Contracts Manager II

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 83,928 - 102,232; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Learning opportunities

Rideshare programs

Childcare support

Flexible schedule

Parental leave

Job summary

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA seeks a Task Order Management Group – Level 2 Contracts Manager to oversee the lifecycle of task orders under the Caltech–NASA Prime Contract, ensuring compliant modifications, renewals, and funding actions.

You will coordinate discussions with NASA, sponsors, and internal teams to align objectives and mitigate risks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, business law, or related discipline with 3+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s with 1+ year; or PhD/JD with no related experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage the lifecycle of task orders under the Caltech–NASA Prime Contract, ensuring compliance and timely modifications, renewals, funding actions, and no‑cost extensions.
• Coordinate discussions for task order changes, funding adjustments, and other contractual matters with NASA, sponsors, and internal stakeholders.
• Provide authoritative interpretation of task order requirements and advise project teams on contractual obligations, risks, and compliance strategies.
• Collaborate with pricing, business, legal, program management, and technical teams to resolve issues and ensure smooth task order execution.
• Oversee preparation, review, and maintenance of task order documentation for accuracy and adherence to JPL and NASA requirements.

Skills

Contract administration

FAR knowledge

MS Office

Autonomy

Prioritization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, business law, or related discipline

Master’s degree

PhD/JD with no related experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL. Located in Pasadena, California, JPL offers a campus-like environment on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, fostering innovation and collaboration.

Task Order Management Group – Level 2 Contracts Manager

• Manage the lifecycle of task orders under the Caltech–NASA Prime Contract, ensuring compliance and timely execution of modifications, renewals, funding actions, and no‑cost extensions.
• Coordinate discussions for task order changes, funding adjustments, and other contractual matters with NASA, sponsors, and internal stakeholders.
• Provide authoritative interpretation of task order requirements and advise project teams on contractual obligations, risks, and compliance strategies.
• Collaborate with pricing, business, legal, program management, and technical teams to resolve issues and ensure smooth task order execution.
• Oversee preparation, review, and maintenance of task order documentation for accuracy and adherence to JPL and NASA requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, business law, or related discipline with a minimum of three (3) years of related experience; Master’s degree with a minimum of one year; or PhD (including JD) with no related experience required.
• Experience in administration of Government cost-type Research and Development (R&D) contracts or prime/subcontract administration.
• Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), government policies, and other regulations.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office tools.
• Ability to work autonomously, take initiative, and manage competing priorities to meet deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong understanding and experience managing government contracts.
• Ability to apply FAR-based contracting principles.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance or ability to obtain the clearance.

JPL has a catalog of benefits that span from traditional to unique, including health, dental, vision, wellbeing, retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave, and more. Benefits are effective the first day of the month following the employee’s start date.

The hiring range for this position in Pasadena, California is $83,928 - $102,232, subject to factors such as skills, experience, and education.

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by Federal, state or local law. JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. EEO is the Law. Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision applies. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility and does not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S. or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.