Director - Contracts Management

BLUE ORIGIN • Spokane, WA

5d • $218,262 - $305,567

About The Position

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight! This role is part of Blue Origin corporate functions, providing centralized support across Blue Origin business unit teams, functions, and locations. We are seeking an exceptionally experienced and mission-driven Director of Contracts Management to lead our enterprise-wide customer contracting function. This is a senior leadership role, with direct responsibility for managing complex government and commercial contracts and leading a large, high-performing team of contract professionals across multiple programs and business units. Position Summary The Director of Contracts Management serves as the senior-most contracts executive responsible for the full lifecycle management of Blue Origin's customer contract portfolio. This position reports to the Sr. Director of IP and Contracts, in the Legal and Compliance Group. The Director of Contracts Management will oversee all aspects of proposal development, contract negotiation, administration, compliance, and closeout — with particular emphasis on contracts held with agencies of the U.S. federal government, including NASA, DoD, Space Force, and other defense and civil space customers. This individual will provide strategic direction, expert guidance, and hands-on leadership to a large team of contract managers and will serve as a key business partner to Program Management, Legal, Finance, Business Development, and Executive Leadership. This individual will thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment, and will maintain a focus to simplify (not complicate) contracting process and to deliver results.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Law, Contract Management, Finance, or a related field from an accredited institution
• Minimum 15 years of progressive contracts experience, including at least 10 years experience in leading a large team of contract managers (10+ professionals) within a major aerospace, defense, or government contracting organization
• Active (or immediately activable) Top Secret / SCI clearance required; must be willing and able to obtain and maintain SCI access and other program-specific clearances as required
• Demonstrated expert-level knowledge of the FAR, DFARS, and other agency acquisition regulations
• Extensive experience negotiating and administering complex government contracts across multiple contract types (CPFF, CPAF, FFP, T&M, IDIQ, OTA, etc.)
• Proven track record of leading contracts organizations in support of large-scale, multi-program government programs in excess of $500M in annual contract value
• Deep experience managing certified cost or pricing data requirements and interactions with DCAA and DCMA
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with demonstrated ability to present complex contractual matters to executive and government audiences
• Strong leadership presence with a demonstrated ability to build, grow, and inspire high-performing teams in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment
• Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice To Haves

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Master’s degree in Contract Management, Business, or related discipline
• Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) or Federal Acquisition Certification for Contracting (FAC-C) at the Expert/Level III level

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, mentor, and manage a large team of contract managers, senior contract managers, and contract administrators across multiple programs, sites, and business units
• Establish and continuously improve the organizational structure, processes, tools (including a CLM software), staffing models, and performance standards for the contracts function
• Define and execute the long-term strategy for customer contracts management aligned to Blue Origin's growth objectives and mission priorities
• Build a culture of accountability, professional development, and mission focus within the contracts organization
• Support matters related to U.S. government contracting regulations, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), NASA FAR Supplement (NFS), and other applicable agency supplements
• Support other Legal colleagues to ensure company-wide compliance with government contracting obligations, including cost accounting standards, and Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA/TINA successor provisions)
• Direct the review, interpretation, negotiation, and administration of Cost-Plus, Fixed-Price, Time & Materials, IDIQ, OTA (Other Transaction Authority), and hybrid contract types
• Oversee the preparation and submission of certified cost or pricing data, complex proposals, and technical/business volume inputs for major government procurements
• Lead contractual responses to government audits and claims
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to government customers, including all deliverables, data rights notices, and regulatory certifications

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director