Contract Specialist

Williams-Sonoma • Olive Branch, MS

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Contract Specialist is responsible for drafting, negotiating, and managing a wide range of contracts and vendor relationships in support of business operations. This role partners closely with Operations, 3rd-party providers, Procurement, Legal, Finance, Risk, and other departments to ensure agreements align with company standards, reduce risk, and drive cost savings. The Specialist serves as a primary point of contact for contract-related activities and plays a key role in implementing best-in-class contracting processes and vendor management practices. The Contract Specialist position is located in Olive Branch, MS.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Engineering or related field
• At least 3 years of experience in directly related to indirect procurement (strategic sourcing, category/supplier/spend management), contracts and vendor relationship management
• This is an onsite and in office role
• Strong knowledge of contract law, contracting principles, and vendor management best practices
• Experience partnering with Legal, Risk, Corporate Accounting, and Compliance teams
• Working knowledge of internal audit interactions and compliance standards
• Strong analytical ability with aptitude for numbers and financial basics
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite (including redlining Word documents) and Adobe Acrobat
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and multitasking capability
• Outstanding written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Must be able to walk, stand, bend, and climb stairs/ladder
• Sits for a long period of time
• Able to use computer for an extended period of time
• Repetitive movement with hand and fingers to operate a computer, phone, and keyboard

Nice To Haves

• Experience with SharePoint, ServiceNow, or spend management tools

Responsibilities

• Deliver weekly status reporting and metrics related to contracts review and cost savings
• Draft, review, benchmark, and negotiate a wide range of agreements, including NDAs, MSAs, SLAs, SOWs, leases, order forms, amendments, and technology-related contracts
• Ensure final contract documents reflect negotiated terms and comply with internal policies, legal requirements, and business objectives
• Identify contractual risks and provide decision support to business partners, offering recommendations and mitigation strategies
• Maintain a thorough understanding of contract law and apply it in all reviews and negotiations
• Participate in vendor initiatives, including sourcing activities (RFx), supplier evaluations, vendor recommendations, and contract negotiation
• Analyze vendor spend and business requirements to propose cost-saving opportunities and optimize vendor relationships
• Proactively monitor contract renewals, amendments, expirations, and compliance with contractual obligations
• Manage real-time contract review tracking through internal systems such as SharePoint, spend tools, and service management platforms
• Act as a primary contracting point of contact for business partners and stakeholders across the supply chain
• Collaborate with Legal, Corporate Accounting, Risk, Compliance, Operations, and Internal Audit teams on contract reviews and corporate compliance matters
• Participate in or lead team meetings to provide updates on contract status, vendor spend, renewals, and cost savings metrics
• Communicate with internal partners regarding contract proposals, risk considerations, litigation concerns, and other matters affecting business units
• Assist in developing, implementing, and maintaining best-in-class contracting, vendor management, and procurement processes
• Create or improve contracting procedures to balance rigor with operational efficiency and avoid bottlenecks for business units
• Ensure internal contract procedures are effective, compliant, and aligned with company interests
• Support the creation and maintenance of workflows, templates, and process documentation within Procurement and the Raindrops Contract Management system
• Educate and train business partners on contracting processes, vendor management practices, and related tools
• Provide customer service and expert guidance to internal stakeholders throughout the contracting lifecycle
• Support teams participating in RFP responses by reviewing requirements, identifying risks, and advising on appropriate contractual language
• Deliver weekly reporting and metrics related to contract status, cost savings, renewals, and vendor performance
• Maintain consistent documentation and real-time updates in systems such as SharePoint, ServiceNow, and procurement/spend management tools
• Operate required office equipment and maintain clear communication channels across teams

Benefits

• Generous discount on all Williams-Sonoma, Inc. brand products
• 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities
• Paid vacations, Employee Assistance Programs, Time Off to Volunteer, Matching Gifts Community Service Program, and Holidays (in some locations)
• Health benefits, dental and vision insurance, including same-sex domestic partner benefits, Legal and Identity Protection Plans and Pet Insurance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees