Contract Administrator (Andover, MA)

As a Contract Administrator at Smith+Nephew, your primary responsibilities will include reviewing, drafting, and negotiating contracts for procurement related to our Sports Med products. You will collaborate closely with sales, legal, compliance, and finance departments to ensure all contracts reflect the company’s best interests while complying with industry regulations.

To succeed as a Contract Administrator at Smith+Nephew, you should possess a minimum of 3 years' experience in contract administration, particularly within the medical device or healthcare sector. A high school diploma is required; however, a bachelor’s degree is preferred. Additionally, strong organizational skills and familiarity with Microsoft applications, SAP, and Salesforce will be beneficial.

In the role of Contract Administrator at Smith+Nephew, you will be pivotal in managing compliance risks by ensuring all contracts adhere to relevant regulatory and legal standards. You'll provide support to internal teams, aiding them in understanding their contractual obligations and ensuring adherence to compliance requirements.

Smith+Nephew prefers candidates for the Contract Administrator role who have prior experience in contract administration within the medical device or healthcare industry. Familiarity with legal contracts and a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects while maintaining attention to detail are highly valued.

A successful Contract Administrator at Smith+Nephew will benefit from being IT savvy and having experience with Microsoft applications and web-based tools. Familiarity with SAP and Salesforce is particularly advantageous for navigating contract management.

When discussing your experience with contract negotiation, focus on specific examples where you successfully drafted, reviewed, and negotiated terms that protected the interests of your previous employer while also fostering good relationships with contractors. Mention any specific outcomes that benefited your organization.

To ensure contract compliance, it's essential to first familiarize yourself with relevant regulations and internal policies. Discuss how you perform regular audits of contracts and work collaboratively with various departments to foster understanding and adherence to compliance standards.

In handling ambiguity, I emphasize the importance of clear communication. Describe a situation where you sought clarification from stakeholders and how you documented any updates to ensure all parties were on the same page to avoid future issues.

Tracking contract renewals effectively involves setting up robust systems for monitoring expiration dates and enabling timely follow-ups. You could mention any software or strategies you use to streamline this process and ensure no deadlines are missed.

When discussing challenging contracts, highlight a specific instance that required you to navigate complex legal wording or negotiations with difficult stakeholders. Share how you approached the situation and what the final resolution was.

Emphasize how collaboration with different departments is crucial in contract administration. Discuss your experience working with sales, finance, and legal teams, and how this cross-functional interaction has led to more successful contract outcomes.

Detail your proficiency with various contract management software tools. How did you utilize these tools to enhance your efficiency—mention any specific functionalities you found particularly beneficial.

Prioritizing tasks effectively involves assessing deadlines, and contract complexity, and stakeholder needs. Provide insight into your time management strategies, such as using productivity tools or setting benchmarks.

Communication is vital, especially in contract administration. Focus on the ability to convey complex legal terms in an understandable way across various levels within the organization as well as to outside stakeholders.

When faced with disputes, I advocate for an open dialogue to seek resolution. Share techniques you've applied to de-escalate situations and work collaboratively towards mutually beneficial outcomes.