Principal Contracts Manager

Mercury Systems•Phoenix, AZ

About The Position

Mercury Systems is seeking a Principal Contracts Manager to support the Integrated Processing Solutions (IPS) business unit as an individual contributor on its contracts team. The role requires extensive knowledge of U.S. Department of Defense contracting and the ability to contribute independently while collaborating with program teams and internal functions. The successful candidate will manage competing priorities and deadlines, apply sound judgment to customer relationships, risk analysis and mitigation, regulations, and negotiations, and help achieve program and business objectives. The position requires U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance or higher. Travel is as required and estimated at less than 10%.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Management, or a related field.
At least six years of directly related experience in contract administration, business management, or finance with U.S. Government defense contractors or prime contractors.
Experience with U.S. Government, prime, and commercial contracts.
Experience with U.S. Government weighted-guidelines profit.
Experience with defense contract types including cost-reimbursable, CPFF, CPIF, FFP, T&M, incentive-type, IDIQ, and SBIR contracts, and with all contracting phases from pre-solicitation through completion or termination and closeout.
Strong working knowledge of U.S. Government regulations (FAR/DFARS), particularly FAR Part 12 and Part 15.
Strong analytical, financial, and negotiation skills, with careful attention to detail.
Thorough understanding of the contracts lifecycle from RFP through closeout.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and Outlook) and Adobe Acrobat.
Ability to obtain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance or higher.
U.S. citizenship required.
Ability to work effectively in a highly interactive team environment, under pressure and tight deadlines, while managing multiple priorities and producing quality work.

Nice To Haves

Experience working directly for both the U.S. Government and defense contractors.
Experience with Government and business systems including SAM, D&B, Certs & Reps, and Exostar.

Responsibilities

Manage program contracts supporting the IPS Business Unit.
Review complex solicitations and RFPs, prepare specialized or non-routine proposal responses with the proposal team, and review and approve contractual documents for compliance with customer requirements, terms and conditions, FAR/DFARS clauses, special provisions, and company policies.
Draft, review, and redline customer agreements; negotiate complex agreements, including master agreements, to protect the company's interests.
Develop and recommend negotiation strategies consistent with business goals and objectives.
Advise management and program teams about contractual rights and obligations, intellectual property protections and data-rights assertions, organizational conflicts of interest, and risks and mitigation strategies.
Maintain deadlines for internal and external customer requests and contractual historical data, and enter contract data into databases as required.
Analyze and track contract compliance in coordination with other functions.
Interface with Government contracting officials, prime contractor procurement representatives, and other customer representatives.
Coordinate internally with Contracts, Legal, Program Management, Capture, Finance, Pricing, Proposal, Property, Quality, Engineering, and other functional staff as needed.
Establish and maintain effective relationships with internal and external customers and communicate project status.
Identify performance risks and recommend mitigations.
Coordinate and support audits conducted by prime contractors, the Government, or other agencies.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with company policies and Government acquisition laws and regulations.