As the name suggests, the role of a contract manager is to manage the contracts of a business. This includes drafting, negotiating, reviewing and revising contracts, and managing the contract process from beginning to end. 

They handle all types of contracts associated with business, such as procurement, manufacturing, distribution and transportation contracts. Every business relationship will need to have a contract in order to ensure that the business responsibilities and financial responsibilities that were agreed upon are carried out. 

Some of the duties you might undertake in a contract manager role include:

In order to become a contract manager, you will need to have at least a bachelor’s degree. Degree courses which are particularly relevant for contract managers include a degree in business, law, management, economics or human resources. 

Higher degrees in related fields such as law or business can also be very useful in this role. If you have a specific employer in mind for your career, then checking current vacancies and job descriptions to see their requirements for contract managers is always a good idea.

Whether you are looking for contract manager jobs already, are a career pivoter or are at the start of your career journey, obtaining a qualification via an online Management course is a great way to boost your resume and obtain additional qualifications.

There are a variety of courses available, including business and management courses and strategic management, at all levels, from beginner to master degree level, and you can gain accredited Level 4-7 awards recognised globally.

These courses demonstrate your proven management skills and knowledge to employers, as well as improve your confidence as a manager. If you study a course in contract management specifically, then this will greatly improve your career prospects as you will learn key skills such as managing contracts, risk management and how to oversee the contract lifecycle.

Being a contract manager takes a lot of skill, expertise and professional qualities. If you do not have the below skills already, then getting work experience and studying an online Management course can help you develop these key skills. Some of the main contract manager skills you will need in this career include:

As a contract manager, you will also need to know several legal terms as you will be handling legal documents and documents associated with contract law. Most employers will not require candidates to have a law degree. However, a qualification in law or an understanding of contract or business law is likely to be very useful in this job.

Contract managers are usually required to have some experience in contract management unless they have a qualification in contract management itself. This is because you will need to know how to manage the contract management process yourself before taking on this career.

You can gain experience in contract management by securing an entry-level position in contract administration and then working your way up to becoming a contract manager. If you have an underlying knowledge of the contract process through a qualification, this process will be quicker, and you will be more likely to land an entry-level contract administration role, too. 

If you are struggling to find work experience even with a qualification under your belt, then you can explore charity and volunteer roles in areas such as bid writing, operations management, events coordination and fundraising. This can help you develop key practical skills such as relationship-building, negotiation, organisation and communication. 

Gaining experience in a legal environment can also help you develop your knowledge of contract terms.

Contract managers have a versatile skill set, having several leadership and business skills as well as expertise in contract law. 

There are various roles available within contract management which you can explore, depending on your experience and expertise. Some of these include construction contract manager, commercial contract manager and manufacturing contract manager. From here, as a contract specialist, you can progress into senior contact management, consultancy or even become a company director. 

If you want to go into construction management or civil engineering contract management, then you may need additional experience and/or qualification in these fields to progress down this career path.

Management courses are also a great way to learn transferable skills in leadership, management, delegation and organisation, which are essential for several careers and job roles. Therefore, having qualifications and experience in this area can also open the door to managerial and leadership roles in other sectors.