Senior Contracts Manager

Planet Labs PBC; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) match

Paid time off

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Equity

Job summary

Planet Labs PBC is seeking a highly organized Senior Contracts Manager to join our Global Commercial Legal team. This full-time, hybrid role requires you to work from our Arlington, VA or San Francisco office three days per week and to manage the full lifecycle of sales-side contracts and supplier subcontracts, including negotiation and execution.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in contracts, a BA, and deep knowledge of FAR/DFAR/NFS.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a related field.
• 10+ years in proposals, contract, and subcontract management.
• Deep knowledge of US and international procurement regulations (FAR, DFAR, NASA) and T&Cs.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end proposal management to contract execution and compliance.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders (PMs, legal, finance) and external parties (clients, subcontractors).
• Maintain contract records and documentation, including clause matrix.
• Support negotiation, administration, and customer relationship management.

Skills

Contract management

Negotiation

Communication

Legal/regulatory

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Legal Studies, or related field

Tools

Contract management software

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Welcome to Planet. We believe in using space to help life on Earth.

Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history. This constellation delivers an unprecedented dataset of empirical information via a revolutionary cloud-based platform to authoritative figures in commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors. We are both a space company and data company all rolled into one.

Customers and users across the globe use Planet's data to develop new technologies, drive revenue, power research, and solve our world's toughest obstacles.

As we control every component of hardware design, manufacturing, data processing, and software engineering, our office is a truly inspiring mix of experts from a variety of domains.

We have a people-centric approach toward culture and community and we strive to iterate in a way that puts our team members first and prepares our company for growth. Join Planet and be a part of our mission to change the way people see the world.

Planet is a global company with employees working remotely world wide and joining us from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.

About the Role:

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Senior Contracts Manager to join our Global Commercial Legal team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for both managing and supporting the full lifecycle of sales-side contracts and supplier subcontracts, from negotiation and drafting to execution and closeout. This role requires solid analytical skills, excellent communication, and a thorough understanding of contract law and regulations. Domestic and/or International Travel is required 1-2x/year.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our Arlington, VA or San Francisco office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

• Establish and grow this new role on the Proposals Team in close collaboration with the Director of Global Proposals and USG Contracts.
• Own end-to-end proposal management to contract execution and compliance management. Manage multiple contracts acting as a point of contact for contractual matters, liaising with internal stakeholders (e.g., project managers, legal, finance) and external parties (e.g., clients, subcontractors).
• Communicate with cross-functional teams to ensure customer requirements are fully understood and flowed through to the execution team and to external suppliers in coordination with Supply Chain in accordance with company policies, legal requirements, and customer specifications.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to track deliverables including subcontractor performance.
• Support front-end assessment of business pursuits, proposal preparation, contract negotiation, contract administration, and customer relationship management within company policies (including adherence to Delegation of Authority and approval requirements), acquisition regulations, and customer requirements/specifications.
• Work with internal SMEs to update and maintain proposal content and contract management repositories.
• Coordinate with various state, local, federal, and international government agencies to obtain documentation required for proposals, vendor registrations, and contract closures.
• Identify potential contractual risks.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date contract records and documentation to include maintenance of the contract clause matrix.
• Assist in the resolution of contract disputes and claims.
• Manage end-to-end contract activities including managing proposals, then, ensuring compliance with company policies, legal requirements, and client specifications.
• Provide guidance to management and executives about fulfillment metrics and suggested action..
• Stay informed about industry best practices, legal developments, and regulatory changes affecting contract management.

What You Bring:

• 10+ years of experience in proposals, contract, and subcontract management.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Legal Studies, or a related field.
• Deep knowledge of US and international procurement regulations (including FAR, DFAR and NFS (NASA)), and standard contractual terms and conditions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in contract management software and Google and Microsoft Office Suites.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Solid analytical and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Ability to research and effectively solve problems, effectively collaborate and lead acquisition teams, develop negotiation positions and ensure proper hand-offs with the execution teams
• Experience preparing training materials for team members and internal clients.
• Experience providing mentorship or leadership to junior employees.

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Certification in Contract Management (e.g., CPCM, CFCM) or Proposal Management.
• Experience in Space based business models, specifically familiarity with and/or experience supporting geospatial, commercial space, and/or satellite remote sensing customers and products.
• Experience with government contracting including through the GSA.
• Experience managing complex government, academic, and/or enterprise level proposals and use cases.

Application Deadline:

11:45pm PT on the date stated below. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting may be removed earlier than projected if a suitable pool of applications has been received. For this reason, we recommend applying as soon as you are able to.

EAR/ITAR Requirements:

This position requires access to export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate's ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.

Benefits While Working at Planet:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution
• Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off
• 16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Home Office Reimbursement
• Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
• Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
• Equity
• Commuter Benefits (if local to an office)
• Volunteering Paid Time Off

San Francisco Salary Range$144,500—$180,600 USD

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Why we care so much about Belonging.

We're dedicated to helping the whole Planet, and to do that we must strive to represent all of it within each of our offices and on all of our teams. That's why Planet is guided by an ultimate north star of Belonging-dreaming big as we approach our ongoing work. If this job intrigues you, but you're thinking you might not have all the qualifications, please... do apply! At Planet, we are looking for well-rounded people from around the world who can contribute to more ways than just what is listed in this job description. We don't just fill positions, we aspire to fulfill people's careers, most excited about folks who are motivated by our underlying humanitarian efforts. We are a few orbits around the sun before we get to where we want to be, so we hope you're excited to come along for the ride.

EEO statement:

Planet is committed to building a community where everyone belongs and we invite people from all backgrounds to apply. Planet is an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Know Your Rights.

Accommodations:

Planet is an inclusive community and we know that everyone has their own needs. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the hiring process, please reach out to or contact your recruiter with your request. Your message will be confidential and we will be happy to assist you.

AI in Our Interviewing Process

Planet is committed to providing an exceptional interview experience for all candidates. We currently use Metaview to better focus on candidates and less on trying to capture notes. As such, with the candidate's consent, select interviews may be recorded and include a "Planet AI Notetaker" for transcription and summarization purposes. Should an interview involve use of AI interview technologies, the candidate will receive notification and have the ability to opt out both in advance and/or real-time. Opting out will not affect one's candidacy.

Candidate AI Policy

Planet embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, and we encourage its responsible use. We understand that candidates may use various resources, including AI tools, to prepare for interviews and assessments. However, during any live interview stage or when actively completing assessments for this position, the use of AI tools-e.g. Large Language Models (LLMs), deep fake technology, etc.-is strictly prohibited unless explicitly prompted by an interviewer or assessment instructions. If you are unsure about acceptable use, please contact your recruiter for clarification. If an AI tool or similar technology is desired as an accommodation, please contact with your request for assistance. Your message will be confidential, and we will be happy to assist. Violation of this policy may result in disqualification of your application.