Contract Specialist

Job Description

The Specialist, Service Commercial Contracting, is a hybrid role responsible for project managing and negotiation of complex Vestas service contracts, including new service contracts and renewals, and transactional sales contracts, ensuring compliance with internal Vestas contract requirements on cost control and risk management and incorporating best practices and lessons learned. The Specialist then manages a regional portfolio of service contracts to facilitate operational compliance and guide issue resolution involving input and feedback from multiple operational, technical, commercial, and legal individuals across the organization. Proficient contract interpretation skills, drafting capabilities, and be solution minded.

Responsibilities

• Support Service Sales by project managing the negotiation of Vestas service contracts, including direct negotiation with customers from internal kick-off meetings through handover to Operations.
• Develop a position on all terms and conditions during negotiation, ensuring that stakeholders' input and concerns are appropriately represented.
• Support a Service Operations Region by identifying contractual and commercial approaches and negotiation tactics to avoid or resolve customer disputes; help execute the chosen strategy through drafting and obtaining internal approvals of letters, notices, position papers and amendments throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Manage the negotiation process: liaise with customer representative, set the timeline, arrange and manage meetings, and coordinate internal agreement on resolution.
• Ensure that all contracts and other legal instruments are consistent with Vestas internal guidelines for acceptable commercial commitments (or other risk policies) and optimize Vestas' ability to perform to the contract and mitigate customer disputes.
• Maintain contracts database that captures life-cycle requirements for easy reference and management of operational and commercial obligations.
• Participate in direct customer conversations and negotiations, as part of coordinated account team or ad hoc team to resolve specific issues.
• Review existing contracts for lessons learned and direct that input to support negotiation of new or renewal service agreements.
• Develop and maintain effective professional working relationship with Vestas Service Sales, Service Operations, Legal, and other key stakeholder departments.
• Initiate internal process improvements necessary to support job responsibilities, including document management and reporting tools.
• Identify opportunities to create mutual value for Vestas and customers while protecting Vestas profitability and risk exposure.
• Timely respond to inquiries on points of contract interpretation from Service Site Managers.

Qualifications

• J.D. or MBA, plus 2 years of directly related experience in contract interpretation or negotiation. May be substituted by advanced coursework in contracts.
• Working knowledge of commercial regulations and law.
• Knowledge of practices, procedures and processes of contract administration as well as interpretation of regulations and contract clauses.
• Effective oral communication skills with demonstrated ability to prepare clear, concise and compelling written materials; in particular, ability to communicate with field personnel lacking specialized contract knowledge; solid customer presence and ability to negotiate contentious issues.
• Demonstrated capabilities in problem solving, negotiations, and conflict resolution.
• Ability to plan, organize, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritize, and execute assigned workload to meet multiple deadlines. Be detail oriented.
• High proficiency with standard IT tools including Microsoft Office, and comfort learning and using new internal IT platforms.

Preferred

• 3+ years of directly related experience in all phases of commercial negotiations and working knowledge of contract law.
• Experience working in a capital equipment industry with long-term service-related contracts, or a construction related industry.
• Experience working with customers and organizations with multiple operating sites and organizations.

Competencies

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite computer skills (Windows, Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook and Teams) as well as other software such as SAP or Salesforce.
• Regular and reliable attendance and responsiveness to stakeholders.
• Effective written and oral communication skills; able to express oneself clearly and in technical and non-technical terms, and to translate contract language for non-legal stakeholders.
• Ability to establish and maintain good relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.

What We Offer

We believe that when you thrive, we all thrive. That's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package, focusing on your safety, support, and growth.

We're proud to offer:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid time off, holidays, and parental leave.
• Opportunities for career progression
• 401(k) with company match, life insurance, and disability coverage.
• An established safety culture and inclusive, collaborative workplace.

Our commitment to a fair hiring

At Vestas, we evaluate all candidates solely based on their professional experience, education, and relevant skills. To support a fair recruitment process, we kindly ask that you remove any photos, dates of birth or graduation, gender pronouns, marital status, or other personal information not relevant to the role before submitting your CV/resume. Your CV/resume should focus on your professional and educational background, along with the necessary contact details (email and phone number). We train our hiring teams in inclusive evaluation and regularly review process outcomes to ensure fairness.

DEIB Statement

At Vestas, we recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in driving innovation and success. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, particularly those who may hesitate due to their identity or feel they do not meet every criterion. As our CEO states, "Expertise and talent come in many forms, and a diverse workforce enhances our ability to think differently and solve the complex challenges of our industry". Your unique perspective is what will help us powering the solution for a sustainable, green energy future.