How to hire a senior contracts negotiator

How to hire a senior contracts negotiator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior contracts negotiator 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 contracts negotiator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior contracts negotiator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The senior contracts negotiator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A senior contracts negotiator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior contracts negotiators 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.

   This list presents senior contracts negotiator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Senior Contracts Negotiator	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Contracts Negotiator		$21-49
   Business Developer	A business developer specializes in conducting in-depth business analysis and crafting various strategies that would not just help a business grow, but also strengthen client base and brand awareness. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around identifying areas in need of improvement... Show more	$31-75
   Business Internship	In a business internship, the responsibilities will vary by the directives given by the supervising staff. However, one of the primary duties as an intern is to perform support-related tasks for the department or office where they are assigned... Show more	$12-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Contract Administration
   • Proposal Preparation
   • Contract Terms
   • DOD
   • Service Agreements
   • ITAR
   • Contract Compliance
   • Contract Negotiations
   • RFP
   • Contract Performance
   • Intellectual Property
   • Subcontracts
   • FFP
   • Contractual Obligations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage administrative support, handle payroll, develop company policies and procedures manual.
   • Develop spreadsheets and narrative support for cost proposals in compliance with the RFP.
   • Collaborate with business unit in responding to request-for-proposals (RFP) during renewals or for potential business.
   • Represent company in arbitration settlement negotiations that result in an agreement to obtain governmental approval for the sale of the business.
   • Prepare monthly and quarterly reconciliations.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, senior contracts negotiators' average salary in vermont is 58% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior contracts negotiators earn 57% less than senior-level senior contracts negotiators.
   • Certifications. A senior contracts negotiator 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 contracts negotiator's salary.

   Average senior contracts negotiator salary

   $67,342yearly

   $32.38 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior contracts negotiator salary

   $44,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a senior contracts negotiator job description

   A good senior contracts negotiator 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 contracts negotiator job description:

   Senior contracts negotiator job description example

   Advanced buyer position responsible for overseeing competitive cooperative sole source and emergency procurement processes in accordance with Medical Center policy requirements and timelines. Through these processes provides a primary focus on contract assessment development drafting negotiation and execution. Performs a broad range of technical duties in centralized contracting for major complex multi-year acquisitions across capital and operating budgets for the sourcing of supplies materials equipment and services as required by Medical Center business needs. Performs other duties as assigned or required.
   
   Oversees competitive cooperative sole source and emergency procurement processes in accordance with Medical Center policy requirements and timelines.
   
   Provides a primary focus on contract assessment development drafting negotiation and execution in the administering of the Medical Center's prescribed procurement processes.
   
   Analyzes price and non-price factors across vendor offerings in determining the cost savings cost avoidance service gains and other non-price factors that are in the Medical Center's best business interest.
   Buys a large volume of varied and complex commodities in a centralized purchasing program. Works with vendors to ensure the procurement of high quality merchandise expedient delivery and dependable service at optimum price. Recommends changes in methods and procedures to improve systems of procurement and takes an active role in departmental program improvement initiatives. Develops and implements effective business practices and procedures. In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned. Position Compensation Range: -
   
   MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
   
   Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or related field required.
   
   Experience: 3 years or relevant experience required.
   
   Licensure: None required.
   
   PHYSICAL DEMANDS
   
   This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require walking some distance to attend meetings, and programs.
   
   COVID Vaccination Requirement and Guidelines
   
   Please visit the UVA COVID-19 Job Requirements and Guidelines webpage prior to applying for current information regarding vaccination requirements and guidelines for employment at UVA.
   
   The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician's Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior contracts negotiator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with senior contracts negotiators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior contracts negotiators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting senior contracts negotiators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 contracts negotiator

   Once you've found the senior contracts negotiator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   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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