Director, Government Contracts Counsel

Coherent Corp.; Saxonburg (PA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Coherent Corp. is seeking a senior legal leader to shape and execute the company’s U.S. government and defense contracting strategy.

You will steer enterprise-wide policies, assess risk, and advise executives on high-stakes contractual matters across business units. The role requires a JD, bar admission, and 10+ years in government contracting, with in-house experience and strong compliance acumen. Hybrid/on-site work options and a broad interaction across federal agencies and prime contractors

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school required.
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar required.
• Typically 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in U.S. government or defense contracting, including meaningful in‑house legal or counsel experience.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead Coherent’s enterprise-wide legal strategy for U.S. government and defense contracting.
• Develop a comprehensive framework for identifying, reviewing, approving, and managing government-contract opportunities and obligations across the company.
• Create consistent policies, processes, decision criteria, and escalation protocols for government-contracting activities.
• Build visibility into existing government contracts and emerging opportunities across Coherent’s business units.
• Advise executive leadership on significant contractual, regulatory, compliance, and reputational risks associated with government programs.
• Monitor regulatory and enforcement developments and determine their impact on Coherent’s operations and business strategy.
• Serve as the company’s primary legal counsel on FAR, DFARS, agency supplements, CMMC, and other requirements applicable to federal and defense contracting.
• Provide strategic legal guidance throughout the government-contract lifecycle, including opportunity assessment, proposal development, negotiation, performance, administration, and closeout.
• Lead legal risk assessments for significant government programs and recommend practical mitigation strategies.
• Draft, review, and negotiate prime contracts, subcontracts, teaming agreements, nondisclosure agreements, licensing arrangements, and other government-contract-related agreements.
• Advise on mandatory and risk-based flow-down requirements and establish strategies for subcontractor and supplier compliance.
• Support internal investigations, audits, disclosures, and compliance reviews involving government contracts.
• Engage with the DoD, Department of State, other federal agencies, prime contractors, and external counsel on significant contractual or regulatory matters.

Skills

FAR/DFARS/CMMC

Government contracting

Legal risk assessment

Contract negotiation

Compliance programs

Executive advisory

Education

Juris Doctor

Bar admission

Job description

Job Description

• Establish and lead Coherent’s enterprise-wide legal strategy for U.S. government and defense contracting.


• Develop a comprehensive framework for identifying, reviewing, approving, and managing government-contract opportunities and obligations across the company.


• Create consistent policies, processes, decision criteria, and escalation protocols for government-contracting activities.


• Build visibility into existing government contracts and emerging opportunities across Coherent’s business units.


• Advise executive leadership on significant contractual, regulatory, compliance, and reputational risks associated with government programs.


• Monitor regulatory and enforcement developments and determine their impact on Coherent’s operations and business strategy.

Legal Counsel and Risk Management

• Serve as the company’s primary legal counsel on FAR, DFARS, agency supplements, CMMC, and other requirements applicable to federal and defense contracting.


• Provide strategic legal guidance throughout the government-contract lifecycle, including opportunity assessment, proposal development, negotiation, performance, administration, and closeout.


• Lead legal risk assessments for significant government programs and recommend practical mitigation strategies.


• Draft, review, and negotiate prime contracts, subcontracts, teaming agreements, nondisclosure agreements, licensing arrangements, and other government-contract-related agreements.


• Advise on mandatory and risk-based flow-down requirements and establish strategies for subcontractor and supplier compliance.


• Support internal investigations, audits, disclosures, and compliance reviews involving government contracts.


• Engage with the DoD, Department of State, other federal agencies, prime contractors, and external counsel on significant contractual or regulatory matters.

CMMC and Cybersecurity Compliance

• Provide legal leadership for Coherent’s CMMC readiness and broader government-contract cybersecurity compliance strategy.


• Partner with IT, cybersecurity, engineering, and business leadership to interpret contractual cybersecurity obligations and establish clear ownership for implementation.


• Advise on DFARS cybersecurity clauses, controlled unclassified information requirements, incident-reporting obligations, and related contractual risks.


• Evaluate cybersecurity and CMMC requirements associated with new opportunities, business arrangements, and acquisitions.


• Provide executive-level guidance on gaps, remediation priorities, and business risks related to CMMC readiness.

Business Partnership and Influence

• Serve as a trusted advisor to business‑unit and functional leaders pursuing or performing government‑contract work.


• Translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for non‑legal stakeholders.


• Facilitate cross‑functional decisions where legal requirements, customer expectations, operational needs, and commercial priorities may conflict.


• Build relationships across decentralized business units and drive adoption of consistent enterprise standards without relying on direct reporting authority.


• Provide practical, risk‑based solutions that protect the company while enabling responsible business growth.


• Develop and deliver targeted training for executives, program teams, engineers, IT and cybersecurity professionals, supply‑chain personnel, and other stakeholders.

Education & Experience

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school required.


• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar required.


• Typically 10 or more years of progressively responsible experience in U.S. government or defense contracting, including meaningful in‑house legal or counsel experience.


• Significant experience advising on FAR, DFARS, DoD contracting, subcontracting, flow‑down requirements, and government‑contract compliance.


• Demonstrated experience advising on CMMC or government‑contract cybersecurity obligations.


• Experience working within a public company, major defense contractor, or similarly complex and highly regulated organization strongly preferred.


• Experience establishing or scaling a government‑contracting or compliance program across multiple business units preferred.


• Experience interacting with federal agencies, prime contractors, subcontractors, and senior executives preferred.

Skills

• Advanced knowledge of U.S. federal procurement law, FAR, DFARS, CMMC, and defense‑contracting requirements.


• Strong business judgment and ability to distinguish material enterprise risk from lower‑level compliance concerns.


• Demonstrated ability to operate independently as a senior legal subject‑matter expert.


• Ability to build an enterprise capability in an environment where processes and governance are still developing.


• Executive presence and credibility when advising senior leaders on complex or sensitive matters.


• Ability to translate legal and regulatory requirements into practical, plain‑English business guidance.


• Strong influencing and relationship‑building skills across a global, matrixed organization.


• Ability to align stakeholders with competing legal, operational, technical, and commercial priorities.


• Excellent negotiation, communication, training, and problem‑solving skills.


• Ability to manage multiple high‑priority matters in a fast‑paced and evolving regulatory environment.


• High degree of integrity, discretion, accountability, and professional judgment.

Scope and Impact

• Serves as Coherent’s principal internal legal authority for U.S. government and defense contracting.


• Establishes standards and processes that apply across multiple businesses and functions.


• Provides guidance on matters with potentially significant financial, operational, regulatory, and reputational consequences.


• Influences senior leaders and cross‑functional stakeholders without direct authority.


• Operates as a Director‑level individual contributor; direct reports are not required for the role’s enterprise scope and impact.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid or onsite work arrangement based on business needs.


• Work is primarily performed in a professional office environment using standard office equipment.


• Periodic travel may be required to support business units, leadership meetings, government engagements, audits, or program activities.

Physical Requirements

• Onsite / Hybrid work


• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality And Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Culture Commitment

Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust

Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome

Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].

About Us

Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard‑work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity and growth. Come Join Us!