Director of Contracts

Associates Systems LLC; Springfield (NJ); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Associates Systems LLC is seeking a Director of Contracts in New Jersey to lead contract administration, review terms, and ensure compliance across business units. You will negotiate with customers and suppliers, assess DPAS, FAR/DFARS, and regulatory requirements while guiding cross-functional teams.

The role oversees policy maintenance, training, and systems such as Exostar and Haystack Gold, and reports to leadership on risk, performance, and regulatory expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in contracts or related field.
• Eight to ten years of progressive experience in contracts administration/management or government procurement.
• Experience reviewing, negotiating, and administering commercial, government, customer, and supplier contracts.
• Knowledge of FAR, DFARS, DPAS, PO requirements, NDAs, reps and certs, and supplier questionnaires.
• Experience with compliance reporting (REACH, RoHS, Conflict Minerals, EMRT, TSCA).
• Experience with Exostar and Haystack Gold preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract management and review of terms for major customers across units.
• Review POs for negotiated terms, DPAS, FAR/DFARS, export classifications, and payment terms.
• Perform contract reviews for RFPs/RFQs/RFIs and negotiate favorable terms.
• Oversee NDAs and contract administration records and training.
• Coordinate with outside counsel on complex matters.
• Oversee compliance reporting requirements and regulatory support.
• Manages Contracts staff and portal access administration.

Skills

Contract review and negotiation

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Contracts/related field

Tools

Exostar

Haystack Gold

Contract management systems

Job description

Director of Contracts
The Director of Contracts is responsible for leading contract administration, contract review, and related compliance activities across the organization. This role supports all business units by reviewing and negotiating customer and supplier contract terms, evaluating purchase order requirements, maintaining contract-related policies and procedures, supporting regulatory reporting, and partnering with cross-functional teams to ensure contract obligations are understood, approved, and executed in alignment with company requirements.

Contract Management

• Review and negotiate contract terms and conditions for major customers across all business units.
• Review incoming purchase orders for negotiated terms and conditions, government requirements, DPAS ratings ( (Defense Priorities and Allocations System) , payment terms, export and customs classifications, and FAR/DFARS requirements.
• Perform contractual reviews for RFP, RFQ, and RFI requests; identify exceptions and negotiate terms that support the best interests of the company.
• Review and approve order transmittal forms for new contract purchase orders.
• Complete, maintain, and submit Representations and Certifications and supplier questionnaires as required.
• Maintain contract-related policies, procedures, records, and training requirements.
• Oversee and manage Contracts staff, including day-to-day guidance, workload support, and performance of assigned contract administration activities.
• Coordinate with outside legal counsel as needed on contractual matters.
• Oversee the execution and administration of customer and supplier nondisclosure agreements.

Compliance and Regulatory Support

• Oversee compliance-related reporting and requirements, including REACH, RoHS, Conflict Minerals, Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT), Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and rare earth minerals/elements.
• Partner with IT on the implementation and approval of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) requirements from the U.S. Department of Defense, with the goal of achieving Department of Defense Level 2 certification.

Systems and Administrative Responsibilities

• Serve as the designated Exostar administrator for customer portal access
• Serve as the designated Haystack Gold database administrator
• Maintain accurate records, documentation, and portal access information related to assigned contract, compliance, and administrative responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Contracts Management, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal Studies, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Eight to ten years of progressive experience in contracts administration, contract management, government contracting, procurement, or a related business function.
• Experience reviewing, negotiating, and administering commercial, government, customer, and supplier contract terms and conditions.
• Working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, DPAS ratings, purchase order requirements, nondisclosure agreements, representations and certifications, and supplier questionnaires.
• Experience supporting compliance-related reporting and requirements, including REACH, RoHS, Conflict Minerals, EMRT, TSCA, and rare earth minerals/elements.
• Experience with customer portals, government procurement portals, or contract management systems; experience with Exostar and Haystack Gold is preferred.
• Experience supporting CMMC, CUI, or Department of Defense supplier requirements preferred.

• Strong contract review, negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain contractual requirements clearly to internal and external stakeholders.

All candidates must meet the US persons criteria.
Please note: The salary range is based on our market pay structure. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Salary Range: $140,000.00 To $180,000.00/yr+

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