Senior Manager, Government & Commercial Contracts

Our client, a tenured competitor in global aerospace is seeking to hire a Senior Manager, Government & Commercial Contracts to lead their global contracts function and elevate thier end-to-end commercial function. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence across contract strategy, development, negotiation, compliance, and risk management, while leading a high-performing team.

The ideal candidate brings a strong blend of legal acumen, business insight, and leadership capability, with deep familiarity in government and commercial contracting, including FAR, DFARS, ITAR, and EAR frameworks. This role plays a critical part in shaping contract strategy to support growth objectives while protecting the organization from risk.

This role is hybrid, based out of southern Milwaukee.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to the Contracts Administration team, fostering a high-performance culture through mentorship, coaching, and clear accountability.
• Direct and optimize the full contract lifecycle-from initial drafting and risk assessment through negotiation, execution, modification, renewal, and closeout.
• Lead the comprehensive review and analysis of Requests for Proposal (RFPs), ensuring alignment with commercial objectives and regulatory requirements prior to submission.
• Drive negotiation strategy and execution for contract terms and conditions, balancing business objectives with legal and compliance considerations.
• Partner cross-functionally with finance, sales, supply chain, and program management to shape pricing strategies and position contracts for successful outcomes.
• Oversee the development, negotiation, and administration of a wide range of agreements, including customer contracts, subcontracts, NDAs, software agreements, teaming agreements, and sales representative arrangements.
• Support and strengthen the organization's export compliance program, ensuring adherence to U.S. export regulations, including ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) and EAR (Export Administration Regulations).
• Ensure strict compliance with applicable federal regulations, including FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement), as well as other legal and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor contract performance, deliverables, and key milestones to ensure timely execution and compliance with all obligations.
• Proactively identify contractual, regulatory, and operational risks, and implement practical mitigation strategies aligned with organizational risk tolerance.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align contract structures and terms with broader business strategy and program objectives.
• Review and oversee supplier subcontracts to ensure proper flow-down of requirements, regulatory compliance, and risk allocation.
• Develop, standardize, and continuously improve contract templates, playbooks, and standard operating procedures to enhance efficiency and consistency.
• Lead the implementation and optimization of contract management systems and digital recordkeeping to improve visibility, reporting, and compliance.
• Support internal and external audits, ensuring readiness and accuracy in all contractual documentation and processes.
• Deliver actionable reporting and analytics on contract performance, obligations, and enterprise risk exposure to inform leadership decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Legal Studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in contracts administration, subcontract management, or a related discipline.
• At least 2 years of experience leading and developing teams.
• Strong command of contract law principles, commercial terms, and negotiation strategies.
• Demonstrated expertise with FAR and DFARS regulations, including the ability to translate complex requirements into actionable guidance.
• Proven experience negotiating and managing both commercial and U.S. government contracts.
• Working knowledge of export control regulations, including ITAR and EAR compliance requirements.
• Exceptional analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with a proactive, strategic mindset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with contract management systems is preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 20% as needed.
• Must qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR and be eligible to work on U.S. government programs, including obtaining a security clearance if required.