Commercial Contracts Specialist III

Smiths Detection Group; Edgewood (MD); On-site; USD 106,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Smiths Detection in Edgewood, MD seeks a Commercial Contracts Specialist to bridge Sales and Legal, negotiating high‑value agreements and ensuring compliant execution. You will manage contract reviews, terms, and renewals, coordinating with Procurement, Finance, and other teams.

Ideal candidates have a Bachelor's degree and experience with contract lifecycle tools, plus strong negotiation, communication, and organizational skills to protect the company from risk and improve processes.

Qualifications

• Strong contract negotiation skills for complex, high‑value agreements.
• Excellent communication, organization, and analytical abilities.
• Ability to identify risks and mitigate them effectively.
• Experience with government contracting is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as liaison between Sales and Legal to negotiate and execute contracts.
• Lead commercial review and negotiation of large, complex contracts.
• Own contract movement through internal reviews and approvals.
• Maintain centralized records of active agreements and renewal opportunities.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to improve templates and workflows.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Communication

Organization

Analytical abilities

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Contract lifecycle management tools

Job description

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place.

Smiths Detection is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defense, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centers, with a global network of 3,500 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state‑of‑the‑art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

Job Description

The Commercial Contracts Specialist serves as the primary liaison between the Sales organization and the Law Department, ensuring efficient, accurate, and compliant negotiation and execution of all contracts and agreements.

Contract Management & Negotiation

Serve as the primary liaison between Sales and Legal, bringing the right stakeholders together to resolve issues and advance customer and subcontractor agreements from review through execution.

Lead the commercial review and negotiation of large, complex contracts, including pricing terms, deliverables, compliance requirements, and allocation of risk. Partner with Legal on contractual language and matters requiring legal review.

Lead the review and negotiation of solicitation terms and conditions, supporting the development of compliant and competitive proposals

Contract Lifecycle and Renewals

Own the day-to-day movement of contracts through internal review and approval workflows. Track open items, follow up with decision-makers, and elevate issues that could delay a proposal, award, or execution.

Maintain complete contract records and a central view of active agreements, key obligations, milestones, expiration dates, and renewal opportunities so Sales and other stakeholders can act in time.

Partner with the Aftermarket team to identify upcoming renewals, coordinate customer engagement, resolve outstanding terms, and complete extensions before agreements expire.

Cross‑Functional Leadership and Compliance

Work with Legal, Sales Operations, Procurement, Finance, Intellectual Property, and other teams to develop negotiation positions, address contract issues, and reach commercially sound outcomes.

Define and communicate each stakeholder’s role in negotiations, RFP reviews, and renewals using the company’s RACIX framework. Keep responsibility and approval paths clear as work progresses.

Ensure contract activities meet applicable federal requirements, customer obligations, and internal policies. Support contract audits, internal reviews, and reporting as needed.

Identify recurring bottlenecks and lessons learned, then improve contract templates, playbooks, approval workflows, and other practices that strengthen contract execution.

Compliance & Continuous Improvement

Ensure compliance with federal regulations, internal policies, and customer requirements.

Identify opportunities to improve contract templates, playbooks, and cross‑functional processes.

Support audits, internal reviews, and reporting related to contract compliance and performance.

Apply lessons learned to strengthen contract operations and commercial practices.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Education Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree required; preferred fields include business/finance, legal studies, or contract management.

Professional qualification in contract management is desirable.

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge:

Understanding of contract law, risk management, and negotiation strategies.

Experience with federal, state and local government contracting strongly preferred.

Familiarity with contract lifecycle management tools.

Skills:

Strong contract negotiation skills, especially with complex, high-value agreements.

Excellent communication, organization, and analytical abilities.

Ability to identify risks and recommend effective mitigation strategies.

Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Experience with contract management or CRM systems is a plus.

Highly collaborative, able to work across diverse teams.

Skilled in stakeholder communication and relationship management.

Ability to maintain accurate, auditable commercial records.

Planning and Decision Making:

Plan and execute assigned contract activities independently.

Make timely decisions within delegated authority.

Escalate issues appropriately and work closely with legal SMEs when needed.

Impact and Scope:

Protect the company from undue risk.

Support enhanced commercial outcomes, including revenue, margin, and operational efficiency.

Key Internal and External Relationships:

• VP of Sales
• Legal Counsel and Contract Specialists
• Aftermarket Teams
• Procurement
• Finance
• Customer and Supplier Representatives

Additional Information

We offer…

Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial andlifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world‑leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

The total compensation for this position ranges from$105,600 - $158,400/yr (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, & abilities of the applicant and the alignment with the internal team & market data). This role offers a competitive Business Profit Plan. This position includes a competitive benefits package. The comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental & vision insurance; 401(k) with company match; paid time off; and other benefits. For details, please visit the Rewards & Benefits tab on our main careers page at Careers | Smiths Detection .

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.

If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please e-mail [e-mail] or call toll‑free 877-703-1029. This email and phone number is created exclusively to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Only messages left for this purpose will be returned. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or technical issues not related to a disability, will not receive a response. Smiths Detection participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program.

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment based solely on their skills, experience, and ability to perform the job. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.