Principal Contracts Manager

Mercury Systems Inc’s high-performing contracts team is seeking a Principal Contracts Manager in support of the Integrated Processing Solutions business unit with contract management responsibilities as an individual team contributor.  This position requires a thorough understanding of US Government Department of Defense contracting as a team player who is also a strong independent contributor with leadership skills, problem-solving skills, and a proactive, detail-oriented approach. The Principal Contract Manager will be required to deal effectively with competing priorities and deadlines and handle multiple tasks.

This successful individual will provide strong working knowledge in customer relationships, risk analysis and mitigation strategies, regulations, and contract negotiations. The successful candidate must possess the ability to work well with others in high-stress high-volume situations, effectively interface with internal functional and program organizations, and meet the goals/objectives of the program teams and the overall Mercury business. 

Job Responsibilities: 

• Manage program contracts supporting the IPS Business Unit. 
• Review complex solicitations/RFPs and prepare specialized/non-routine proposal responses in conjunction with proposal team, as well as reviews and approves contractual documents for adherence to customer specifications and requirements, compliance with Terms and Conditions, applicable FAR/DFARS clauses, special provisions and adherence to company policy and procedures.
• Drafts/reviews and redlines customer agreements, negotiates complex agreements, including master agreements, with the objective of protecting the company’s interests.
• Develops and recommends negotiation strategies consistent with business goals and objectives. 
• Advises management and program teams of contractual rights, obligations, intellectual property protections, including data rights assertions, organizational conflicts of interest and general risks and mitigation strategies. 
• Demonstrates effective and creative problem-solving abilities. 
• Maintains deadlines for internal and external customer requests as well as contractual historical data; enters contract data into databases as required. 
• Analyzes and tracks contract compliance in conjunction with other functions. 
• Externally interfaces directly with Government contracting officials, prime contractor procurement representatives and other customer representatives. 
• Internally interfaces with Contracts team members, Legal, Program Management, Capture, Finance, Pricing, Proposal, Property, Quality, Engineering and other functional staff as required. 

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s in Business, Management, or other related field(s). 
• Minimum of Six (6) years of directly related experience in Contract Administration/Business Management/Finance role with direct US Government defense or prime contractors.
• Experience with US Government, Prime and Commercial contracts. 
• Experience with US Government weighted guidelines profit.
• Experience with defense contract types such as: Cost Reimbursable (CR), Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), Cost Plus Incentive Fee (CPIF), Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Time and Materials (T&M), incentive-type contracts, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), etc. and with all phases of contracting from pre-solicitation through completion/termination and contract closeout. 
• Strong working knowledge of US Government regulations (FAR/DFARS) required, with emphasis in acquisitions governed by Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Products and Services and Part 15 Contracting by Negotiation. 
• Provide strong analytical, financial and negotiation skills. Must demonstrate a strong attention to detail. 
• Requires a full understanding of Contracts lifecycle from RFP to Closeout.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, & Outlook) as well as Adobe Acrobat required. 
• An ability to obtain a US Government Secret security clearance or higher. US Citizenship is required.
• Travel: As required, estimated less than 10% 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working directly for both the US Government and Defense Contractors
• Expected to meet responsibilities in a highly interactive team environment, to work well under pressure within tight deadlines, and deliver on multiple priorities while producing quality work. 
• Expected to meet responsibilities in a highly interactive team environment, to work well under pressure within tight deadlines, and deliver on multiple priorities while producing quality work. 
• Shall establish and maintain effective relationships with internal and external customers to include management, technical and functional counterparts to communicate project status. 
• Ability to identify performance risks and recommend mitigations. 
• Expected to coordinate and support audit activities with Prime, Government or other agencies. 
• Required to be trusted to maintain confidentiality and adhere to company policies and Government acquisition laws and regulations. 
• Experience with Government and Business Systems including SAM, D&B, Certs & Reps and Exostar preferred  

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