Contract Specialist

ITA Group Inc•Des Moines, IA

About The Position

The Contract Specialist reviews and negotiates client and supplier contracts and ensures compliance after contract execution. The Contract Specialist develops relationships with ITA Group clients and event suppliers to effectively work through the contracting process. The Contract Specialist assists with training ITA Group team members on contract-related topics. CONTRACTING ACCOUNTABILITIES: Event Contracting Review and negotiate event supplier contracts for ITA Group clients, including hotels, destination management companies and venues. Review and negotiate ITA Group client contracts to minimize risk and create value to ITA Group. Contract management and reporting Assist the Chief Legal Officer in managing client and supplier contract databases. Assist the Chief Legal Officer in reporting Service Level Agreements with suppliers and management of supplier business reviews. Training Conduct training with event solutions buyers on topics including negotiations, contract enforcement and other event-related topics. Assist in developing and implementing training sessions in regards to preferred partnership agreements, other event supplier agreements and relevant corporate procedures. Attend supplier meetings and trade conferences, both during and outside of the office and office hours, to gain further hotel and destination expertise and enhance supplier relationships. Establish and promote business relationships through professional and ethical standards, consistently displaying a positive attitude. Demonstrate the highest degree of follow-through on projects, attention to detail, and quality control for our clients, as outlined in departmental procedures, and appropriately secure confidential information. Assist the Chief Legal Officer and colleagues in daily problem solving for the event solutions team members. EVENT RISK MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITIES: Evaluate event‑related risks in accordance with the company’s Event Risk Management policies and procedures, ensuring proposed programs comply with established safety, security, financial, and operational risk thresholds. Collaborate with event solutions, sales, and supplier partners to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks across all phases of event planning and execution, recommending appropriate controls or alternative solutions. Maintain documentation and reporting related to event risk assessments, and support continuous improvement efforts by providing insights, trends, and recommendations to Legal and cross‑functional stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field, or equivalent work experience.
Minimum three years of contracting experience or as a paralegal or in event management as a buyer or similar experience in the travel industry. 
Effective problem solving skills.
Superior contract negotiation skills.
Ability to lead training, mentor and coach team members and supplier partners.
Ability to effectively work with people in a manner that enhances each person’s performance and nurtures teamwork and positive attitudes, with an emphasis on problem-solving skills.
Ability to handle numerous projects with proven attention to detail and deadlines.
Superior communication and organizational skills.
Superior strategic thinking skills.
Superior relationship-building skills.
Superior quality-control skills in all areas of the position.
Ability to listen, understand and respond to external and internal customers’ needs in a timely manner; customer service experience in a service-related industry preferred.
Ability to work the time necessary to complete projects and/or meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

Review and negotiate event supplier contracts for ITA Group clients, including hotels, destination management companies and venues.
Review and negotiate ITA Group client contracts to minimize risk and create value to ITA Group.
Assist the Chief Legal Officer in managing client and supplier contract databases.
Assist the Chief Legal Officer in reporting Service Level Agreements with suppliers and management of supplier business reviews.
Conduct training with event solutions buyers on topics including negotiations, contract enforcement and other event-related topics.
Assist in developing and implementing training sessions in regards to preferred partnership agreements, other event supplier agreements and relevant corporate procedures.
Attend supplier meetings and trade conferences, both during and outside of the office and office hours, to gain further hotel and destination expertise and enhance supplier relationships.
Establish and promote business relationships through professional and ethical standards, consistently displaying a positive attitude.
Demonstrate the highest degree of follow-through on projects, attention to detail, and quality control for our clients, as outlined in departmental procedures, and appropriately secure confidential information.
Assist the Chief Legal Officer and colleagues in daily problem solving for the event solutions team members.
Evaluate event‑related risks in accordance with the company’s Event Risk Management policies and procedures, ensuring proposed programs comply with established safety, security, financial, and operational risk thresholds.
Collaborate with event solutions, sales, and supplier partners to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks across all phases of event planning and execution, recommending appropriate controls or alternative solutions.
Maintain documentation and reporting related to event risk assessments, and support continuous improvement efforts by providing insights, trends, and recommendations to Legal and cross‑functional stakeholders.