Contracts Administrator, Sr - HRC0015854

Space Telescope Science Institute•Baltimore, MD

8d•$95,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), is NASA’s science operations center for missions including the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes. STScI leads observation planning, data analysis, public engagement, and data archiving for flagship missions. Our staff spans astronomy, engineering, education, IT, communications, and administration—working together to bring space science to the world. STScI is seeking a Senior Contracts Administrator. Our world-class astronomical research center is based on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus in Baltimore, Maryland. Visit our website to learn more about our missions [https://www.stsci.edu/what-we-do].

Requirements

6+ years of progressively responsible experience in contract administration, subcontract administration, procurement, or government contracting, including responsibility for complex agreements and issue resolution.
Advanced contract administration principles across the full lifecycle
Regulatory, policy, and contractual framework applicable to federal contracting environments, including structured governance and documented authority
Risk identification, quality assurance review methods, corrective action processes
Process design, internal control concepts, records governance, and audit-readiness standards needed to sustain a compliant contracts administration function
Interpreting complex contract language into actionable guidance for stakeholders
Leading resolution of difficult contract administration
Designing and improving SOPs, templates, reviewing workflows, and control mechanisms that strengthen compliance and operational consistency.
Process improvement
Clear written analysis, practical recommendations, and credible business judgment

Nice To Haves

Experience in a federal contractor, aerospace, research, higher education, or other highly regulated environment is strongly preferred
Experience with NASA, FAR-based, or flow-down compliance environments is highly desirable

Responsibilities

Manages and oversees assigned contracts throughout the lifecycle by planning, organizing, and executing complex pre-award, award, post-award, renewal, modification, and closeout activities
Reviews and analyzes complex contractual requirements, special provisions, flow-downs, deliverables, and administrative obligations to ensure proper implementation and ongoing compliance
Leads administration of nonstandard, sensitive, high-risk, or strategically significant contract actions and related documentation
Oversees and resolves the most complex issues related to contracts and contract-related laws, regulations, policies, and procedures, escalating or coordinating with legal counsel and leadership as appropriate
Reviews contract administration practices and contract files to identify deficiencies, compliance gaps, inconsistent interpretation, or control weaknesses, and drives corrective action
Evaluates contractual and administrative risk, documents findings, and recommends mitigation strategies, including corrective actions, withholding recommendations, or other remedies within established governance processes
Develops, implements, and maintains SOPs, templates, policies, procedures, and systems for contract management activities to improve consistency, compliance, and operational efficiency
Establishes or refines standards for contract files, milestone tracking, renewal workflows, review protocols, and records retention practices
Interprets evolving requirements and translates them into practical administrative guidance for contracts staff and business stakeholders operating in a federally regulated environment
Serves as a senior subject matter resource to contracts staff, program management, procurement, finance, legal, and operational leadership
Supports audits, internal reviews, customer inquiries, and process assessments