Contract Specialist

The Contract Specialist in the Automotive Aftermarket industry is responsible for drafting, reviewing, and managing contracts related to the supply, distribution, and procurement of automotive parts and services. This role involves collaborating with suppliers, distributors, and internal stakeholders to ensure compliance with legal standards and company policies. The specialist will also support the Sourcing and Category Management teams in negotiation processes and risk management to safeguard the company’s interests.

Key Responsibilities:

Contract Drafting and Review:

• Maintain Contract Request Pipeline, draft, review, and revise various contracts, including supply agreements, 3rd party distribution agreements, non-disclosure/ confidentiality agreements, indemnity agreements, and trademark licensing agreements.
• Ensure that contract terms are clear, legally compliant, and aligned with company policies and industry standards.
• Incorporate automotive aftermarket-specific clauses, such as warranty terms, intellectual property rights, and quality assurance obligations.
• Draft contract amendments, extensions, and renewals as required.

Support Category Management team with Contract Negotiations:

• Assist Category Management team in negotiating favorable contract terms with suppliers, distributors, or service partners by preparing and reviewing supplier agreements.
• Provide expertise on contractual terms such as cost requirements and processes, rebates, volume discounts, delivery schedules, parts quality, warranties and exclusivity clauses.
• Act as liaison between Category Management and NAPA Legal counsel.
• Adjust contract terms to reflect evolving market trends, inventory levels or product demand while ensuring supplier contracts align with NAPA’s category management strategies.
• Maintain a professional and pragmatic approach to resolve disputes amicably.

Contract Administration and Management:

• Maintain a centralized repository for contracts, agreements, and related documentation.
• Track contract metrics such as on-time delivery, fill rates, defective rates or quality issues, rebate programs, expirations, and renewals to ensure suppliers uphold their commitments.
• Coordinate with procurement, legal, and operational teams to fulfill contractual obligations.

Risk Management and Compliance:

• Maintain a centralized, organized database for certificates of insurance (COIs) submitted by suppliers.
• Ensure all COIs contain the correct policy limits, coverage types and expiration dates required by company standards and contract terms.
• Coordinate with Category Management team and/or suppliers to request missing, updated or corrected COIs.
• Educate suppliers on company insurance requirements and coordinate with the Supplier and NAPA Legal teams to address any disputes.
• Ensure contracts adhere to legal, industry and safety standards, regulatory compliance and company policies.
• Assist Engineering and Quality Team in conducting risk assessments on new and existing contracts, focusing on liability, quality control, and regulatory compliance with automotive standards.
• Assist in internal and external audits to verify contract compliance and address potential gaps.

Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Act as a liaison between legal, procurement, category management, finance, operations, and external partners.
• Work closely with the Category Management team to negotiate and implement rebate structures, funding agreements, promotional allowances and supplier- funded programs.
• Educate internal teams on contract obligations, quality assurance requirements, and supplier performance metrics.
• Facilitate communication between the legal team and aftermarket suppliers to resolve contract-related issues.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Generate reports on contract performance metrics, compliance status, and risk assessment outcomes.
• Maintain accurate records of contract changes and approvals.
• Prepare summaries of key contract terms for executive briefings.

Qualifications:

Education:

• 4-year bachelor’s degree in required.
• Business Administration, Supply Chain or Category Management, or Legal background preferred.
• Certification in Contract Management (e.g., CCCM, CPCM) is a plus.
• Knowledge of automotive aftermarket standards and regulations is a plus.

Experience:

• 2-4 years of experience in contract management or administration, preferably within the automotive or aftermarket industry.
• Proven experience drafting and negotiating contracts related to automotive parts, distribution, and supply chain management.
• Familiarity with automotive standards is desirable.

Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make informed decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Proficiency in contract management software and MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple contracts simultaneously.
• Strong negotiation skills with an understanding of the automotive aftermarket business environment.
• Foster open communication with team members to gain consensus and ensure alignment on contract terms.

Personal Attributes:

• Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work independently.
• Work effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g. suppliers, distributors, and internal partners within the automotive aftermarket)
• Ability to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Adaptable to dynamic market conditions and evolving industry standards.
• Strong ethical judgment and commitment to compliance.

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GPC conducts its business without regard to sex, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, military status, status as a veteran, or any other protected characteristic. GPC's policy is to recruit, hire, train, promote, assign, transfer and terminate employees based on their own ability, achievement, experience and conduct and other legitimate business reasons.