Senior Contracts Specialist

Parker Aerospace; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Incentive Program

Comprehensive benefits

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Parker Aerospace in Akron, OH is seeking a Sr. Contracts Specialist to manage high-value contracts, lead project teams, and ensure compliance with company policy.

You will serve as a subject expert on contracting processes, risk evaluation, and negotiation techniques, acting as a liaison with internal and external stakeholders. This role offers a competitive package and opportunities to influence major programs across divisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in business or related field and contracts experience.
• Contracts management certification preferred; MS/MBA/JD are an advantage.
• 10+ years of increasing responsibility in aerospace contracting.
• Ability to plan, lead projects and negotiate complex proposals.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex negotiations of strategic significance to the division.
• Oversee contract change proposals and manage contract risk across programs.
• Administer contract files, amendments and performance records.
• Develop complex responses to customer RFPs with long-term impact.
• Coordinate input from multiple functions for bid processes and proposals.
• Serve as customer contact and liaison for assigned contracts.

Skills

Contract negotiations

Risk management

Project leadership

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor degree in Business Administration or related

Contracts management certification

MS/MBA/JD preferred

Tools

RFA tool

Job description

At Parker Aerospace, we develop technologies and innovative solutions that enable reliable, efficient and increasingly sustainable flight for the lifecycle of the aircraft, including aftermarket support. Our passionate people with deep engineering expertise, together with our breadth of differentiated technologies, ensure that we make the extraordinary happen and continue to shape the future of aviation in partnership with our customers.

As a member of our team, you are instrumental in fulfilling our mission: 'Enabling Engineering Breakthroughs that Lead to a Better Tomorrow.' Pursuing a career at Parker presents unlimited opportunities for both professional and personal development. Working with some of the most brilliant minds in the industry, your contributions will be pivotal in developing innovative technologies and products, significantly contributing to Parker’s goal of addressing the world’s most pressing engineering challenges. At Parker, our team members belong, matter and make a difference.

Position Summary

The Sr. Contracts Specialist will be primarily responsible for complex, high-value contracting opportunities critical to long-term business success. May lead project teams responsible for overseeing a set of complex contracts related to assigned customers, market segments, product lines/programs, systems contracts, or key strategic contracts to ensure consistent approaches and alignment.

Serves as a subject expert and internal consultant on overall contracting processes, regulatory requirements, negotiation techniques, and evaluation of risk. Provides oversight for assigned programs, conducts contract risk management reviews and recommendations to efficiently and cost effectively mitigate potential problems, manage the change control process with the Program Manager, and provides leadership to projects and programs. Serves as a focal point to key internal and external stakeholders for the assigned contracts. This role will not have direct reports.

Essential Functions

• Leads complex negotiations of strategic significance to the division. Negotiates all essential contract terms and conditions within a broad scope of responsibility. Negotiates or provides guidance on contract change proposals. Contract challenges are frequently unique and solutions may serve as precedents for future negotiations.
• Makes proactive recommendations for contract changes for programs or projects of high scope and complexity. Focuses attention and activity on contract risk across assigned programs. Ensures contract provisions are clear and conform to company policy.
• Administers and has oversight responsibility for highly competitive and unique contract requirements by analyzing performance requirements and customer purchase order requirements including those issued against Basic Contract Agreements and/or Long-Term Agreements. Analyses include performance to delivery schedules, pricing, terms and conditions and other contract provisions. Ensures processes in place that maintain accurate contract files and records of contract change activity.
• Determines technically and commercially compliant complex proposal packages for major customers in response to customer or contract requirements. Reviews and evaluates performance requirements, delivery schedules, and estimates of costs of material, equipment, and labor hours.
• Initiates the bid process by identifying requirements and coordinating input from other functions. Develops complex responses to requests for proposal (RFP) by reviewing bid process procedures, reviewing material, test and other requirements, and preparing appropriate responses. Prepares and submits complex proposals with significant, long-term financial impact at the Division or Group level.
• Investigates and resolves claims or complaints elevated for resolution. Coordinates with relevant functions on technical and/or quality issues, data requirements, and other business issues as applicable.
• Monitors contract performance by determining compliance to contract requirements and determining the need for amendments or extensions to the contract. Determines when customer directed changes are out-of-scope.
• Acts as the point of contact with the customer on assigned contracts and participates in customer presentations.
• Leads initiatives to improve the efficiency of internal systems and processes within the division and/or with corporate and customer involvement. Recommends actions by analyzing and interpreting complex data and making comparative analyses. Analyzes proposed changes in methods.
• Maintains current professional and technical knowledge by participating in professional associations. such as the National Contract Management Association (NCMA).
• Complies with federal, state, and aerospace industry regulations; ensures adherence to requirements and makes recommendations to implement needed actions.
• Acts as consultant to management on major contractual matters by performing analysis, interpretation of data, and incorporation of decision making. May serve as a spokesperson for the organization on significant matters relating to policies or programs.
• Serves as a functional expert. Identifies mentoring needs. Trains and mentors less experienced employees. May provide leadership to others in department or to ad-hoc teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree required, preferably in Business Administration or a related discipline. Contracts management certification preferred. Advanced degree (MS/MBA/JD) preferred.
• 10+ years of related experience of increasing responsibility.
• Aerospace industry experience required.
• Has experience planning and leading projects.
• Ability to manage contracts in distributed sites or across multiple divisions.
• Understands and has demonstrated proficiency as a subject matter expert in the Contract Management pre-bid, bid, and post-award main phases and multiple stages. Ability to negotiate effectively on comprehensive proposals with major business impact.
• Understanding of the financial considerations and linkage between business and immediate contract area. Demonstrated knowledge of financial aspects of business and program management. May be the Divisional administrator of the RFA tool.
• Ability to solve a wide range of unique problems of considerable scope and complexity that may require new approaches or significant exceptions or modification of standard procedures.
• Ability to advise on advanced contract administration principles, industry practices, regulations, and policies. Knowledge of complex legal and regulatory requirements related to contract administration and government procurement that may include international compliance.

Come join the Parker Aerospace Team!

Our competitive package includes:

Competitive Compensation

• Participation in Annual Incentive Program

Parker offers competitive benefit programs

• Comprehensive coverage for medical, prescription drugs, dental, vision, voluntary optional life, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance and critical illness insurance with competitive premium cost.
• 401(k) Plan with company matching contributions at 100% of the first 5% of pay
• Company provided defined-contribution retirement plan with annual contribution equal to 3% of pay
• Career development and tuition reimbursement
• Other benefits including paid parental leave, short and long-term disability programs, adoption assistance, a Care.com membership and financial planning assistance are provided at no cost to you.
• Supplemental benefit programs including identity protection, legal protection, and pet wellness are available at competitive rates.
• Paid Time Off and 13 Company-Paid Holidays.

Drug-Free Workplace

In accordance with Parker’s policies and applicable state laws, Parker provides for a drug-free workplace. Therefore, all applicants seeking employment with Parker will be subject to drug testing as a condition of employment.

This position is subject to meeting U.S. export compliance and/or U.S. Government contracting citizenship eligibility requirements.