Senior Contracts Manager

Employee Owned Brands; Hiawatha, Northern (IA, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Paid time off

ESOP participation

Tuition reimbursement

On-site gym

Cell phone reimbursement

Job summary

Crystal Group, a 100% employee-owned company, seeks a Senior Contracts Manager to oversee the full contract lifecycle, including complex proposals, bids, and negotiations. You will ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS, export laws, and corporate policies while coordinating with legal, finance, and business teams to resolve issues.

You will lead contract reviews, mentor team members, and develop negotiation strategies for international and government contracts, traveling up to 10% as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in business or related legal field.
• 6+ years of contract/administration experience.
• Strong negotiation and risk assessment skills.
• Familiarity with FAR/DFARS and export controls.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to lead teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the contract lifecycle for high-value solicitations and complex bids.
• Lead contract review and negotiations with customers; draft and modify terms and conditions.
• Coordinate with legal, finance, and business teams to resolve contract issues.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and corporate policies; mentor junior staff.
• Provide guidance on regulatory changes affecting international and government contracting.

Job description

## Senior Contracts ManagerApply: Hiawatha, IA: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: November 20, 2026 (30+ days left to apply): R0004855**Job Description:****Job Title:** Senior Contracts Manager**Reports to:** Manager, Contracts**Department**: Contracts**Work Model:** Full-time, On-site – 10% Travel Required**Schedule**: Monday – Friday 8am-5pm**Company & Benefit Information**At Crystal Group, we do hard things – designing and building rugged tech and tech solutions that provide predictable performance in the world’s most unforgiving environments. As a 100% employee-owned company, here you take extreme ownership of your role and work and invest in your own success and that of your teammates. Together we use a *zero limits* approach to wow our customers.Crystal Group offers a comprehensive benefits package including:* Medical/dental/vision insurance* Paid time off* Tuition reimbursement* Wellness programs* Participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)* On-Site Gym**Job Summary**This position is responsible for overseeing the entire contract lifecycle within Crystal Group. This includes reviewing complex, high-value solicitations and leading the development of specialized proposals, bids, and contract responses. Individuals possess expertise in drafting contracts, proactively assessing risk, and negotiating a wide range of agreements while ensuring compliance with FAR, DFARs, export laws, and corporate policies. They serve as a key liaison among legal, finance, and business teams to resolve contract issues and drive strategic decision-making. Senior contracts managers possess a proven ability to lead contract review processes, mentor team members, guide negotiations, and analyze evolving regulations affecting international and government contracting.**Essential Functions*** Develop and implement efficient contracting processes, including standardized templates and workflows* Review complex solicitations and prepare specialized and/or non-routine responses for proposals, bids, quotes, and contract modifications* Analyze contract requirements, special provisions, and terms and conditions to ensure compliance with appropriate laws, regulations, corporate policies and business unit procedures* Draft, assess risk, and negotiate a wide range of agreements required to support all business activities* Lead the contract review process and negotiations, including customer terms and conditions, for the Program Management team or other applicable departments* Demonstrate knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), understand how government regulations affect the company, and have strong working knowledge of acquisition regulations contracting concepts* Manage and demonstrate knowledge of new and changing export and contract laws, regulations and trends* Analyze for potential impact on international business requirements, goals, and objectives* Participate in development of business alliance and partnering, source selection procedures and process, and make or buy determinations* Develop negotiation strategy and lead negotiation team on complex contractual issues* Address contract-related issues, conflicts, and disputes with external partners in a timely and effective manner* Anticipate and resolve issues which may arise during the contract lifecycle* Focal point for all communication with law, finance and business team disciplines for resolution of contract issues and disputes**Knowledge, Skills and Abilities*** General business understanding of how accounting, program management, and other parts of the business function* Basic understanding of the processes and functions of an ERP System* Excellent organizational and time management skills* Effectively communicates both verbally and in writing with all stakeholders* Intermediate level skills in Microsoft Office products* Read, analyze, assess, and negotiate contract language* Manage multiple projects at once, prioritize, and meet deadlines* Demonstrated ability to read and analyze regulations and customer documents* Teach and mentor others in core duties* Effectively lead small (1-3 member) teams on well-defined projects with moderate supervision, oversight, and coaching provided* Identify departmental process deficiencies, propose viable solutions, and implement appropriate corrective action(s) with moderate managerial support provided**Required Qualification*** Must be a US Person (US Citizen, person granted US Permanent Resident Card or any individual who is granted status as a \"protected person”)* Bachelor’s degree in business or related legal field* 6+ years of contract/administration experience**Preferred Qualification*** Previous experience managing contracts within the Aerospace and Defense sector* Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM)* Master’s of Business Administration (MBA)* Familiar with export compliance regulations* General knowledge of ISO9001 and/or AS9100**Working Conditions**Work is primarily performed in an office environment. Occasional exposure to manufacturing floor and testing environments. May require lifting to 40 lbs, standing for extended periods during product testing, and occasional travel (up to 10%).This position is eligible for a cell phone reimbursement based on the communication needs of the role. Employee owners in this position are expected to maintain reasonable accessibility and responsiveness to support business needs, which may include communication with multiple teams, shifts, locations, customers, suppliers, or external partners.**EEO Statement**Crystal Group, Inc, maintains a program of equal employment opportunity designed to ensure that employment and advancement opportunities are made available to all employees and applicants on the basis of individual qualifications and without regard to race, religion, color, creed, national origin, disability, age, sex, genetic information, military status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local laws.**Offer Contingency**All job offers are contingent on the applicant successfully completing the background check and drug screen.This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other responsibilities as necessary. Employment with Crystal Group remains at-will.