What does a subcontract administrator do?
As a subcontract administrator, you will be responsible for identifying the needs of a company and implement measures and initiatives to fulfill those needs. This role will require you to perform a few tasks, including responding to purchase requisitions, soliciting bids and proposals from new and existing sources, and evaluating terms and awarding the subcontract. You are then expected to monitor the subcontract terms, including plans, progress, and payments. You will also be responsible for negotiating additions, modifications, and deletions of subcontracts.
Subcontract administrator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real subcontract administrator resumes:
- Coordinate requirements and interface with other division personnel to accomplish timely and cost effective procurement of assign commodities.
- Create moderate to complex RFP solicitations and provide additional proposal support including pricing reviews and source selection support.
- Administer IDIQ contracts with multiple task orders.
- Assist with FFP hardware subcontract in support of NSA contracts.
- Negotiate and coordinate additions, deletions, or modifications of DOD subcontracts.
- Review and advice on matters of ITAR, FCPA, other Import/Export matters.
- Brief senior management on program contracts/subcontracts status and potential ITAR issues with foreign suppliers.
- Authorize to bind Northrop Grumman in transactions up to $250k in FFP subcontract types.
- Review work specifications, RFQ documents, and other contractual documents for clarity and accuracy to ensure sale quality.
- Participate in establishing and executing RFQ preparation and delivery procedures.
- Demonstrate knowledge of DoD acquisition processes/FAR, experience in IPT/development environments.
- Develop solutions to complex procurement situations requiring the use of ingenuity and innovation.
- Prepare confidentiality agreements, teaming agreements, RFP requirements, and representations and certifications.
- Set up and maintain subcontracting company files, contracts insurance certificates and associate activities in SharePoint database.
- Chair and attend several meetings with DCMA and DCAA on government contracting questions and issues.
Subcontract administrator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Subcontract Administrators are proficient in Price Analysis, Purchase Orders, and Program Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Math skills, and Negotiating skills.
We break down the percentage of Subcontract Administrators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Price Analysis, 11%
Conduct and coordinate risk and price analysis on potential subcontractors to determine ability to administer awards in compliance with Client requirements.
- Purchase Orders, 8%
Administered purchase orders and subcontract agreements; executed other aspects of the acquisition process in development of new business proposals.
- Program Management, 5%
Monitor subcontractor performance and attend monthly program management review meetings with subcontractors to review subcontract status and discuss open issues.
- Bid Packages, 5%
Prepared commercial and technical bid analysis for competitively bid packages and recommendation for award to project management and client.
- Non-Disclosure Agreements, 5%
Negotiated mutual proprietary information non-disclosure agreements and subcontractor teaming agreements
- DOD, 4%
Renegotiated several DoD subcontracts for medical assistance and support to military personnel that included Surgical Synchronization and Overseas Assistance Programs.
Most subcontract administrators use their skills in "price analysis," "purchase orders," and "program management" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential subcontract administrator responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a subcontract administrator 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." Subcontract administrators often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "provide program management with detail funding analysis on all subcontract tasks to determine subcontract award values. "
Math skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling subcontract administrator 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 subcontract administrator resume, here's how subcontract administrators can utilize math skills in their job responsibilities: "provided quantitative and analytical data to support oem service agreement negotiations. "
Negotiating skills. subcontract administrators are also known for negotiating skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to subcontract administrator responsibilities, because "purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents often must negotiate the terms of a contract with a supplier." A subcontract administrator resume example shows how negotiating skills is used in the workplace: "support program management in quarterly program management reviews negotiating and coordinating additions, deletions, or modifications to subcontracts. "
The three companies that hire the most subcontract administrators are:
- CDM Smith285 subcontract administrators jobs
- AECOM21 subcontract administrators jobs
- Lockheed Martin19 subcontract administrators jobs
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Compare different subcontract administrators
Subcontract administrator vs. Planner/buyer
The role of buyers/planners is to ensure that office materials and equipment are well-supplied within their organization. They decide and purchase the materials needed for use or resale by their organization. They are responsible for evaluating prospective suppliers based on their cost, product quality, and delivery times. They are also the ones who negotiate contracts specifying the payment terms, price, and delivery schedules. Most employers prefer their buyer to have earned a bachelor's degree with a major in operations management or business management.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a subcontract administrator are more likely to require skills like "program management," "bid packages," "non-disclosure agreements," and "dod." On the other hand, a job as a planner/buyer requires skills like "supply chain," "customer service," "mrp," and "erp." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Planner/buyers tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $62,806. In contrast, subcontract administrators make the biggest average salary, $84,146, in the technology industry.The education levels that planner/buyers earn slightly differ from subcontract administrators. In particular, planner/buyers are 5.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a subcontract administrator. Additionally, they're 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Subcontract administrator vs. 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. They negotiate with external providers to get the best advertisement placement values. To do this, Media Buyers are expected to conduct thorough research on the different advertising companies, networks, media, size of placement, and length of advertisement. Their research must consider the target market and determine the best media to reach their target market. Media Buyers should have good negotiation skills and must be able to maintain good working relationships with providers.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that subcontract administrator responsibilities requires skills like "price analysis," "purchase orders," "program management," and "bid packages." But a media buyer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "digital marketing," "campaign performance," "media buying," and "facebook."
On average, media buyers earn a higher salary than subcontract administrators. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, media buyers earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $74,775. Whereas subcontract administrators have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $84,146.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Media buyers tend to reach lower levels of education than subcontract administrators. In fact, they're 8.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Subcontract administrator vs. 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. Purchasing agents should also be proficient in interpreting and evaluating data, researching on best marketing sources and alternatives, issuing required documentation for suppliers, as well as managing customer queries as needed. Being a purchasing agent requires critical-thinking skills in assessing concerns and providing solutions should there be any possible negotiation conflicts.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from subcontract administrator resumes include skills like "program management," "bid packages," "non-disclosure agreements," and "dod," whereas a purchasing agent is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "logistics," "inventory control," and "mrp. "
Purchasing agents earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $55,517. Subcontract administrators earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $84,146.Most purchasing agents achieve a lower degree level compared to subcontract administrators. For example, they're 7.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Subcontract administrator vs. Senior purchasing agent
Senior Purchasing Agents are experienced employees in the company's purchasing department. They oversee the purchase requisitions of the employees. They validate requests, ensure that the requestors followed company guidelines, check the availability of the items with the chosen supplier, and forward the purchase order to the supplier. Upon fulfillment of the request, Senior Purchasing Agents check the deliveries, ensure that the items are complete and correct, forward the items to the requestor, and process the payment for the supplier. Senior Purchasing agents also prepare reports, spot trends in employee or department purchases, and create recommendations based on observations. They are also expected to form good working relationships with suppliers.
Types of subcontract administrator
Updated January 8, 2025
