contract administrator.

Typical tasks of contract administrators include:

• preparing contracts: as a contract administrator, you draft the content of contracts. Aside from putting together the standard clauses available in most legal agreements, you develop customised clauses that specify the unique business conditions of projects. Your job is to ensure the contract satisfies business requirements and complies with the relevant industry regulations and standards.
• managing internal processes: company contracts go through a lengthy review and approval process. As a contract administrator, you facilitate the review process and adjust the contract based on the suggestions of industry professionals. For instance, if a contract is legally sensitive, you send it to the legal team for review to manage risks and reduce liabilities. As the contract moves from one department to another, you communicate the updates to the stakeholders. You also ensure the legal contract is approved internally before presenting it to the client.
• negotiating contract terms: as a contract administrator, you act as a liaison for your employer. That means you can negotiate contract terms with outside parties. Your job is to negotiate the terms of contracts, communicate the wishes and priorities of your employer, and listen to the other parties. When all parties agree to the terms, you ensure they sign the contracts. If there are unresolved issues in the legal agreement, you relay feedback to the executives for clarification.
• implementing contracts: you monitor and uphold contracts and legal agreements with various parties. You ensure all parties execute their roles according to the contractual terms. You also communicate with the relevant stakeholders for a prompt resolution if you identify errors. In case of disputes, you ensure the company's leadership has accurate information relating to the contract and suggest ways to settle the disagreements.

Contract administrators work for diverse industries from finance to construction, mining and manufacturing. Hence, the work environment can vary based on the industry sector. For instance, you regularly inspect work sites in construction and mining and ensure contractors or suppliers comply with the contract terms. 

As a contract administrator, you work in an office environment. You oversee and interact with people, from contractors to stakeholders and clients in boardrooms. You also conduct face-to-face meetings and speak to clients over the phone to discuss the terms of contracts. The role may involve travelling to meet third parties at their business premises. However, it is possible to work from home since you can draft contracts and negotiate with clients over the phone.

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include project managers, accountants and contract managers. You might also be working close to architects and quantity surveyors, as well as other specialists that could include, but are not limited to, office managers, operations managers, procurement managers, factory managers and cost estimators.

As a contract administrator, you work regular business hours. Your work schedule is 40 hours a week, sometimes you meet clients outside business hours to discuss the contracts or negotiate legal agreements. That means you could work evenings and weekends to suit clients' needs. Most contract administrators work in full-time positions, but part-time opportunities are available. Short-term roles are also available if a client requires your skills for a single project.

Becoming a contract administrator is a promising career in Australia, with a job growth rate of 8.8% over the next five years. The complex legislation associated with agreements increases the demand for contract administrators. Career progression options depend on the industry. For instance, in construction, contract administrators move to contract manager roles or explore other supervisory roles like construction manager or quantity surveyor. Some contract administrators become procurement managers or project managers.

Finding your contract administrator job through Randstad provides essential benefits such as:

• a wide variety of training and development opportunities
• an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
• a range of opportunities in your area
• get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
• temporary and permanent contracts

Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a contract administrator is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers every year thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

A contract administrator creates and reviews contracts on behalf of a company. You develop and negotiate legal agreements on behalf of both parties and ensure favourable contract terms. As a contract administrator, you check that parties are conversant with the legal agreements and abide by the laws.

A contract administrator in Australia usually has general qualifications like a diploma or Certificate IV in project management or contract management. In construction, you need a bachelor's degree in construction management or civil engineering. If you don't have a bachelor's, you should complete a Certificate IV in building and construction (contract administration).

Contracts are important in all industries, making contract administration a rapidly growing career path with attractive remuneration prospects. Contract administrator duties prepare you for executive positions if you want to explore other management roles. 

As a contract administrator, you require negotiation skills to bring all parties together and steer them towards signing the contract. Good problem-solving skills are essential in case the contract runs into problems. The ability to think quickly and make decisions also comes in handy in high-pressure situations.

As a contract administrator, you focus on contracts from preparation to signing and execution. Contract managers don't participate in creating contracts but implement the legal agreement on completion.

Applying for a contract administrator job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our contract administrator job offers. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.