Contracts Manager I

Are you ready to use your contracting skills and management experience? In this challenging, fast-paced environment, you'll have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and experience to support the design and creation of the most groundbreaking aerospace and defense technologies - those that exist today and those that will shape tomorrow. As a Contracts Manager, you will be using your skills, experience, and expertise to lead, negotiate, administer, and successfully complete our standard and nonstandard contracts. You'll be responsible for examining estimates of material, equipment services, production costs, performance requirements, and delivery schedules to ensure accuracy and completeness. You'll advise management of contractual rights and obligations and ensure our contracting activities provide for proper contract acquisition and fulfillment.

Sierra Space, based in Louisville, Colorado with operations in Madison, Wisconsin, Durham, North Carolina, and Kennedy Space Center, Florida, designs and manufactures advanced spacecraft, satellites, propulsion and environmental systems, spacecraft subsystems and components for the U.S. government (including NASA), commercial customers and international organizations. Learn more about Sierra Space

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Point of contact for the customer on all assigned contractual matters

• Provides coordination with other departments as necessary in the preparation of responses to customer correspondence and other requests

• Maintains close, professional interface with internal and external customer personnel (technical, administrative, and business)

• Reviews RFP requirements for contract risk, recommends appropriate exceptions/fall-back positions accordingly to leadership for review

• Develop, in conjunction with the Program Manager, written negotiation strategies for all new awards and contract change activity

• Reviews, recommends, and negotiates terms and conditions to ensure Sierra Space has adequate contractual protection 

• Acts as Lead in customer negotiations with Program Management and Pricing Support management included in all discussions

• Responsible for ensuring that all contract documents, data, deliverables, funding, etc. are posted to the SharePoint; to include the development and updates to Contract-specific matrix

• Ensures, in conjunction with the assigned Contracts Administrator, contract files are maintained in an up-to-date and audit-ready condition with all contractual data, correspondence and status

• Oversees the preparation and delivery of customer required data and reports in compliance with contractual requirements; monitors, in conjunction with the assigned Contracts Administrator, status of day-to-day deliverables and preparation of shipping documents, DD-250s and DD-1149s

• Ensures compliance with shipping schedules, design specifications, legal requirements, and other contractual commitments

• Monitors, in conjunction with the Program Manager, performance against the original cost allocation and contract requirements in order to anticipate necessary changes in contract funding or scope of work

• Ensures timely customer notification of 75% funding limitation, or as required by contract

• Assists Finance in billing preparation; accuracy of contractual requirements (i. e., T&M contracts (rates and categories); cost-type contracts (cost and scheduled); milestone and CLIN liquidation)

• Monitors Accounts Receivables and Unbilled on assigned contracts, ensuring prompt payment receipt

• Initiates and monitors, in conjunction with the Program Manager, contract close-out process

• In coordination with the Director of Contracts, and Corporate counsel, reviews NDAs, Teaming Agreements, and other strategic documents associated with assigned business area

• Participates in monthly Program Management Reviews (PMRs)

• Reviews and approves work of any assigned personnel

• Has acquired and maintains working knowledge of Federal and Commercial contract rules and regulations

• Assists Export Compliance Officer by reviewing contract for potential ITAR/EAR requirements and ensuring that export controlled data is not transmitted through the Contracts Department without appropriate export licenses

Must-haves:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field of study

• Higher level degree may substitute for experience

• Related experience may be considered in lieu of required education

Preferred:

• 6+ years of related experience

• Ability to problem solve - applying originality, creativity and innovation

• Strong skills to plan, organize, multi-task, prioritize, and execute assigned workload to meet multiple deadlines

• Detail-oriented, without losing sight of the big picture

• Ability to interpret considerable data of a technical/programmatic nature in order to effectively and adequately perform duties and responsibilities

• Collaborate effectively with co-workers; work with other departments and management (both within Sierra Space and with the customer) in a professional manner

• Extensive skills application in MS Office products, with Dynamics experience preferable

• Experience with government contracting

• Previous legal experience

• The ability to obtain and maintain a Security Clearance may be required Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

To conform to U.S. Government international trade regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

With 30+ years of proven spaceflight heritage, Sierra Space has provided more than 4,000 space systems, subsystems and components to customers worldwide, and participated in more than 500 missions to space, including to Mars. The company has technology in production and in development to enable space habitats for short- and long-duration space travel, a fleet of Dream Chaser spaceplanes, and the first free-flying commercial space station. Please visit www.sierraspace.com to learn more about Sierra Space, its business areas, capabilities, programs, products and services.  

Physical/Mental/Emotional Requirements:

• Frequently walk, sit, stand, climb stairs and steps
• Frequently repeat same hand, arm, and finger motion many times to include finger and hand dexterity
• Rarely lifting or carrying up to 20 lbs.

Working Conditions:

• Rarely exposed to fumes or hazardous chemicals/materials
• Rarely exposed to loud noises

Sierra Space offers annual incentive pay based upon performance that is commensurate with the level of the position.

Sierra Space offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 8%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.

At Sierra Space, our mission is to dream, innovate, inspire and empower the next generation to transform humanity through technology and imagination. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we welcome our employees to bring their whole selves to their work. Sierra Space is committed to fostering an inclusive, accepting, and diverse environment free of discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Contributions to Sierra Space come in many shapes and styles, and we believe diversity in our workforce fosters new and greater ways to dream, innovate, and inspire.