Contract Lead Specialist – Procurement & Contract Management

Contract Lead Specialist – Procurement & Contract Management

(Contract Documentation Specialist III)
Location: North Chicago, IL
Work Schedule: Hybrid – Onsite Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday; Remote Monday & Friday
Contract Duration: 6 months to start
Employment Type: W-2 Contract
Industry: Pharmaceutical / Biotechnology

$34-$41/hr based on benefit selections

Orion Group is partnering with a leading global pharmaceutical company to hire an experienced Contract Lead Specialist to support procurement operations, contract administration, purchase order management, and supplier coordination.
This position is responsible for managing contract documentation, maintaining accurate records within contract management systems, and ensuring procurement activities comply with corporate purchasing, finance, and compliance policies.
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in procurement, contract management, purchase order processing, and vendor management, with the ability to independently evaluate contract requests, resolve discrepancies, and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.
This role requires excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to navigate multiple procurement systems while maintaining accurate, audit-ready documentation.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Administration & Management

• Maintain essential contract documents, records, and data within contract management databases.
• Organize and maintain electronic and hard-copy contract files in accordance with corporate purchasing, finance, and compliance requirements.
• Review and process pre-negotiated contracts through completion, ensuring accuracy, proper documentation, and timely execution.
• Evaluate contract content and requirements to verify that purchase requisitions are created accurately.
• Independently determine whether requisitions should be approved or rejected based on established guidelines.
• Maintain accurate contract records, documentation, and version control to support internal audits and compliance reviews.
• Ensure adherence to applicable corporate and divisional policies and procedures.

Procurement & Purchase Order Management

• Execute end-to-end purchase order changes, including updates to quantities, required delivery dates, and shipping instructions.
• Process Purchase Order Change Notices (POCNs) in accordance with established procurement procedures.
• Coordinate with suppliers to obtain acknowledgment and confirmation of purchase order modifications within required timelines.
• Review purchase requisitions and purchase orders for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with contractual terms.
• Identify and resolve vendor management discrepancies, including incorrect supplier selections or inaccurate procurement records.
• Support efficient contract and purchase order workflows while maintaining data integrity across procurement systems.

Vendor & Stakeholder Coordination

• Collaborate with procurement teams, finance, project leads, suppliers, and internal business stakeholders to support contract execution.
• Coordinate required documentation, approvals, and information across departments.
• Investigate procurement and supplier-related issues, gathering relevant details to support timely resolution.
• Communicate with stakeholders regarding contract status, outstanding requirements, and purchase order updates.
• Take initiative to resolve routine issues independently while escalating complex or ambiguous matters when necessary.

Reporting, Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain procurement trackers, contract status reports, and operational dashboards to monitor requests and workflow progress.
• Utilize reporting and analytical tools to validate data accuracy, identify discrepancies, and track procurement activities.
• Maintain current procedures, job aids, and exception-handling documentation.
• Support continuous improvement of contract administration and procurement processes.
• Ensure all contract and procurement transactions meet internal compliance standards and audit requirements.

Workload & Prioritization

• Independently manage and prioritize 20+ concurrent contract requests while maintaining accuracy and meeting departmental deadlines.
• Apply critical thinking and sound judgment to evaluate contract processing requirements.
• Work effectively with minimal supervision in a deadline-driven environment.
• Balance competing priorities while ensuring timely completion of contract and purchase order activities.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of procurement experience, preferably with a focus on contract administration, purchasing, outsourcing, finance, or related business operations.
• Demonstrated experience managing procurement processes, contract workflows, and purchase order transactions.
• Strong understanding of contract documentation, purchase requisitions, supplier management, and purchasing procedures.
• Experience working with contract management databases, procurement platforms, or purchase order management systems.
• Ability to navigate multiple complex computer applications while maintaining accurate and auditable records.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent requests and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience collaborating across departments and with external suppliers.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and identify and resolve procurement discrepancies.
• High attention to detail and commitment to compliance, accuracy, and data integrity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, Procurement, or a related field.
• Experience with SAP, particularly purchasing, procurement, or purchase order management functions.
• Experience with contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems or contract management databases.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Power BI for reporting, data analysis, and tracking.
• Previous experience supporting procurement or contract operations within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, or other regulated industries.
• Familiarity with corporate purchasing policies, financial controls, compliance requirements, and audit documentation.

Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented procurement and contract management professional who brings at least five years of experience supporting complex purchasing operations.
They are comfortable reviewing contract terms, processing purchase order modifications, resolving supplier discrepancies, and managing multiple contract requests simultaneously. Experience with SAP, contract management systems, and Excel would be especially valuable.
This individual should be able to work independently, communicate effectively with internal stakeholders and external suppliers, and ensure procurement transactions are completed accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with established compliance standards.


People are our business worldwide

Orion Group was founded in 1987 and is now one of the largest, independent, international recruitment companies. We have a network of 200 employees working from 24 offices, delivering a range of services – Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Outsourcing Services, Retained Search, Global Workforce Solutions, Completions & Commissioning and Materials Management – across 68 countries. As a global leader in workforce solutions, we recruit personnel across the Engineering & Technical, Office & Commercial, Scientific and Skilled Trades disciplines, for sectors including Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Constructions & Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Renewables.