Job Summary / PurposeThe Contracts Advisor is responsible for independently managing contracting, sourcing, and commercial activities across a portfolio of materials, services, maintenance, operations, project, and professional services agreements. The role partners closely with business stakeholders to develop contracting strategies, execute sourcing initiatives, negotiate commercial agreements, manage supplier relationships, and optimize value delivery.
This position serves as a key commercial resource within the organization, providing market insights, commercial guidance, risk assessment, and supplier management support. The Contracts Advisor is expected to balance cost, quality, schedule, and risk considerations while ensuring compliance with company policies, governance requirements, and operational objectives.
The successful candidate demonstrates strong commercial acumen, analytical capability, negotiation skills, and the ability to influence outcomes across cross-functional teams while operating with a moderate level of independence.
Essential Duties / Functions- Category Strategy & Commercial Planning
- Develop and execute sourcing and category strategies that optimize cost, quality, schedule, and risk.
- Analyze market conditions, supplier capabilities, pricing trends, and industry developments to support sourcing decisions.
- Support development of cost models, benchmarking analyses, and commercial evaluations to identify cost drivers and value opportunities.
- Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, demand aggregation, standardization, and long-term value creation.
- Support business planning activities by providing commercial insights and supply market intelligence.
- . Stakeholder Engagement & Demand Planning
- Establish strong working relationships with Operations, Maintenance, Projects, Engineering, Finance, Legal, and other stakeholders.
- Collaborate with business partners to understand operational requirements, forecast demand, and develop effective contracting strategies.
- Provide commercial guidance regarding supplier selection, contract structures, pricing models, and risk allocation.
- Promote utilization of preferred suppliers, established agreements, and contracting best practices.
- Support governance processes and ensure compliance with procurement and contracting requirements.
- Sourcing & Contracting
- Lead sourcing activities from requirements development through contract award and execution.
- Develop bid packages, sourcing strategies, evaluation criteria, and commercial assessments.
- Manage competitive bidding events including supplier engagement, clarifications, evaluations, negotiations, and award recommendations
- Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, service levels, performance requirements, and contractual risk provisions.
- Draft and revise statements of work, commercial exhibits, pricing schedules, and contract amendments.
- Obtain required approvals and ensure compliance with delegated authority and governance requirements.
- Maintain contract documentation and records in accordance with company policies
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Manage supplier relationships within assigned categories and contracts
- Identify and evaluate opportunities for innovation, efficiency improvements, and value creation through supplier partnerships.
- Risk & Performance Managemen
- Identify commercial, operational, financial, and supply chain risks associated with sourcing and contracting activities.
- Develop mitigation strategies to address supplier performance issues, pricing volatility, supply disruptions, and contractual risks.
- Monitor contract compliance and support resolution of contract-related issues and disputes.
- Track sourcing results, savings, value creation, supplier performance, and risk mitigation outcomes.
- Prepare reports and presentations for stakeholders and management regarding contract and sourcing activities.
- Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve contracting processes, systems, controls, and ways of working.
- Support development and implementation of contracting standards, templates, procedures, and best practices.
- Participate in audits, assessments, and corrective action activities as required.
- Support special projects and strategic initiatives that enhance organizational effectiveness and operational performance.
Minimum RequirementsMinimum
education required of the position
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Finance, Engineering, Law, or related discipline. Equivalent industry experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements.
Minimum
experience required of the position
- 10+ years of contracting, procurement, supply chain, or commercial experience.
- 5+ years of experience supporting industrial, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, or related operations.
- Demonstrated experience leading sourcing events and contract negotiations.
- Experience managing supplier relationships and commercial agreements.
- Experience working with cross-functional stakeholders in a complex operating environment.
Minimum
knowledge, skills and abilities required of the position.
- Strong understanding of contracting, procurement, sourcing, and supplier management principles.
- Strong commercial acumen and understanding of contract risk allocation.
- Ability to independently manage moderately complex contracting and sourcing activities.
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
- Experience with competitive bidding and strategic sourcing processes.
- Ability to analyze commercial proposals, pricing structures, and supplier performance metrics.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management capabilities.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to effectively prioritize multiple assignments and competing deadlines.
- Proficiency with SAP and Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Experience with contract lifecycle management and document management systems preferred.
Required
Job Competencies for this Position:
- Commercial Acumen
- Strategic Sourcing
- Negotiation
- Communication
- Relationship Management
- Planning & Organizing
- Analytical Thinking
- Risk Management
- Problem Solving
- Business Partnership
- Continuous Improvement
- Customer Focus
- Results Orientation
- Collaboration
- Accountability
Any
certificates, licenses, etc. required for the position.
- CSCP, CPIM or CPSM certifications a plus
Working Conditions- Normal office environment - Monday to Friday 8-4 / 9-5
Physical Requirements- Normal office lifting, climbing, walking distance, etc.
Other- Not all aspects of the job are covered by the description - may require "other duties as assigned"
- Job may change over time in accordance with business needs
- Job description does not guarantee employment
