Many businesses rely on other businesses to provide products or services that are critical to their operations. A law firm, for example, might need the services of a photocopy company if they have a lot of copies to make. A contract coordinator assists in the selection of the most appropriate company to provide a product or service. She could also work out a deal between two or more businesses. A contract coordinator may also ensure that the contract’s terms are followed and that neither party has broken the agreement.
One of the contract coordinator’s first responsibilities may be to locate a company that can provide the goods or services required. For example, a law firm’s photocopy coordinator might speak with several representatives from different copy companies to see if they can handle large volumes of copies and a quick turnaround time. The contract coordinator may also start talking about pricing at this point.
The contract coordinator may negotiate the contract after a company has been chosen; she may also set the contract’s terms, outline all expectations, and specify the conditions that will cause the contract to end. Before a contract is finalized, it is frequently reviewed by a lawyer or a member of upper management.
After both parties have signed the contract, the contract coordinator is usually in charge of keeping it up to date. She may inspect the services or product to ensure that they are of the expected quality. She can also ensure that the contract’s terms are followed. If not, she may choose to end the contract, particularly if the contract contains terms that allow her to do so. For example, if a law firm is consistently concerned about the quality of copies produced by a contracted copy service company, or if deadlines are consistently missed, the contract coordinator may have grounds to terminate the contract.
The contract coordinator frequently collaborates with executives from a variety of companies. She may collaborate with managers from her own company to sign off on contracts she has created, as well as managers from other companies when negotiating contract terms. Overall, she must be able to communicate effectively and analyze a wide range of business contracts.