Contract Specialist

Job title - Contract Specialist

Location - Irvine, CA

Type: Direct Hire | Full-Time

Position Summary

Seeking an experienced Contract Specialist to manage complex commercial and government contracts throughout the full contract lifecycle. This role will support proposal development, contract negotiation, risk management, compliance, order management, and customer relationship activities. The ideal candidate will have strong contract administration experience, excellent negotiation skills, and the ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer and manage complex contracts, purchase orders, long-term agreements, and contract modifications.
• Review, negotiate, and interpret pricing, terms & conditions, delivery schedules, and contractual obligations.
• Lead proposal and RFP responses, coordinating with engineering, program management, finance, and other stakeholders.
• Draft and manage NDAs, support bid/no-bid decisions, and contribute to new business opportunities.
• Conduct contract risk assessments and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Serve as the primary customer contact for contractual matters and contract performance issues.
• Manage change control processes in partnership with Program Managers.
• Investigate and resolve contract claims, disputes, and compliance issues.
• Support order management activities including PO review, schedule changes, portal management, demand planning (S&OP), and customer communications.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and applicable federal, state, and aerospace industry regulations.
• Mentor junior team members and support process improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field.
• Contract Management certification (NCMA, IACCM/WorldCC, or equivalent) preferred; certification requirement may be waived with JD or MBA.
• 5 years of progressive contract administration/management experience.
• Strong experience with contract negotiations, proposal development, risk management, and customer-facing contract administration.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or highly regulated industry experience preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Contract Management Certification (NCMA, IACCM/WorldCC).
• Export Compliance training/certification (ECTI).
• Aerospace, manufacturing, defense, or government contracting experience preferred.