Contracts Principal

SAIC•Flexwork, VA

2d•Remote

About The Position

SAIC’s Business Management organization is seeking an experienced Contracts Principal to manage contracts and proposals within the Air Force, Space and Intelligence Business Group, supporting the Defense and Civil Space Market. The role serves as a strategic partner to stakeholders throughout capture, proposal, and contract execution, applying federal government contracting expertise and a proactive, solutions-oriented approach. The successful candidate works independently while recognizing when to seek manager guidance, and builds collaborative relationships while managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. The position provides strategic contracting support, including customer engagement and negotiations, advice on innovative acquisition vehicles, contract analysis and risk management, and guidance on acquisition strategies for emerging technologies. It also requires strong proposal development and communication skills, awareness of regulatory developments, and the ability to advise business and program leaders on contractual rights, obligations, and trade-offs. For the right candidate, the position may be remote anywhere in the United States.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related discipline and 10 years of relevant experience, or a master’s degree in Business Administration or a related discipline and 8 years of relevant experience; an additional 4 or more years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
U.S. citizenship.
Extensive cost proposal experience.
Thorough understanding and broad application of contract administration principles, concepts, practices, and standards.
In-depth knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies governing assigned contracts, including the FAR, TINA, and GAAP.
Strong knowledge of federal government contracting industry practices.
Proven experience in contract risk management and negotiation.
Demonstrated experience with OTA agreements, including prototype OTAs and follow-on production transactions, and working knowledge of the statutory and regulatory framework governing OTA use and limitations.
Strong proposal-writing skills, including the ability to develop, structure, and review compliant proposals across varied contract types and acquisition vehicles.
Ability to communicate complex technical and contractual concepts precisely and economically within strict page limitations.
Ability to synthesize complex legal and contractual topics and communicate them clearly to collaborators from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
Effective critical-thinking skills and ability to quickly assimilate and act on new information.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage fluctuating workloads and competing priorities.
Self-directed and dependable, with awareness of limitations and a collaborative approach to engaging managers.
Reliable, structured, risk-aware, agile, and creative, with a consistent record of delivering on commitments.

Nice To Haves

Experience with both FAR-based and non-FAR-based proposal environments.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary customer-facing interface with Contracting Officers and acquisition specialists, building trust-based customer relationships and leading negotiations that protect SAIC’s interests while pursuing appropriate mutually beneficial outcomes.
Advise internal stakeholders on innovative acquisition mechanisms, including Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs), Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs), and prototype project proposals, considering intellectual property and data rights, competitive positioning, cost and pricing, and long-term program implications.
Contribute to teaming and competitive-positioning discussions involving non-traditional defense contractors and innovative acquisition vehicles.
Identify, assess, and mitigate Organizational Conflicts of Interest; independently draft and update OCI mitigation plans and review them with contracts management before submission to program leadership.
Review, analyze, and interpret contractual documents; assess compliance with company policy, government specifications, and master agreement requirements; and advise business and program leadership on contractual rights, obligations, and terms and conditions.
Recognize when contractual issues require escalation to contracts management or in-house legal counsel.
Educate internal and external partners on contracting strategies, marketplace dynamics, competitive approaches, and relevant trade-offs.
Apply a strategic mindset to innovation and changes in the business and regulatory landscape.
Develop acquisition strategies for emerging technologies such as AI and cloud computing, including opportunity assessment, market-trend analysis, acquisition planning, and alignment with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
Navigate risks associated with emerging technologies, rapid innovation cycles, and evolving industry standards.
Apply experience with as-a-service models such as Software-as-a-Service, Infrastructure-as-a-Service, and Platform-as-a-Service.
Maintain awareness of significant regulatory developments, including ongoing and proposed FAR reforms, and assess potential impacts on contract structures, compliance, and acquisition strategy.
Develop, structure, and review technically and contractually compliant proposals across contract types and acquisition vehicles, including OTA white papers, prototype project proposals, and other short-form submissions.
Communicate complex technical, legal, and contractual topics clearly and concisely to collaborators across disciplines.