Principal Contracts Administrator

THE PANTHER GROUP; Franklin (MA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Panther Group is seeking an experienced Principal Contracts Administrator to join a leading defense and technology organization. You will advise program leadership on complex federal contracts, negotiate terms, and manage prime contracts and major U.S.

Government subcontracts in a fast-paced, IPT-driven environment. With a bachelor’s degree and 7–10 years of federal contract experience, you will navigate FAR/DFARS, support cost proposals, and lead negotiations while coordinating with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required with 7–10 years federal contract experience.
• Active TS/SCI with CI polygraph required.
• Experience negotiating terms for federal prime and subcontracts.

Responsibilities

• Advise program leadership and IPTs on contract rights, obligations, and risks.
• Review, interpret, and negotiate contracts, NDAs, and teaming agreements.
• Support contract execution, administration, and negotiations for new bids.
• Identify issues and mitigate risks while ensuring compliance with FAR/DFARS.
• Maintain accurate contract documentation throughout the lifecycle.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Project management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Costpoint

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

The Panther Group is seeking an experienced Principal Contracts Administrator for an exciting opportunity with a leading defense and technology organization. This role is part of a dynamic Corporate Contracts and Subcontracts team and will serve as a key advisor to program leadership on complex federal contracts. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing and negotiating federal prime contracts and major U.S. Government subcontracts, strong knowledge of FAR/DFARS, and the ability to work directly with customers, program leadership, and internal stakeholders.

What You'll Do

• Serve as a key contracts team member and business advisor to program leadership within an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment.
• Act as the primary contracts point of contact with customers and support customer-facing discussions and negotiations.
• Advise program management and internal stakeholders on contractual rights, obligations, requirements, and risks.
• Review, interpret, and negotiate contracts, proposals, NDAs, Teaming Agreements, and other contractual documents.
• Review and redline contractual documents while coordinating approvals with Contracts leadership.
• Support contract execution, administration, negotiations, and new business opportunities.
• Review and support cost proposals, proposal narratives, contract changes, and complex bids.
• Identify contractual issues and risks and develop effective mitigation and negotiation strategies.
• Ensure contract activities comply with federal regulations, company policies, customer requirements, and legal obligations.
• Manage and resolve complex contract performance issues involving government customers, prime contractors, and internal operational teams.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure effective communication, cooperation, and contract execution.
• Participate in business unit and division-level planning and coordination meetings.
• Present recommendations and options to management to support new and existing business.
• Maintain accurate contract and proposal documentation and ensure attention to detail throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree and 7–10 years of contract management experience supporting federal prime contracts and/or major U.S. Government subcontracts, preferably in services contracts.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with CI polygraph required.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating contractual terms and conditions for services and materials.
• Experience managing multiple contract types, including: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) Time & Materials (T&M) Cost-Plus (CP)
• Strong knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and applicable federal agency regulations.
• Experience working with internal customers, program management, and cross-functional teams.
• Strong contract negotiation, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to interact effectively with senior business and program leadership.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting intelligence community or intelligence services contracts.
• Familiarity with Costpoint.
• Strong cross-functional business knowledge and demonstrated business acumen.
• Experience developing creative solutions and negotiating strategies for complex contractual issues.
• Salary: $144,000–$160,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.