Contracts Specialist

Contract Specialist

We are seeking an experienced Contract Specialist to support the procurement, negotiation, and administration of Information Technology (IT) Software agreements. This role will be responsible for managing the full contract lifecycle, partnering with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and legal teams to ensure software agreements are executed efficiently, compliantly, and in alignment with business objectives. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience negotiating software contracts, managing vendor relationships, and supporting strategic sourcing initiatives within a complex corporate environment.

Contract Negotiation & Administration

• Lead the solicitation, negotiation, execution, and post-award administration of IT software contracts.
• Negotiate a variety of software-related agreements, including:
• Master Service Agreements (MSAs)
• Statements of Work (SOWs)
• Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
• Proofs of Concept (POCs)
• Software Licensing and Subscription Agreements
• Amendments, Renewals, and Addendums
• Ensure contract terms align with company policies, procurement requirements, and risk management objectives.
• Maintain contract documentation and records in accordance with company retention policies.

Procurement & Strategic Sourcing

• Manage day-to-day procurement activities supporting the IT Software category.
• Conduct RFPs and sourcing events using approved procurement and sourcing platforms.
• Evaluate supplier proposals and support vendor selection processes.
• Identify opportunities to reduce total cost of ownership while maintaining service quality and business value.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with software vendors, resellers, and internal stakeholders.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Serve as the primary procurement contact for assigned software contracts and sourcing initiatives.
• Partner closely with IT, Legal, Finance, and business stakeholders throughout the contracting process.
• Drive high levels of stakeholder engagement while balancing business requirements, commercial objectives, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Resolve contract, supplier, and invoice-related issues in a timely manner.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with corporate procurement policies, legal requirements, and internal governance standards.
• Collaborate with Legal to review contract language and address commercial or contractual risks.
• Support internal and external audit activities as required.
• Monitor and mitigate supplier and contractual risks throughout the contract lifecycle.

Process Improvement

• Identify and implement opportunities to improve procurement and contracting processes.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, compliance, and stakeholder experience.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience negotiating and administering IT software contracts.
• Demonstrated experience managing software agreements, including MSAs, SOWs, NDAs, licensing agreements, subscriptions, and renewals.
• Strong knowledge of software procurement practices, contract lifecycle management, and vendor negotiations.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Procurement or sourcing experience within the energy, oil & gas, petrochemical, or industrial sectors.
• Experience working with SAP and Icertis Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems.
• Advanced understanding of software purchasing channels, including OEMs, resellers, distributors, and cloud-based subscription models.
• Experience supporting enterprise software categories such as SaaS, cloud services, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and business applications.
• Familiarity with strategic sourcing methodologies and supplier performance management.

Key Competencies

• Contract Negotiation
• IT Software Procurement
• Strategic Sourcing
• Vendor Management
• Contract Lifecycle Management
• Risk Mitigation
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Commercial Analysis
• Compliance & Governance
• Process Improvement