National Contract Specialist

National Contract Specialist

School Outfitters | Drive growth by securing and managing high-impact contract opportunities

Location: Norwood, OH (Onsite with remote flexibility)

Job : 446

# of Openings: 1

Are you someone who thrives in a fast‑paced, detail‑driven environment and enjoys managing complex projects end‑to‑end? In this role, you will directly influence how School Outfitters grows by identifying, securing, and managing contract opportunities that drive millions in annual revenue.

You won’t just process contracts; you’ll play a critical role in positioning School Outfitters as the preferred vendor in the PreK–12 market.

At School Outfitters, we help educators create learning environments where students and teachers thrive. As a national leader in educational furniture and equipment, we combine expertise, service, and innovation to support schools across the country.

We are a 100% employee‑owned (ESOP) company, meaning your work directly contributes to shared success. Our culture is collaborative, growth‑focused, and driven by a commitment to continuously improve and deliver value to our customers.

In this role, you’ll:

• Identify and target key contracts and purchasing programs aligned to major and key accounts
• Develop new contract opportunities for PreK–12 customers without existing purchasing channels
• Partner with Sales leadership to proactively expand contract/program coverage

• Manage contracts through full lifecycle: discovery, implementation, submission, follow‑up, training, and post‑award marketing
• Facilitate and manage 300–500 contracts annually
• Oversee contract submissions, documentation, and internal coordination

• Manage and influence $40M+ in annual contract business
• Drive contract growth of 10%+ annually (~$5M+)
• Monitor contract performance and identify marketing and sales opportunities to increase revenue

• Lead internal communication and training to ensure teams understand contract opportunities
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Vendors, and Operations to develop competitive proposals
• Facilitate internal meetings to align teams and strengthen proposals

• Interpret contract terms and ensure compliance with requirements
• Escalate risks or concerns to sales leadership when needed
• Maintain contract accuracy across systems and documentation

• Travel to trade shows and cooperative purchasing events to build relationships and grow market presence
• Engage with customers and partners to strengthen School Outfitters’ positioning

• Increase win rates and effectiveness of contract submissions
• Expand contract coverage in key territories and accounts
• Drive measurable revenue growth through contract channels
• Improve internal alignment and execution across departments

To succeed in this role, you will likely:

• Be highly organized and able to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
• Thrive in a deadline‑driven, fast‑paced environment
• Have strong attention to detail and accuracy in documentation and compliance
• Be proactive, goal‑driven, and comfortable taking ownership of outcomes
• Communicate effectively across teams and influence both internal and external stakeholders
• Be comfortable interpreting data, requirements, and contract language

• Experience with contracts, bids, procurement, or sales
• Ability to lead cross‑functional projects from start to finish
• Strong presentation and communication skills

• Ownership of high‑impact work tied directly to revenue growth
• Exposure to strategic accounts and large‑scale opportunities
• Experience working across multiple business functions
• The opportunity to develop into a leader in contracts, sales strategy, or operations

• Competitive compensation aligned to experience
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Hybrid flexibility
• Location:
  
  Norwood, Ohio

Apply today to start the conversation.

School Outfitters is an equal opportunity employer. EEO – Disabled / Veterans.

School Outfitters is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

School Outfitters is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a medical condition or disability at any point during the application or interview process, please email Human