Principal, Contracts

About the job

Job Title: Principal, Contracts

Job Code: 46316

Job Location: Waco, Tx

*Job Schedule: *9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days- totaling 80 hours worked- and have every other Friday off

Job Description:

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven Principal, Contracts, to drive successful business outcomes across both new and ongoing programs. This role is critical to achieving financial objectives such as orders, revenue recognition, operating income, and free cash flow. You will provide expert guidance on contractual strategy, risk mitigation, and compliance—ensuring the protection of company interests through deep understanding of contract terms, regulations, and industry trends. Leveraging your expertise in FAR, international contracting, and government procurement, you will ensure alignment with legal and regulatory requirements.

Essential Functions:

• Influence business and financial outcomes by providing contractual guidance and risk mitigation strategies. Ensure that contracts meet both financial and regulatory compliance requirements.

• Establish and enforce policies and procedures, ensuring the division operates within corporate guidelines and adheres to best practices.

• Drive continuous improvement in department processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in contract management.

• Manage the full lifecycle of contracts, from the development of solicitations to proposal submissions, change control processes, and contract execution.

• Maintain primary contractual interface with customers, ensuring clear communication and alignment of expectations

• Manage and execute the commercial elements of contracts, including the development of shipping requirements, invoicing, and export licensing

• Support negotiations with customers, subcontractors, and external organizations. Provide input on the commercial elements of RFPs during the bid and proposal stage.

• Ensure that contracts align with revenue recognition policies and meet financial risk requirements. Apply milestone criteria for specific contracts and programs.

• Manage and develop the contracts team, providing coaching, training, and manpower planning to ensure an efficient and well-trained staff.

• Oversee the execution of contracts and ensure proper documentation, including Letters of Credit, shipping requirements, and export licensing.

• Advise management on contractual rights, obligations, and legal issues, including effective use of resources and risk management.

• Support negotiations with key subcontractors and manage agreements with external organizations, ensuring proper oversight of enterprise assets.

• Other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree with 12 years of extensive experience in Government and Commercial Contracting, including negotiation and administration of complex, high-value agreements.

• Graduate Degree with 10 years of extensive experience in Government and Commercial Contracting, including negotiation and administration of complex, high-value agreements.

• In Lieu of a degree, a minimum of 16 years of extensive experience in Government and Commercial Contracting, including negotiation and administration of complex, high-value agreements.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Prior experience supporting defense, aerospace, or high-tech industries.

• Expert knowledge of contractual terms and conditions.

• General knowledge of product definition and manufacturing processes.

• Knowledge of accounting and financial reporting and ERP functionality.

• Proficient working with Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, PowerPoint.

• Excellent interpretation, written and oral communication skills.

• Experience in Contract Management.

• Experience working with commercial contracts globally.

• Proven ability to lead, engage, and inspire high-performing operations teams.

• Demonstrated success in leading organizational growth, establishing strategies, and driving scalable process improvements.

• Expertise in developing and implementing team performance measures and metrics.

• Superior strategic, organizational, analytical, and abstract reasoning skills with exceptional attention to detail.

• Experience in creating and delivering executive-level reports and briefings.

• Detail-oriented and results-driven with a hands-on approach to issue resolution.

• Strong working knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS).

• Proficient in contract lifecycle management, from proposal development through close-out.

• Skilled in risk assessment and mitigation related to contractual obligations and terms.

• Ability to draft, review, and negotiate NDAs, teaming agreements, and licensing agreements.

• Experience working with export control regulations including ITAR and EAR.

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