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Operations associate vs contracts specialist

The differences between operations associates 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 $52,703 average annual salary of an operations associate.

The top three skills for an operations associate include customer service, sales floor and basic math. The most important skills for a contracts specialist are veterans, DOD, and contract administration.

Operations associate vs contracts specialist overview

Operations AssociateContracts Specialist
Yearly salary$52,703$63,727
Hourly rate$25.34$30.64
Growth rate-8%-6%
Number of jobs70,27527,244
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

What does an operations associate do?

An operations associate is responsible for performing administrative and clerical tasks to support the organization's daily operations. An operations associate must have excellent organizational skills to perform various duties for different business functions under the supervision of an operations manager. Operations associates respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, prepare meeting reports, schedule appointments, assisting on payroll release, update employees' information on the database, process contract agreements, and help the senior management to identify business opportunities that would generate revenues.

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.

Operations associate vs contracts specialist salary

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

Operations AssociateContracts Specialist
Average salary$52,703$63,727
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $95,000Between $40,000 And $99,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkDelaware
Best paying companyBiogenGoogle
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between operations associate and contracts specialist education

There are a few differences between an operations associate and a contracts specialist in terms of educational background:

Operations AssociateContracts Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University

Operations associate vs contracts specialist demographics

Here are the differences between operations associates' and contracts specialists' demographics:

Operations AssociateContracts Specialist
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 50.2% Female, 49.8%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 operations associate and contracts specialist duties and responsibilities

Operations associate example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate ability to manage and organize clinical setting for patients and families.
  • Meet minimum standards for compliance with AML laws and regulations.
  • Organize and complete online LTL shipment orders for customers and vendors.
  • Create new access, removing access, and act as SME for offshore staff.
  • Perform preventative maintenance, as needed, to assist in the achievement of SLA contractual requirements.
  • Communicate with LTL, TL carriers regarding billing/invoice, class, re weigh and other discrepancies.
  • 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

Operations associate vs contracts specialist skills

Common operations associate skills
  • Customer Service, 28%
  • Sales Floor, 16%
  • Basic Math, 14%
  • Portfolio, 13%
  • Work Ethic, 7%
  • Math, 6%
Common contracts specialist skills
  • Veterans, 7%
  • DOD, 7%
  • Contract Administration, 6%
  • Contract Terms, 5%
  • Contract Management, 5%
  • Market Research, 5%

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