Principal Contracts Administrator

Twenty-Six Defense; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9/80 schedule: every other Friday off

Competitive compensation

401(k) program

Medical, dental, vision, and life/dis-

Flexible vacation PTO

Paid parental leave

Employee referral program

Voluntary benefits (LTC, legal, IDT, +

Tricare supplement

Job summary

Twenty-Six Defense, headquartered in Fort Worth, TX, seeks a Principal Contract Administrator to lead proposals, negotiations, and contract lifecycle management for defense, homeland security, and aviation projects. You will coordinate with program management, legal, finance, engineering, and supply chain to ensure compliant and timely performance, including international engagements.

The role requires strong communication, risk assessment, and problem-solving skills to protect company interests

Qualifications

• Six or more years of related experience, including two to three years of international contract negotiation and administration experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop, negotiate, administer, and close out contracts and subcontracts for products and services.
• Participate in negotiations with customers and subcontractors and clarify contract terms.
• Manage active contracts and subcontracts throughout their lifecycles and monitor compliance.
• Serve as primary point of contact for contract-related communications and customer engagement.
• Interpret contract terms to ensure regulatory and company policy compliance; track obligations and deadlines.
• Close out contracts, coordinate documentation, and capture lessons learned.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Proposal development

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory compliance

Risk assessment

Microsoft Office

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration

Job description

Company Information

Twenty-Six Defense, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a leading provider of high-performance products, system solutions, and aftermarket support services focusing on the defense, homeland security, and commercial aviation markets. With facilities throughout the U.S., Twenty-Six Defense is dedicated to supporting those who contribute to the national security of the United States. Twenty-Six Defense is wholly owned by Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT and TASE: ESLT), a global high-technology company engaged in a wide range of programs for innovative defense and commercial applications.

Company Information

Twenty-Six Defense, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a leading provider of high-performance products, system solutions, and aftermarket support services focusing on the defense, homeland security, and commercial aviation markets. With facilities throughout the U.S., Twenty-Six Defense is dedicated to supporting those who contribute to the national security of the United States. Twenty-Six Defense is wholly owned by Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT and TASE: ESLT), a global high-technology company engaged in a wide range of programs for innovative defense and commercial applications.

Job Summary

The Principal Contract Administrator is a mid-level position that operates under the direction of a Senior Manager or Director of Contracts. This role is responsible for activities required to develop, negotiate, administer, and close out contracts and subcontracts for various products and services. The administrator supports the full lifecycle of contractual engagements—from proposal development through product or service delivery and final closeout—ensuring compliance with company policies, legal requirements, customer specifications, and applicable regulations.

Responsibilities and Tasks

Proposal Development

• Support the creation, coordination, and submission of proposals in response to customer requirements.
• Ensure proposals align with company policy, commercial standards, and regulatory guidance.
• Apply judgment to interpret customer requirements and identify potential contractual risks during proposal preparation.

Contract Negotiation

• Participate in negotiations with customers and subcontractors.
• Provide interpretation and clarification of contract terms and conditions.
• Protect company interests while maintaining positive customer relationships.
• Identify areas requiring negotiation escalation and recommend alternative approaches based on risk assessment.

Contract Administration

• Manage and maintain active contracts and subcontracts throughout their lifecycles.
• Monitor performance against contract requirements and obligations.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure timely fulfillment of deliverables.
• Independently resolve contract-related issues by analyzing root causes and coordinating corrective actions.

Customer Contact and Communication

• Serve as a primary point of contact for contract-related communications.
• Support customer engagement throughout execution, modification, and closeout activities.
• Explain complex contractual concepts clearly to both internal stakeholders and customers.

Compliance and Performance Monitoring

• Interpret contract terms and conditions and ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and company requirements.
• Track obligations, deadlines, and deliverables to ensure proper contract fulfillment.
• Identify and elevate potential performance, compliance, or risk issues.
• Recommend mitigation actions and process improvements when recurring issues are identified.

Contract Closeout

• Ensure all administrative, financial, and compliance elements are finalized at contract completion.
• Coordinate closeout documentation and reconciliation activities.
• Identify lessons learned and propose updates to templates or processes, as appropriate.

Knowledge, Education, Licenses, Certifications, and Prior Experience

• A bachelor's degree in business administration is preferred. An additional four years of experience may be substituted.
• Six or more years of related experience, including two to three years of international contract negotiation and administration experience.

Skills And Abilities

• Strong written and verbal communication skills for customer interactions and internal coordination.
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex contract terms, conditions, and regulatory requirements.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills to track obligations, deadlines, and documentation.
• Ability to participate in negotiations and communicate company positions clearly.
• Proficiency in preparing and reviewing proposals, modifications, and compliance documents.
• Ability to identify risk areas, recommend mitigation actions, and elevate issues appropriately.
• Competence in managing multiple contracts simultaneously with minimal supervision.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including program management, legal, finance, engineering, and supply chain.
• Strong problem-solving abilities to support the resolution of contract performance and compliance issues.
• Ability to maintain positive customer relationships and represent the company professionally.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with contract management tools or ERP systems.
• Ability to uphold ethical standards and ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, and company policies.

Travel and Physical Requirements

• Occasional travel may be required for training or periodic onsite meetings; otherwise, travel is minimal.
• The role involves primarily sedentary work in an office or workstation environment, including extended periods of computer use.

Travel/Physical Requirements

• Occasional travel may be required for training or periodic onsite meetings; otherwise, travel is minimal.
• The role involves primarily sedentary work in an office or workstation environment, including extended periods of computer use.

Here Are Some Of The Great Benefits We Offer

• Most locations offer a 9/80 schedule, providing every other Friday off
• Competitive compensation & 401(k) program to plan for your future
• Robust medical, dental, vision, & disability coverage with qualified wellness discounts
• Basic Life Insurance and Additional Life & AD&D Insurances are available
• Flexible Vacation & PTO
• Paid Parental Leave
• Generous Employee Referral Program
• Voluntary Benefits Available: Longer Term Care, Legal, Identity Theft, Pet Insurance, and more
• Voluntary Tricare Supplement available for military retirees

This job description does not list all the duties of the job. You may be asked by your supervisors or managers to perform other duties. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. The job description is not an employment contract. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Twenty-Six Defense is an equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

• For Virginia-based positions only* In accordance with Virginia DOL requirements, the listed salary range reflects the anticipated base pay range for this role. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including skills, experience, education, certifications, business needs, internal equity, and geographic location. Compensation may vary in different locations based on market conditions and cost-of-labor considerations.