Contracts Administrator

ANSER; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 99,000 - 144,000; Full time

Job summary

ANSER in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Contracts Administrator to provide senior-level government contracting expertise supporting U.S. Space Force mission requirements.

You will manage complex contracts and subcontracts, negotiate terms, ensure compliance, and advise leadership on risks and performance. The role requires TS/SCI eligibility and extensive government contracting experience in a regulated, mission-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance with SCI eligibility.
• BA/BS or higher with 10+ years of relevant experience, or MA/MS with 8+ years, or PhD/JD with 2+ years.
• Extensive government contracting experience and life-cycle knowledge.
• Knowledge of government contracting regulations and compliance.
• Experience negotiating and administering government contracts and subcontracts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and independent judgment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, negotiate, and administer complex government contracts and subcontracts.
• Ensure activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
• Evaluate terms, costs, performance, and delivery for accuracy and risk.
• Advise leadership on contractual rights, risks, and business impacts.
• Identify and resolve complex contracting issues; develop risk mitigations.
• Support proposal development, pricing evaluations, negotiations, and modifications.
• Monitor performance, deliverables, schedules, and compliance.
• Collaborate with program management, finance, procurement, legal, and technical teams.
• Interpret and apply contracting regulations and organizational policies.
• Develop improvements to contracting policies and processes across functions.
• Maintain complete contract files and documentation.

Skills

Top Secret clearance with SCI

Analytical skills

Negotiation skills

Written & verbal communication

Decision making

Education

BA/BS + 10+ yrs exp

MA/MS + 8+ yrs exp

PhD/JD + 2+ yrs exp

Job description

Company Overview

ANSER enhances national and homeland security by strengthening public institutions. We provide thought leadership for complex issues through independent analysis, and we deliver practical, useful solutions. ANSER values collaboration, integrity, and initiative and we are client focused in all that we do. Because we were established for the purpose of public service and not for profit, we measure our success in the impact of our service.

Position Overview

ANSER is seeking an experienced Contracts Administrator to provide senior-level government contracting expertise in support of U.S. Space Force mission requirements. In this role, you will manage complex government contracts and subcontracts, providing expertise in contract negotiation, administration, compliance, and risk management. You will serve as a trusted advisor to Government and program leadership, evaluating contractual terms, performance requirements, costs, and delivery schedules while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and contractual obligations. The ideal candidate brings extensive government contracting experience, strong business judgment, and the ability to independently navigate complex contractual challenges in a highly regulated, mission-focused environment.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, negotiate, and administer complex government contracts, subcontracts, modifications, and related contractual agreements throughout the contract life cycle.
• Ensure contracting activities comply with applicable laws, Government regulations, organizational policies, customer requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Evaluate contract terms and conditions, cost estimates, performance requirements, and delivery schedules to assess accuracy, feasibility, compliance, and potential risks.
• Advise Government and program leadership on contractual rights, obligations, risk exposure, interpretation of terms and conditions, and potential impacts to program execution.
• Identify and resolve complex contractual issues, ambiguities, and inconsistencies; develop recommendations and risk mitigation strategies.
• Support proposal development, pricing evaluations, contract negotiations, modifications, and other acquisition-related activities.
• Monitor contract performance, deliverables, schedules, modifications, and compliance requirements to support successful contract execution.
• Collaborate with program management, finance, procurement, legal counsel, technical teams, and other stakeholders to address contractual challenges and support mission objectives.
• Interpret and apply Government contracting regulations, acquisition requirements, and organizational policies to contract administration and compliance activities.
• Develop and recommend improvements to contracting policies, procedures, and processes to enhance operational effectiveness, consistency, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide guidance on contract administration practices, contractual requirements, and process improvements across assigned organizational functions.
• Maintain accurate and complete contract files, correspondence, records, and supporting documentation in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Independently manage complex contracting assignments, establish priorities, and provide timely analysis and recommendations to support leadership decisions.

Required Qualifications

• Active Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility (TS/SCI).
• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, with one of the following combinations of education and relevant professional experience:
• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) and 10 or more years of relevant experience.
• Master's degree (MA/MS) and 8 or more years of relevant experience.
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Juris Doctor (JD) and 2 or more years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience in government contracting, contract negotiation, contract administration, subcontract management, or a closely related discipline.
• Extensive knowledge of Government contracting regulations, acquisition requirements, contractual compliance, and contract life-cycle management.
• Experience preparing, negotiating, and administering government contracts and subcontracts in accordance with applicable regulations, organizational policies, and customer requirements.
• Experience evaluating contractual terms, cost estimates, performance requirements, and delivery schedules to identify risks and ensure contractual accuracy and completeness.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex contract terms and conditions and advise leadership on contractual rights, obligations, and business impacts.
• Experience identifying and resolving complex contractual issues, assessing proposed modifications, and developing appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
• Experience developing, recommending, and implementing contracting policies, procedures, and process improvements across organizational functions.
• Proven ability to collaborate with program management, finance, procurement, legal, and technical stakeholders to resolve contractual challenges.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to exercise independent judgment on complex contracting matters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex contractual information and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work independently, and deliver high-quality results in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment.

Individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to: business considerations, local market, internal equity, candidate qualifications such as skills, education and experience. ANSER provides employees benefits to support all aspects of their life including health, financial and well-being. For more information, please visit: http://www.anser.org

Full-Time Salary Range For This Position

$99,000—$144,000 USD

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with ANSER, please call 703-416-2000 or e-mail [e-mail]

ANSER is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We seek individuals from a broad variety of backgrounds with varying levels of experience who have a desire to do meaningful work. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.