Contract Management: A Diverse and Diffuse Field?
According to LinkedIn, there are approximately 8 million professionals worldwide with the job title “Contract Manager.” While it is impossible to assess the job satisfaction of all eight million, many of the professionals we speak with share a common frustration: their role is often misunderstood, and the value they bring is not fully recognised.
Our response is simple: they are right.
Diversity is the norm in Contract Management
Contract management is inherently a lifecycle activity, which means it encompasses multiple distinct roles. These roles vary significantly in execution depending on factors such as contract complexity, industry sector, jurisdiction, and the level of skills and expertise required.
Consequently, the generic title “Contract Manager” does not, in itself, offer clear insight into the specific responsibilities of the role.
However, this is not unique to contract management. What does a particular lawyer or doctor do? The answers vary widely because they operate within specialised domains. Knowing that someone is a lawyer reveals nothing about their specific area of practice - are they a prosecutor, an intellectual property specialist, or a family law practitioner?
If the title alone does not define the role, what actually sets Contract Managers apart?
The key difference is that those calling themselves Contract Managers have historically lacked alignment around a clearly defined core body of knowledge.
Addressing this gap has been—and continues to be—a central objective of World Commerce & Contracting (WorldCC). For nearly two decades, the organisation has invested in developing and publishing contract management knowledge frameworks and education programmes; establishing assessment and certification standards; conducting research; building an academic community; defining the contract management lifecycle; and issuing continuous updates that clarify and evolve the professional role.
Professionals enter contract management from diverse backgrounds—just as they do in procurement, project management, or finance. It is also true that contract management as a discipline has been slower than others to gain formal academic recognition. However, this is now beginning to change.
Even as academic recognition grows, both existing professionals and new entrants will continue to come from varied professional origins. The crucial question is whether they recognise the importance of achieving professional legitimacy and status through structured learning and formal certification.
Recognition and Professional Status Are in Our Own Hands
The foundations for standards and professional cohesion already exist. The only factor limiting the professional status and recognition of Contract Managers is the pace at which practitioners adopt a shared body of knowledge and consistent methodologies.
With more than 75,000 members worldwide, World Commerce & Contracting proudly recognises those who are formally trained, certified, and operating within a defined Contract Management lifecycle framework.
An NSCCM programme provides international certification and professional community
NSCCM is the only provider in the Nordic region offering WorldCC-certified
education programmes. Our programme CCM Practitioner – English Edition is currently open for enrolment. Together with our additional contract management courses, it enables organisations to achieve a measurable uplift in contractual competence and professional capability.