Contract Specialist

Roles and Responsibilities

A Contract Officer is a professional responsible for managing and overseeing the creation, execution, and compliance of contracts between an organization and its partners, suppliers, or clients. They ensure that all contractual agreements are legally sound, meet business needs, and are executed in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Contract officers typically work in industries such as government, construction, procurement, law, or corporate business, and play a critical role in the risk management process by ensuring contracts are clear, enforceable, and protect the organization’s interests.

Key Skills of a Contract Officer:

1. Contract Law Knowledge
   1. Legal Understanding: A strong grasp of contract law, legal terminology, and the rights and obligations of all parties involved in a contract.
   2. Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of regulations and compliance requirements that affect contracts, such as labor laws, trade regulations, and industry-specific standards.
2. Attention to Detail
   1. Accuracy: Ensuring that contract terms are clear, precise, and free from errors, especially when it comes to important legal details like deliverables, timelines, and payment terms.
   2. Reviewing Documents: Carefully reviewing complex documents and identifying potential issues, risks, or ambiguities in terms or clauses.
3. Negotiation Skills
   1. Contract Negotiation: Skilled at negotiating terms with external parties, including prices, deadlines, deliverables, and other aspects of the contract that align with the organization’s objectives and budget.
   2. Conflict Resolution: Ability to resolve disputes or disagreements over contract terms or performance, finding mutually beneficial solutions while maintaining a professional and balanced approach.
4. Project Management
   1. Timelines and Deadlines: Strong organizational skills to ensure that contracts are executed on time and according to schedule.
   2. Task Coordination: Coordinating with various internal departments (e.g., legal, procurement, finance) to ensure all aspects of the contract are managed effectively.
5. Communication Skills
   1. Written Communication: The ability to write clear and effective contracts, amendments, or other legal documentation.
   2. Verbal Communication: Effectively communicating with stakeholders, such as suppliers, vendors, internal teams, and legal advisors, to clarify contract terms and requirements.
   3. Client Relationship Management: Building and maintaining professional relationships with clients, contractors, or partners to ensure smooth contract execution.
6. Risk Management
   1. Identifying Risks: The ability to assess potential risks associated with a contract, including financial, legal, and operational risks.
   2. Mitigating Risks: Structuring contracts in ways that minimize risks to the organization and protect it from potential liabilities.
7. Analytical Skills
   1. Contract Evaluation: Reviewing contract terms to evaluate their implications for the organization, analyzing costs, timelines, and scope of work to ensure they meet business objectives.
   2. Problem-Solving: Finding solutions when issues arise during contract negotiations or execution, such as delays, disputes, or discrepancies.

Desired Candidate Profile

About the job

1. Contract Drafting and Negotiation
   1. Drafting Contracts: Preparing initial drafts of contracts based on the organization’s requirements, ensuring that all terms are legally sound and meet the business needs.
   2. Negotiating Terms: Working with other parties (e.g., suppliers, vendors, clients) to negotiate favorable contract terms, such as pricing, timelines, payment schedules, and specific deliverables.
   3. Amending Contracts: Modifying or amending existing contracts to reflect new terms, regulatory changes, or updates based on project changes or negotiation outcomes.
2. Contract Review and Approval
   1. Reviewing Contracts: Analyzing contract documents for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with organizational objectives and legal requirements.
   2. Internal Review: Coordinating with internal stakeholders such as legal teams, finance, and project managers to review contract terms before final approval.
   3. Ensuring Compliance: Ensuring all contracts comply with relevant laws, industry standards, and company policies.
3. Contract Management and Administration
   1. Monitoring Compliance: Tracking the progress of contracts through their lifecycle, ensuring that all parties meet their contractual obligations and deadlines.
   2. Documentation: Ensuring that all contract-related documentation is properly stored, archived, and accessible in line with legal and organizational requirements.
   3. Renewals and Extensions: Managing contract renewals, extensions, or modifications to ensure continuous and smooth business operations.

• Available in UAE
• At least 5 years of experience in the field
• Arabic speaking, reading and writing.
• Bachelor's degree in a business or legal discipline.
• A background in the legal or business field, with roles that include overseeing the drafting and analyzing of contracts.
• Strong leadership skills and familiarity with legal terms and concepts dealing or experiences with government entities.
• Work location: Abu Dhabi