Contracts Manager
Job Summary
The Contracts Manager plays a vital strategic role in shaping customer relationships and safeguarding organizational interests through expert contract review, negotiation, and lifecycle management. This position leads the creation and execution of high‑quality customer agreements, ensuring alignment with business objectives and full compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The role also serves as a trusted advisor to cross‑functional teams, providing insight, mitigating risks, and driving continuous improvement across the contracts function.
Essential Responsibilities
Contract Review & Negotiation
- Evaluate customer agreements to ensure alignment with company goals, policies, and risk thresholds.
- Lead and support negotiations to secure advantageous terms surrounding pricing, performance standards, compliance obligations, and other key conditions.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to proactively identify and mitigate risks across contract portfolios.
Contract Preparation & Execution
- Draft, review, refine, and finalize customer agreements with clarity, precision, and enforceability.
- Coordinate with cross‑functional teams to gather required inputs, approvals, and documentation.
- Oversee timely execution and accurate documentation of all customer agreements.
Compliance & Oversight
- Ensure all contracts adhere to internal policies, legal requirements, and relevant industry standards.
- Advise internal teams on contractual obligations, risk exposure, and compliance matters.
- Monitor customer performance relative to contractual commitments and proactively address variances.
Contracts Management System
- Maintain and enhance the contract management system to ensure accurate tracking of key dates, deliverables, and obligations.
- Generate performance, compliance, and KPI reports for leadership review.
- Identify and implement process improvements to streamline contract workflows and improve operational efficiency.
Dispute Resolution
- Lead resolution efforts for contract‑related disputes in collaboration with internal teams and customers.
- Draft and negotiate settlement agreements as needed, partnering with legal counsel to ensure appropriate protections.
Collaboration With Legal Counsel
- Work closely with legal teams to ensure all agreements are legally sound and structured to protect organizational interests.
- Seek guidance on complex matters and escalate issues requiring advanced legal review.
- Stay current on evolving laws and regulations impacting commercial and customer agreements.
Additional Responsibilities
- May focus on commercial contracts, government contracts, intellectual property, or other specialized areas based on business needs.
- May serve as Senior Intellectual Property Leader for one or more sites.
- Support export compliance initiatives and perform additional duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Experience: 5+ years in contracts management, contract law, or procurement; aerospace or defense experience preferred.
- Knowledge: Strong understanding of contract terms, regulatory requirements, and risk mitigation.
- Skills: Skilled negotiator with strong conflict‑resolution capabilities.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills at all organizational levels.
- Education: BA/BS in Business Administration, Law, or related field.
- Eligibility: Must meet U.S. Person requirements; U.S. citizenship required at cleared sites.
Preferred Qualifications
- MBA or JD
- 8+ years of relevant experience
- Professional certifications such as CPM, CPCM, or equivalent
FAQs
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