Senior Contract Specialist

Career Area:

Legal and Compliance

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

This is Caterpillar

Caterpillar is seeking an experienced Contract Specialist to provide sales contract support for its Solar Turbines Division.  Solar Turbines manufactures, sells and services mid-size industrial gas turbine packages for use in electric power generation, gas compression, and pumping systems. The position will be based in Houston, Texas and will provide contract support primarily for Solar’s Customer Services organization. Solar’s Customer Services organization is responsible for the sale and supply of all aftermarket goods and services (including long-term maintenance and overhaul services) to the owners/end-users of equipment supplied by Solar.

The successful candidate will provide sales contracting support to the business with respect to both domestic and foreign sales of complex industrial equipment and related aftermarket goods and services. Such support includes but is not limited to conducting a detailed review and analysis of sales contract terms and conditions, advising internal clients of contractual risks, drafting and negotiating sales contract terms and conditions, and identifying, communicating and seeking approvals for deviations from standard risk positions based on Solar’s Risk Assessment Guidelines.  Accordingly, candidates must have a demonstrated record of interpreting, negotiating and communicating the substance of complex commercial sales agreements (e.g., global customer agreements; large-scale project agreements; or domestic and foreign government procurements), and related regulatory and compliance issues, and translating them into appropriate risk management advice using applicable tools and processes. The position will report to Solar’s Assistant General Counsel for Customer Services (based in San Diego) and requires significant interaction with Solar’s Sales and Business Management personnel, other legal professionals, managers, and subject matter experts at Solar, and there is often direct interaction with the external Customer’s legal, contracts, procurement and operational personnel. Accordingly, excellent interpersonal skills are required to advise and collaborate with internal clients, and to negotiate with external customers to mitigate Solar’s risk while preserving critical customer relationships.

What You Will Do:

• Review and draft contract terms and documents to ensure contract reflects agreed upon requirements consistent with risk guidelines and reflective of the company strategy
• Direct and participate in customer negotiations
• Provide guidance to business teams during contract negotiations to meet contract requirements
• Conduct and communicate risk evaluation for assigned contract transactions to ensure company business objectives are met

What You Have (Required Skills):

• Contracts Review - Solar: Knowledge of contractual and legal matters related to the sale of goods and services; ability to draft, evaluate, interpret and improve the language used in contractual agreements to mitigate risk
• Risk Management: Knowledge of processes, tools and techniques for assessing and controlling an organization's exposure to risks of various kinds; ability to apply knowledge of risk management appropriately to diverse situations
• Legal Analysis: Knowledge of methods and tools used in legal analysis; ability to read, interpret and draw accurate conclusions from both legal and factual information
• Managing Multiple Priorities: Knowledge of effective self-management practices; ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation with minimal supervision
• Negotiating: Knowledge of successful negotiation concepts and techniques; ability to negotiate successfully across the organization and with customers in a constructive and collaborative manner
• Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Understanding the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision

Top Candidates Will Also Have (Preferred Skills)