Principal, Contracts Manager

Acron Aviation; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Medium in Grand Rapids, Michigan is seeking a Senior Contracts Manager for its Surveillance product line. This role involves providing contract leadership to support business growth and manage risk effectively. You'll collaborate with various teams to ensure efficient contract processes and use technology to enhance contract quality.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's or Graduate Degree with significant relevant experience. Strong negotiation skills, a process-improvement mindset, and excellent communication abilities are essential for success in this fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of 12 years of prior relevant experience.
• Graduate Degree and a minimum of 10 years of prior related experience.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, business judgment, and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex commercial contracts across the full lifecycle.
• Develop practical contract strategies to support growth.
• Lead customer negotiations and draft contracts.

Skills

Commercial contracting principles

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Business judgment

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Graduate Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Contract lifecycle management (CLM) platforms

Reporting dashboards

Job description

About Acron Aviation (Avionics – Surveillance):

Acron Aviation designs, engineers, and manufactures certified avionics systems that support safety‑critical flight operations across commercial and military aviation. Within Avionics, the Surveillance product line develops and sustains systems that enable aircraft awareness, collision avoidance, and airspace interoperability. Our portfolio includes TCAS, Mode S transponders, ADS‑B, and integrated surveillance solutions deployed across commercial, military, and rotorcraft platforms. This work is performed in highly regulated environments and demands deep expertise across systems, hardware, software, and RF throughout the full product lifecycle.

Job Title

Senior Contracts Manager – Surveillance

Position Summary

We are seeking a Senior Contracts Manager to provide practical, business‑focused contract leadership that helps the organization move fast, serve customers well, and manage risk. In this role, you will support proposals, lead commercial contract negotiations, manage contract financing and working capital objectives, and partner with Legal, Finance, Program, Sales, and Operations teams to close deals efficiently and responsibly.

You will also help modernize how we work by using data, process discipline, contract lifecycle management tools, automation, and responsible AI‑enabled capabilities to improve speed, visibility, quality, and compliance.

The ideal candidate is commercially minded, confident working with senior leaders, and energized by a fast‑moving environment. You bring ownership, sound judgment, and a collaborative style; communicate candidly and constructively; build strong customer and stakeholder relationships; and look for practical ways to improve contracting processes through technology and new ways of working.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage complex commercial contracts across the full lifecycle, from proposal support and drafting through negotiation, execution, administration, compliance, and closeout
• Develop practical contract strategies that support growth, improve deal velocity and cash flow, protect EBITDA, and appropriately manage legal, financial, operational, and compliance risk
• Lead customer negotiations and draft, review, interpret, and negotiate terms and conditions, flow‑downs, amendments, and related contract documents
• Move fast by identifying issues early, removing roadblocks, prioritizing high‑impact work, and driving timely resolution without compromising compliance or judgment
• Speak candidly by clearly communicating risks, tradeoffs, options, and recommendations in a direct, constructive, and solutions‑oriented manner
• Put the customer first by balancing responsiveness and commercial flexibility with appropriate risk management and protection of the organization’s interests
• Own outcomes by taking accountability for assigned matters, following through on commitments, escalating appropriately, and keeping stakeholders aligned on decisions, obligations, and next steps
• Use CLM tools, digital workflows, data, automation, and approved AI‑enabled capabilities to improve contract quality, cycle time, visibility, reporting, and stakeholder self‑service
• Partner with Legal and other functions to review non‑standard terms and ensure compliance with policies, laws, regulations, and contractual requirements
• Build strong relationships with customers and internal teams to provide timely, practical, and high‑quality contracting support
• Champion integrity, ethical behavior, and compliance while providing proactive guidance in complex or ambiguous situations
• Mentor and coach cross‑functional partners on contract strategy, negotiation practices, risk awareness, process discipline, and effective use of approved contracting tools
• Maintain accurate contract records and documentation for approvals, audits, retention, reporting, and knowledge sharing

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of 12 years of prior relevant experience
• Graduate Degree and a minimum of 10 years of prior related experience

Preferred Additional Skills

• Strong knowledge of commercial contracting principles, UCC concepts, and international commercial contract considerations
• Experience negotiating and administering complex commercial contracts, long‑term agreements, non‑standard terms, and customer terms and conditions
• Comfort working with Microsoft Office, SharePoint, contract repositories, CLM platforms, workflow tools, reporting dashboards, and database systems
• Ability to use approved AI‑enabled tools responsibly to support contract review, drafting, research, clause comparison, risk identification, workflow automation, and knowledge management
• Process‑improvement mindset with the ability to identify inefficiencies and help implement scalable solutions that improve cycle time and stakeholder experience
• Strong negotiation, analytical, business judgment, and decision‑making skills, including comfort making recommendations when facts are incomplete or evolving
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to speak candidly, influence effectively, and tailor communications for diverse audiences
• Ability to prioritize multiple high‑impact matters, maintain momentum in a fast‑paced environment, and collaborate effectively across a matrixed organization
• High integrity, strong compliance focus, and a collaborative leadership style

Equal Opportunity Statement

Acron Aviation is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants with respect and dignity and to maintaining a workplace free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Additional Information:

Acron Aviation maintains a drug‑free workplace and conducts pre‑employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where allowed by law. Acron Aviation is an E‑Verify employer.