Defense Contracts Manager

Job Title: Senior Manager, Contracts
Location: Northampton, Massachusetts 01060
Employment Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: 9/80 schedule
Management Experience: Required
Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
Security Clearance: Active U.S. Secret clearance required

We are seeking an experienced Senior Manager, Contracts to lead and develop a team of contracts professionals supporting a growing Acoustic Systems Portfolio within the aerospace and defense industry.

This senior leadership role will manage large, complex contractual initiatives that are strategically important to the organization. The successful candidate will oversee the full contract lifecycle, including RFP review, risk assessment, proposal preparation, contract negotiation, contract administration, change management, and customer contract activities.

The Senior Manager will serve as the primary contracts point of contact for assigned programs and portfolio activities, working with internal stakeholders and external customers, including U.S. Government and commercial customers.

This position requires a recognized contracts professional with extensive knowledge of FAR, DFARS, ITAR, EAR, CAS, and multiple contract types. The individual must demonstrate strong negotiation capabilities, sound business judgment, leadership experience, and the ability to guide a team through complex contractual and business challenges.

The ideal candidate will have an established defense industry contracts background, an active U.S. Secret security clearance, and the ability to work onsite in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Education & Experience


Candidates must meet one of the following pathways:

• Bachelor's degree in Business or a related field with 9 years of prior related experience, OR
  
  
• Graduate degree with 7 years of prior related experience, OR
  
  
• In lieu of a degree, 13 years of prior related experience.
  
  

Defense Contracts Experience

• Minimum 6 years of experience with applicable defense and government contracting regulations, including:
  
  
  • FAR – Federal Acquisition Regulation.
    
    
  • DFARS – Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement.
    
    
  • ITAR – International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
    
    
  • EAR – Export Administration Regulations.
    
    
  • CAS – Cost Accounting Standards.
    
    
• Experience with a wide range of contract types and contractual efforts, including:
  
  
  • Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF).
    
    
  • Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP).
    
    
  • Incentive Fee (IF).
    
    
  • Award Fee (AF).
    
    
  • Development contracts.
    
    
  • Production contracts.
    
    
  • Engineering services contracts.
    
    
  • Commercial and non-commercial contracts.
    
    

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience negotiating contract terms and conditions with commercial and U.S. Government customers.
  
  
• Experience with FAR Part 15 competitive negotiations.
  
  
• Proven ability to negotiate favorable business outcomes.
  
  
• Experience engaging with senior organizational leaders and influential stakeholders.
  
  
• Expert knowledge of FAR and DFARS regulations.
  
  
• Experience mentoring, leading, and training junior contracts staff.
  
  
• Strong presentation and communication skills.
  
  
• Ability to work effectively in complex cross-functional business environments.
  
  
• NCMA certification preferred:
  
  
  • Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM).
    
    
  • Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM).
    
    
  • Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM).