Contracts & Business Affairs Specialist
Shimadzu Scientific Instruments
Summary
Shimadzu Scientific Instruments is seeking a Contracts & Legal Affairs Specialist to support the administration of commercial and government contracts, corporate legal documentation, compliance initiatives, and day-to-day business legal affairs. The role combines contract administration, legal operations, research, process improvement, and cross-functional collaboration to support business objectives while minimizing legal and contractual risk.
Job description
Job Functions
- Support the administration, review, drafting, negotiation, and management of commercial, government, customer, supplier, and other corporate agreements.
- Coordinate contract terms, approvals, renewals, amendments, and compliance requirements with internal stakeholders and legal counsel.
- Maintain accurate contract records, legal documentation, document retention systems, and contract lifecycle tracking.
- Support corporate legal affairs, including legal correspondence, regulatory research, litigation support, and compliance-related activities.
- Partner with Sales, Finance, Operations, Marketing, and other departments to address contractual matters, proposal reviews, bid submissions, and customer requirements.
- Review and coordinate customer questionnaires, Requests for Information (RFI), compliance surveys, vendor documentation, and Certificates of Insurance (COI).
- Monitor contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, and potential risks while recommending practical solutions to support business objectives.
- Assist in developing and improving contract administration processes, legal workflows, policies, and internal controls.
- Serve as a liaison between internal teams, customers, suppliers, government agencies, and legal counsel on contractual and business legal matters.
- Support employee training, cross-functional initiatives, and other legal or compliance-related projects as needed.
Education and Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field.
- Minimum of two years of progressive experience in contract administration, paralegal services, legal operations, compliance, or a related business legal environment.
- Working knowledge of contract administration, legal documentation, contract review, and business-related legal processes.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills, with the ability to identify contractual concerns, research requirements, and recommend practical solutions.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, contract management systems, and document management systems.
- Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with internal stakeholders, customers, and legal counsel.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field
- Minimum of two years of progressive experience in contract administration, paralegal services, legal operations, compliance, or a related business legal environment
- Working knowledge of contract administration, legal documentation, contract review, and business-related legal processes
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, contract management systems, and document management systems
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Benefits
- 401(k) Matching
- Profit-Sharing Program
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Flexible Spending Account
- Health Savings Account
- Paid Time Off
- Tuition Assistance
- Pet Insurance
- Identity Theft Insurance
- Legal Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Short-Term Disability
Company overview
Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (SSI) is the American subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, a global leader in analytical instrumentation based in Kyoto, Japan. Established in 1975 and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, SSI serves as the primary distribution and manufacturing arm for Shimadzu's scientific instruments across the Americas. The company specializes in developing and supplying advanced analytical equipment including HPLC/UHPLC systems, GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometers, FTIR spectrometers, ICP-MS, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometers, and various materials testing systems. With a network of ten regional offices across the United States, SSI provides comprehensive technical support, customer training, and application development services. The company operates a state-of-the-art Customer Training and Education Center, a Solution Center for collaborative research, and an Innovation Center focused on developing customized hardware and software solutions. SSI serves diverse sectors including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, environmental testing, food safety, academic research, and government laboratories, maintaining strong partnerships with leading institutions through its SPARQ (Shimadzu Partnership for Academics, Research, and Quality of Life) program.