Contract Specialist - South Yorkshire

Contract Specialist jobs

The value of watertight contracts cannot be overestimated in procurement. Any company that produces things relies entirely on the suppliers literally coming up with the goods exactly as determined by the factory’s production speed and warehousing capacities. Good contracts make sure both parties to the deal have understood their responsibilities and are confident that they can meet their requirements on time and on budget.

The contract specialist will be employed by the buyer to ensure that the procurement process runs as smoothly and as efficiently as possibly. The way to achieve this is for the contract specialist to be involved with as much of the contract-making process as possible, from bidding to negotiating to drafting to signing off. Because he or she is an expert in the field of contracts, errors should be kept to a minimum and the contracts themselves should be better drafted and more likely to be agreed upon sooner.

Since there are many thousands of pages of law, both domestic and international, regarding the sourcing, importation, payment for and transporting of goods, experience in the specific area in which the employer deals would be of great benefit. An expert in contracts for one particular product or material might not be the best person to deal with another.

For these reasons, a skilled contract specialist in a busy procurement operation is a valued member of the team.

The skills required

The eye for detail that you’d expect of a solicitor is a key requirement of the contract specialist. They should be able to analyse any proposed deal and flag up any areas that have the potential for conflict in the short or long term, and correct these elements of the draft without ignoring the effect they might have elsewhere.

The contract specialist is on the front line of protecting the employer’s interests, so trustworthy and reliable individuals will do well. However, since a procure and supply contract is supposed to be to the benefit of both parties, the good contract specialist will always look at the deal from the supplier’s viewpoint, too; identifying stumbling blocks at an early stage will prevent costly and time-consuming redrafts.

Important personal attributes will be analytical skills and a good command of English (or other languages when dealing internationally). Many employers will demand the minimum of a business degree, but good experience of drafting contracts can stand applicants in good stead.

Contract Specialist Jobs in South Yorkshire

Situated in the region of England known as Yorkshire and the Humber, South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county that was established in 1974. It shares borders with Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, as well as West and North Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Those seeking Contract Specialist positions in the region will have various options to consider, as it is home to a number of large settlements, including Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham.

For much of the region's modern history, South Yorkshire has been known for its mining industry - particularly coal - and steel production. Innovations in the 17th and 18th centuries included crucible steel and stainless steel and during the Industrial Revolution, the region was extremely prosperous.

The local economy went into steep decline during the latter half of the 20th century, but over the last two decades it has seen a significant amount of redevelopment.

Today, South Yorkshire has a thriving retail and service sector, while a number of business parks, manufacturing facilities and innovation centres have also sprung up in recent years. Just some of the companies that can be found in the area include Ronseal, confectioners A.L Simpkin & Co, Plusnet and the Ardagh Glass Group.

What's more, a number of warehousing and distribution centres are located in the region - these are operated by firms like Next, IKEA, Tesco and Amazon.com.

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Cast UK’s procurement opportunities

Whether you’re relocating for personal reasons or are simply looking for more job fulfilment, there could well be an employer who’s looking for the skills you have. At any given time, Cast UK have jobs all over the UK, so wherever you live, or plan to live, we are well placed to find work that suits your skills.

We were founded by specialists in the logistics, supply chain and procurement trade, and our consultants are also drawn from these backgrounds, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for. In fact, employers often approach us to find managerial and executive candidates, so if you’re in procurement, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Contract Specialist for your business or find you a job as a Contract Specialist then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.

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