How to hire a senior contract administrator/contract administrator

How to hire a senior contract administrator/contract administrator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior contract administrator/contract administrator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior contract administrator/contract administrator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior contract administrator/contract administrator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your senior contract administrator/contract administrator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a senior contract administrator/contract administrator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A senior contract administrator/contract administrator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior contract administrators/contract administrators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of senior contract administrators/contract administrators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Senior Contract Administrator/Contract Administrator	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Contract Administrator/Contract Administrator	Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations to use or resell. They evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and review the quality of products.	$19-49
   Purchasing Agent	A purchasing agent's general task is keeping purchase records and making sure that there won't be any discrepancies with the handling of orders. The purchasing agent should be responsible for the order processing and payment collection... Show more	$17-34
   Media Buyer	Media Buyers are marketing professionals who manage the company's advertisements. They create the company's media plan to determine the advertising needs of the company... Show more	$26-47

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Contract Administration
   • Proposal Preparation
   • Contract Management
   • Contract Terms
   • Non-Disclosure Agreements
   • Government Regulations
   • Program Management
   • Contract Issues
   • Contract Types
   • Federal Government
   • RFP
   • Government Contracts
   • Customer Specifications
   • DOD

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage end to end distribute and mainframe testing activities in a java, PowerBuilder and XML environment for various projects.
   • Manage contract performance, perform RFP reviews and coordinate proposal development with various program managers.
   • Process purchase orders and subcontracts, including managing insurance requirement compliance and certify payroll documentation.
   • Issue and administer delivery orders under negotiate IDIQ and also for standalone subcontract agreements.
   • Issue orders against CISCO IDIQ contract.
   • Maintain files on all GSA vehicles utilize with the AOR.

   More senior contract administrator/contract administrator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior contract administrator/contract administrator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A senior contract administrator/contract administrator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, senior contract administrators/contract administrators' average salary in maine is 62% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior contract administrators/contract administrators earn 60% less than senior-level senior contract administrators/contract administrators.
   • Certifications. A senior contract administrator/contract administrator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a senior contract administrator/contract administrator's salary.

   Average senior contract administrator/contract administrator salary

   $65,579yearly

   $31.53 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior contract administrator/contract administrator salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average senior contract administrator/contract administrator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$85,478	$41
   2	District of Columbia	$82,043	$39
   3	Virginia	$79,262	$38
   4	Maryland	$79,054	$38
   5	West Virginia	$76,400	$37
   6	New Mexico	$72,804	$35
   7	Mississippi	$71,998	$35
   8	Illinois	$71,700	$34
   9	Texas	$71,629	$34
   10	Delaware	$70,759	$34
   11	Kentucky	$69,210	$33
   12	Alabama	$69,127	$33
   13	Georgia	$67,364	$32
   14	Colorado	$66,532	$32
   15	Ohio	$66,093	$32
   16	South Carolina	$65,825	$32
   17	Oregon	$64,767	$31
   18	New York	$63,901	$31
   19	Indiana	$63,889	$31
   20	Arizona	$63,597	$31

   Average senior contract administrator/contract administrator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Urban Institute	$121,953	$58.63
   2	Parsons	$111,257	$53.49	27
   3	Pacifi	$105,245	$50.60
   4	Regeneron	$104,696	$50.33	1
   5	Santa Clara Valley Water District	$104,462	$50.22	1
   6	Mattson Technology	$103,297	$49.66
   7	Technology Service	$100,319	$48.23
   8	Booz Allen Hamilton	$99,486	$47.83	30
   9	Broadridge	$97,869	$47.05	73
   10	Noblis	$97,367	$46.81	2
   11	Sempra Energy	$96,448	$46.37
   12	Qualcomm	$96,230	$46.26	6
   13	Technip USA Corporation	$94,431	$45.40
   14	Ecs Federal	$93,961	$45.17	6
   15	Zenetex	$90,500	$43.51
   16	Valley Transportation	$87,756	$42.19
   17	Ball	$86,223	$41.45	2
   18	Northrop Grumman	$86,008	$41.35	119
   19	Axient	$85,588	$41.15
   20	Curtiss-Wright	$84,925	$40.83	15

4. Writing a senior contract administrator/contract administrator job description

   A good senior contract administrator/contract administrator job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a senior contract administrator/contract administrator job description:

   Senior contract administrator/contract administrator job description example

   SRC Inc is currently seeking a Senior Contracts Administrator. The selected candidate will be able to work a hybrid schedule. The selected candidate will support all aspects of the contracts function, including the negotiation and administration of a wide range of contracts. You would also assist in the preparation of price/cost proposals, contract administration, maintaining contract files, contract close-outs, and providing guidance on all contractual matters involving compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), supplemental regulations, and SRC policies and procedures.
   Responsibilities:
   Analyze requests for proposals and contract requirements, special provisions and terms and conditions to ensure compliance with appropriate laws, regulations and corporate policies and procedures for government and commercial contracts Administer assigned contracts to include all day-to-day activities; participate in program management reviews and other programmatic meetings Participate on proposal teams for assigned efforts; ensure compliance with proposal processes and RFP requirements Provide contract advice to the program team and monitor aspects of the program for compliance to the contract Prioritize between multiple contractual actions Maintain high ethical standards toward SRC and the customer Respond to customer inquiries and communicate terms and requirements of contracts to SRC management and technical team Maintain accurate and up-to-date contract and proposal files Participate in special projects or initiatives for contracts as required. Position Requirements:
   Education: Bachelor's degree in business or a related field Experience: Three or more years of related experience Must meet eligibilityrequirements to obtain secret securityclearance, having secret clearance is preferred Knowledge of FAR/DFARS, Truthful Cost or Pricing, CAS, commercial contracting, and/or data rights Understanding of financial principles related to government contracting Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of customers Strong analytical skills and attention to detail Experience using MS Office suite with specific emphasis on MS Excel Must be willing to travel up to 10 percent Security Requirements
   Must be a U.S. citizen. Applicants selected will be subject to a background verification and drug screen
   
   Equal Opportunity
   
   Individuals seeking employment are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran, or disability. You are being given the opportunity to provide the following information in order to help us comply with federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action record keeping, reporting, and other legal requirements.
   Learn more about SRC:
   Employee Benefits
   Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
   Awards & Recognition
   
   COVID-19 Policy:
   President Biden's Executive Order 14042, requires Federal contractors and subcontractors to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by January 18, 2022. This requirement applies to all SRC, Inc. and SRCTec, LLC employees and its subcontractors.
   
   Location Syracuse, New York Employment Type Full-Time Salaried Experience Required 3+ Years Education Required Bachelors Degree Security Clearance Requirement Must meet eligibility requirements Travel % 10

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find senior contract administrators/contract administrators for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior contract administrator/contract administrator job on Zippia to find and recruit senior contract administrator/contract administrator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with senior contract administrator/contract administrator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior contract administrator/contract administrator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the senior contract administrator/contract administrator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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