What’s a contract supervisor’s role?

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A contract supervisor manages procurement and maintenance of contracts for companies or government agencies, including evaluating bids, overseeing the contract, and ongoing administration. They may also plan and organize employee training and have good communication skills. Job postings can be found in trade publications and public employment boards.

A contract supervisor manages the procurement and maintenance of contracts for a company or government agency. This may begin with evaluating competing bids and developing an appropriate contract, and may continue with performing the work until the contract is completed. A support team can provide assistance, including research, performing administrative tasks, and other services. Such positions can be full-time for large companies, and some can bring additional benefits.

Companies and agencies use contracts for work they cannot do themselves. The contract sets out the terms of a job, including the timeline, materials, and wages. As entities determine that they need the contracted work performed, they may place a request for bids. Contract supervisors can help develop solicitation specifications, oversee bid reviews, and finalize the contract with the winning bidder. Once initiated, the contract requires ongoing administration.

Responsibilities may include reviewing expense accounts, requesting progress reports, and visiting the site where work is performed. Advance planning may also be part of the contract supervisor’s responsibility. This team member may need to think about issues such as obtaining permits and making alternative arrangements when facilities and equipment are not available because they are under construction. Mobile contract supervisors may work primarily in the field to oversee work as it occurs. The contract supervisor can inform the employer of progress and can intervene if quality control issues or other issues become apparent.

These personnel have the authority to hire and fire your support staff. They organize employee training, making sure everyone is qualified and can step in to resolve disputes and resolve issues with the quality of work in the office or in the field. Working as a contract supervisor can require good communication skills as you have to interact with multiple people while on the job. Administrative support staff may need guidance from their supervisors, for example, while workers may need to be reminded of the terms of a contract so that they can do the job correctly.

Job postings for contract supervisors can be found in a variety of resources, including trade publications and public employment boards. Such work generally requires some familiarity with the industry and the nature of the contracts involved; an oil and gas contract supervisor, for example, needs to understand what kind of work a contract might entail. Administrative and supervisory experience is valuable, as is the comfort of contracts and other legal documents.




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