Contract Negotiator Salary

Many companies, especially larger organizations with many specific functions, employ contract negotiators. Depending on their company and specific role, the negotiator may have a variety of duties. These professionals typically work with contracts in three categories. In some cases, the contracts help distribute goods or services that the company offers; in others, the contracts involve services or goods the company uses. Finally, the negotiator may work strictly with internal contracts within the organization.

With distribution-related responsibilities, the negotiator may be part of a sales department or digital management team; in this capacity, they may work to develop binding contracts for licensing digital content. For goods or raw materials, the contract negotiator may work with manufacturers to ensure the delivery of these necessary supplies. For goods manufacturers, the negotiator may negotiate retail space and wholesale pricing of finished goods.

Negotiators also work in a “pull” capacity within purchasing department. In this case, they may help negotiate for software or other digital rights so the parent company can use third-party applications. It can involve the purchase of supplies, components, or raw materials from sellers. Additionally, negotiators are used in human resources departments of larger companies, especially those with contract employees, subcontractors, and/or union labor.

For all of these responsibilities, the contract negotiator is also expected to remain familiar with prevailing market trends and be able to open renegotiations as needed.

The job requirements for a contract negotiator vary. For companies primarily interested in having this employee for a purchasing capacity, a bachelor's degree in business and administration is usually required, as well as prior experience in purchasing and negotiations. For other roles, a company may also prefer some academic study or familiarity with the legal study of contracts, even preferring to hire individuals with law degrees and a business background. Contract negotiators must possess outstanding communications skills, and they typically work in an office during regular business hours. (Copyright 2017 PayScale.com)

Contract Negotiator Tasks

• Negotiate major contracts for various clients
• Lead in negotiating purchasing contracts
• Actively participate with the client in any contract negotiation
• Advise the client throughout the negotiation process