Contracts Manager

Northwood Space; New Mexico; On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Space is hiring a Contracts Manager to own the full lifecycle of commercial and government contracts, from first draft to execution and amendments. You will draft, review, and negotiate agreements, lead redlining with customer and vendor teams, and design scalable contract processes with templates and a playbook.

This hands-on role requires 7+ years in contract management, preferably in software/tech, with strong negotiation and risk assessment skills.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of contract management or commercial contracting experience.
• Proven ability to negotiate complex enterprise agreements independently.
• Strong writing and ability to explain legal concepts to non-lawyers.
• Experience with technology contract terms incl. IP, data privacy, security, liability.

Responsibilities

• Own the contract lifecycle management system: intake, workflows, approvals, signature, and central repository; track obligations, renewals, expirations and amendments.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements; lead redlining with customer and vendor legal teams.
• Identify legal, financial, and operational risks; ensure contracts meet privacy, security, and revenue obligations.
• Develop and maintain a contract playbook, fallback positions, and an approval matrix.
• Design scalable processes by building/refining templates, clause libraries, and self-serve documents for low-risk deals.

Skills

Contract management

Negotiation

Legal writing

Risk assessment

Project management

Education

Paralegal certificate

Job description

About Northwood:

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

About Northwood:

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Role:

Northwood is hiring a Contracts Manager to own the full lifecycle of commercial agreements and government contracts, from first draft to execution to amendments. As a part of our legal team, you will help negotiate customer, vendor, and partner contracts that protect the company while supporting the fast pace of our operations. This is a hands-on role for someone with experience running high volume technology contracting and can build the processes that let it scale.

Responsibilities:

• Own the contract lifecycle management system: intake, workflows, approvals, signature, and the central repository. Track obligations, renewals, expirations and amendments, and upcoming deadlines to stakeholders.

• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements in conjunction with legal counsel. Lead redlining with customer and vendor legal and procurement teams.

• Identify legal, financial, and operational risks and ensure that contracts align with privacy, security, and revenue obligations.

• Develop and maintain a contract playbook, fallback positions, and approval matrix.

• Design scalable processes including by building/refining standard templates, clause libraries, and self-serve paper for low-risk deals.

Basic Qualifications:

• 7+ years of contract management or commercial contracting experience, with at least 3 years at a software or technology company.

• Proven record of negotiating complex enterprise agreements independently.

• Strong working knowledge of technology contract terms: IP licensing, data privacy, information security, liability and indemnification considerations.

• Clear, concise writing and the ability to explain legal concepts to non-lawyers.

• Strong organization skills and an ability to manage a high volume concurrent negotiations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Paralegal certificate or professional credential.

• Experience with public-sector or regulated-industry ucstomers.

• International contracting experience.

Additional Information:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Additional Information:

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.