Contract Specialist

COMMERCIAL CONTRACT SPECIALIST

Position at GVW Group (Pty) Ltd supporting GVW Group, LLC and its affiliated companies

Who are we? GVW Group is a dynamic private investment and industrial holding company dedicated since 1993 to growing and starting businesses. We take an entrepreneurial approach to building value for our scalable early stage, high-growth, and mid-sized operating companies by providing strategic expertise and resources. Along the way, we have expanded globally into diverse industries ranging from manufacturing, to technology, distribution, big data, engineering, and energy efficiency.

What will you do? Lead contract negotiations, assist with the management of the contract management system and oversee the entire contract lifecycle, assist the Legal team with reviewing and drafting of legal documentation, conduct research and provide training.

Key Responsibilities:

The primary responsibilities and main duties of the Legal and Contract Compliance Administrator role include but are not limited to the following:

• Contract Negotiations:
  • Lead, direct, and coach supplier, vendor and partner negotiations alongside the Procurement team and other Business Units to achieve favourable terms and conditions that align with company’s objectives.
  • Collaborate with the Procurement team to negotiate pricing and commercial aspects of supplier and vendor agreements and assist the Legal Team (to the extent permissible as a non-U.S. licensed attorney) in translating requirements into appropriate contract terms.
  • Identify and discuss potential company risks arising from contractual commitments with the Legal team.
  • Manage a variety of contracts, from SAAS agreements to complex supply agreements, from deal initiation through to management approval.
  • Identify and optimize the contract's commercial leverage and prepare the contract summary to be presented to Business/Management.
  • Assist with the drafting of the negotiation strategy/playbook.
  • Collaborate closely with the US Legal Team and internal stakeholders, including Finance and Operations, to ensure alignment and coordination throughout the contract lifecycle.
  • Evaluate vendor performance and conduct periodic reviews to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, pricing updates and service level agreements.
  • Acquire comprehensive knowledge of multiple businesses within the commercial vehicle industry, including their current or potential suppliers, previous and current agreements, performance monitoring and current status.
• Contract Drafting:
  • Collaborate with the Legal Team (to the extent permissible as a non-U.S. licensed attorney) to review, update, and maintain templates for procurement agreements.
  • Draft complex pricing provisions, such as raw material pricing adjustments, volume-based pricing reductions, and other conditional adjustments as negotiated by the parties, ensuring future adjustments comply with the agreement.
  • Under the supervision of the U.S. Legal Team, review and draft commercial agreements as requested with a focus on building the company’s strategic advantage.
  • Review and draft South African commercial agreements as requested.
  • Review supplier strategy with Procurement team and draft agreements (to the extent permissible as a non-U.S. licensed attorney) for appropriate contract types, pricing provisions and adherence to company sourcing templates.
  • Collaborate with the Legal team to suggest improvements to templates, processes, operating procedures, and reporting.
  • Ensure that contracts are reviewed, approved, and signed by authorized parties.
  • Ensure that business teams are aware of and take steps to receive all benefits specified in the contract and that document retention processes, systems, and protocols are followed.
• Reporting:
  • Provide various reports to the Legal team and Business units.
  • Tailor reports to meet the needs of internal stakeholders.
• Compliance:
  • Provide support to the Legal team on compliance, IP and regulatory issues.
  • Assist with the review of Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and due diligence documents as required.
• General:
  • Provide support to the Legal team on legal and HR issues.
  • Organize periodic contractual review meetings.
  • Support and reinforce commercial and contractual awareness amongst all employees.
  • Assist with the management of the contract management system and oversee the entire contract lifecycle.

Qualifications And Experience

• Four-year bachelor’s program and LLB degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission as an attorney or Advocate.
• At least 5 - 7 years post-admission experience as a practicing attorney or in a legal advisory capacity dealing with legal commercial issues.
• At least 2 years’ experience as an in-house legal advisor.
• At least five years’ contract negotiation experience with a proven track record of successful commercial negotiations.
• Highly beneficial if the candidate has:
  • Cross-border and US contracting experience.
  • Procurement experience, preferably for manufacturers.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Superior negotiation skills.
• Superior drafting and vetting of contract skills.
• Comfortable providing recommendations to the business team and negotiating contracts directly with third-party customers, suppliers, dealers, or enterprise vendors.
• Experience drafting and negotiating a wide range of complex agreements using strong negotiation skills, attention to detail and excellent business judgment.
• Ability to summarize a contract deal to company management and articulate complex issues clearly and concisely.
• Proficiency in contract management software and Microsoft 365 applications.
• Critical thinking skills and complex problem-solving skills.
• Willingness and ability to work full-time in the Company’s office are required.
• Advanced written and oral communication in English.
• Ability to collaborate with both legal and non-legal colleagues in SA and the U.S.
• Building and maintaining stakeholder relationships.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Highest integrity, strong work ethic, great attitude, and willingness to learn.
• Ability to work independently, meet timelines and willingness to be available during U.S. business hours.
• Time management/flexible hours.
• Take ownership and accountability.
• Professional references.