AeroVironment

Sr. Director, Contracts

10800 Gibson Boulevard Southeast, Albuquerque, NM Full time

Worker Type

Regular


Job Description

 

Summary

The Senior Director, Contracts is responsible for managing and leading the contract management and oversight process of major Federal, State and commercial contracts with various agencies. This position has broad responsibility over contractual matters, while also supporting new business opportunities and growth strategies. Additional responsibilities include direct negotiations for large, complex, domestic and international contracts, as well as participating in strategic initiatives related to the procurement process in evaluating market conditions, pricing strategies, and partnering approaches. The Senior Director, Contracts must be a demonstrated leader and is expected to collaborate with the Business Area and functional leaders to facilitate Key Performance Indicators.

Position Responsibilities

  • This role will act as a deputy to the SVP of Contracts.  In this role, the Sr. Director will serve as the primary liaison between the contracts and legal organization to close terms and conditions negotiations.  This person must be skilled in contract terms and conditions and have experience redlining, providing alternate language and negotiating with other industry customers, including the Government. 

  • The Sr. Director will help support key initiatives and integrations for the contracts organization and drive actions to closure.  

  • Provide strategic direction, leadership guidance, and functional expertise to a team of contracts professionals while escalating up high level issues and keeping Contracts VP/SVP informed.  Key member of the Contracts leadership team.

  • Act as a lead for conflict resolution of contract issues, while mentoring and training both assigned contracts personnel and other team members for similar results

  • May be responsible for multiple Business units, Groups or Segment and serves at the partner to the Business leader.

  • Perform contract management and administrative duties throughout the contract lifecycle including, but not limited to, proposal review and preparation, leading pre and post award negotiations, executing contract modifications, initiating contract close-outs and providing overall contracts support to programs with complex, multi-year contracts

  • Responsible for ensuring that agreements/terms and conditions comply with all applicable regulations and requirements, while also adhering to company policies. 

  • Review uploaded contracts related data in business systems to ensure data is accurate and complete.

  • Advise and provide guidance to leadership on contractual rights, obligations and provide contract interpretation of terms and conditions, while providing risk mitigation strategies

  • Proactively engage with program teams and customers to ensure that programs are executing contract requirements, managing scope, and mitigating risks throughout contract execution

  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders across the organization, including regular senior management level briefings on key issues.

  • Responsible for drafting, evaluating, negotiating various agreements such as, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Sales/Purchase Agreements, Subcontracts, Consulting Agreements, License Agreements, Master Agreements, and other Contractual agreements, such as FAR based contracts, OTAs, etc.

  • Responsible for reviewing various agreements previously reviewed by assigned staff and providing guidance on outstanding issues/concerns.

  • Participate in the business development process by providing expertise in contract knowledge, bid evaluation, proposal, and contract negotiation processes.

  • Structure and negotiate commercial arrangements, such as sales contracts, supply arrangements, operation agreements

  • Collaborates with Senior Management Team to coordinate DCAA, DCMA and other audits.

  • Ensures the company's vision, mission and core values are embraced by everyone within area of responsibility by emphasizing the importance of our core values and how they interrelate the company vision and are integrated into program and project execution.

  • Act as the focal point for communication with legal, finance and business team disciplines for resolution of contract issues and disputes.

  • Personnel management of assigned contracting staff.

  • Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

  • Bachelor’s degree (Business Administration, Finance, or related field) is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience

  • 12-15 years of directly relevant experience

  • 5-7 years experience in a people leadership role

  • Expertise in current Federal and International regulations, and relevant legal concepts

  • Significant experience in directly related International and DoD/Federal prime government contract administration/management.

  • Entrepreneurial focus and ability to thrive and excel in a dynamic and technically focused environment.

  • Demonstrated business acumen with experience in developing innovative solutions and a successful record of problem solving.

  • An ability to translate between business and technical risk and communicate clearly to leadership.

  • Significant senior level experience in directly related DoD/Federal prime government contract administration/management

  • Proven Contract Drafting and Negotiation skills.

  • FAR/DFAR knowledge; OTA knowledge, working knowledge of US Government acquisition laws and regulations

  • Broad experience with a variety of contract types: firm fixed price, cost-type, commercial/non-commercial, production, development, and sustainment

  • Broad experience in license, non-disclosure and teaming agreements

  • Proven applied knowledge with the requirements of Truthful Cost or Pricing Data (ie FAR Part 15)

  • Capability to contribute to strategic planning at all levels.

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written, verbal, and presentation).

  • Demonstrated capability working successfully in a collaborative environment that inspires confidence in assigned staff, co-workers and customers.

  • Experience in training and mentoring, and building highly effective teams

  • Qualified to have access to data and technology that is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). This position requires access to data and technology that is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

  • Presently hold or capable of obtaining a U.S. Security Clearance (Secret, Top Secret Preferred).

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

  • Federal Contract Manager (CFCM) certified

  • International and commercial contract experience desired; including Foreign Military and/or Direct Commercial Sales.

  • Experience with accounting systems such as Unanet, Oracle Fusion

  • Interacts effectively with company management, business area leads, functional counterparts and team members in a professional manner

  • Entrepreneurial focus and ability to thrive and excel in a dynamic and technically focused environment

  • Demonstrates business acumen with experience in developing innovative solutions and a successful record of problem solving

  • Critical Thinker and Command Decision Maker

  • Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances

  • Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees

  • Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness and the creation of a shared vision

  • Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change

  • Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships

Physical Demands

  • Ability to work in an office environment (Constant)

  • Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

  • Ability to sit, stand, stoop, reach, lift (up to 10 lbs.), bend, etc.  Hand and wrist dexterity to utilize the computer.

  • May require travel to sites/program and special functions.

Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance

  • Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating.

  • May have some exposure to outside environment while traveling.

Special Requirements

  • U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required.

  • Must be able to travel within the Continental U.S. and internationally when required.


Clearance Level

 

Top Secret

The salary range for this role is:

$185,185 - $262,500

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits:  AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.  For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply.  NO agencies please.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems.  Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship is required. Secret or Top Secret clearance, or the ability obtain a clearance is desired.