In general, however, contract manager jobs in any type of industry will involve the administration, organization, and management of numerous contracts. Working in contract manager jobs is highly specialized work and needs detail oriented individuals to handle the multiple duties and tasks.
The main goal of contract managers in any industry setting is to safeguard the agreements between both parties and to maintain mutual understanding. In some cases, contract management is closely related to the fields of purchasing and procurement.
Contract management is used most often in business relationships where the terms of contracts are complex and require thorough planning, organization, and documentation. The latter is important, as many industries still use paper-based contract administration. Computerizing the terms of contracts, then using the data for planning and analysis is one of the many duties of contracts managers.
Commercial contract management refers to administration and management of contracts that are drawn up between different commercial entities, as opposed to contracts management that is usually handled in the public sectors. The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) is the best known national organization for professionals that work in the contract management and procurement fields.
This site maintains a special employment center on its website www.ncma.org that lists available jobs in government agencies and those that can be found in public and private areas as well. Job seekers that have an interest in this type of work will also find some of these top rated positions available online at major job posting sites like Contract Management Crossing.
A wide range of industries are actively recruiting people for contract manager jobs. These businesses include major employers who are looking for qualified applicants for openings dealing with work in accounting, aviation, transportation and logistics, construction engineering, information technology, health care and medical, production and manufacturing, and insurance and finance.
The main duty of a commercial contracts manager is to ensure that the service level agreement of contracts is appropriate in wording and structure. These people also are responsible for initiating the negotiations of terms and conditions in contracts and they are responsible for making sure that these legal documents comply with applicable laws.
As contracts change and become much more involved it is very important to have employees in commercial management positions that are experts at dealing with the many urgent and pressing issues that often occur. This type of work is very exciting and challenging and the environment is increasingly fast-paced with multi-tasking an essential quality for every employee to exhibit.
Usually you will see commercial management departments functioning as a team and there are often openings to be found. If you already have experience in this area and can demonstrate that you are capable of handling supervisory duties, you may look at other positions such as Contract management senior specialists.
These individuals will offer support the Contract management team and will help ensure that the contracts and subcontracts are addressed properly and that they are structured appropriately according to the policies of the company, that laws are adhered to and that they meet the requirements listed by customers and clients.
There is often a great deal of travel that will be involved and these employees will meet with clients personally. The ability to handle difficult negotiations is also highly desirable. A bachelor’s degree or higher in the appropriate area of business is a necessity and certification in contract management is preferred.
Academic requirements for a career in commercial contract management include a bachelor’s degree in business administration, communications, management, or one of the related fields. There are some university programs with courses and degrees available in contract management.
A candidate for a contract manager position in any field will need excellent verbal and written communication skills because they deal with many different people and they have to prepare a number of detailed business documents. Other requirements include having excellent organizational, analytical, and negotiating skills.
The NCMA organization is constantly providing a variety of continuing education and certification programs that offer professional development for members who are in this field. Some of the different certifications that are available include Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM), Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM), and Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM).
For the contract management professional interested in employment as a senior-level commercial contract manager, many employers regard certification as a CCCM or CPCM as a plus. A CCCM signals an employer that the applicant has knowledge of contracts management practices in a commercial environment. A CPCM demonstrates knowledge of contracts management in both government and commercial practice.
To pursue a CCCM, a candidate must have a bachelor’s degree that includes at least 24 semester hours of coursework in business management topics, two years of experience in contract management, and at least 120 hours of continuing professional education. A candidate for a CPCM must at least a master’s degree, five years of experience, a self-written statement of qualification, and a current certification as a CFCM or CCCM.
At least five years of experience related to contracts maintenance is necessary to qualify for a position as a commercial contracts manager. It is worthwhile to note that this is a lucrative field in which to work. The average salary of contract managers is just under $100K.
