide clarity on medical and drug cover benefits for a Medicare advantage insurance plan.
  • Manage inventory and distribution activities of the third-party logistics provider.
  • Develop marketing strategies to expand Medicaid manage care provider network and enrollment.
  • Manage the influenza vaccine annual contracting and RFP process for a national specialty pharmaceutical distributor.
  • Process purchase orders and subcontracts, including managing insurance requirement compliance and certify payroll documentation.
  • Show more

Negotiator vs contracts specialist skills

Common negotiator skills
  • Financial Statements, 11%
  • PowerPoint, 10%
  • Nielsen, 7%
  • Loan Modifications, 7%
  • Foreclosure, 6%
  • Strategic Sourcing, 4%
Common contracts specialist skills
  • Veterans, 7%
  • DOD, 7%
  • Contract Administration, 6%
  • Contract Terms, 5%
  • Contract Management, 5%
  • Market Research, 5%

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