Principal/Senior Principal Contract Administrator

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Adaptive Optics Associates – Xinetics (AOA Xinetics), a wholly-owned Northrop Grumman Space Systems, Payload and Ground Systems Division Business Unit, is currently seeking a Contract Administrator to support business activities in Devens MA.

AOA Xinetics (AOX) is a leader in developing ‘smart’ electro-optical and opto-mechanical products. AOX designs, manufactures and services optical & photonic solutions world-wide.  Our customers include Government, Industrial, U.S. Defense Primes and Second-tier Contractors; Markets for these technologies include astronomy, logistics, and defense missions such as directed energy and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).

Learn more about AOX at https://www.northropgrumman.com/who-we-are/aoa-xinetics     

Overview

Reporting to the Contracts Manager, the Principal Contract Administrator will be a highly motivated professional who will be responsible to independently support direct handling of proposals and contract activities of a diverse portfolio of internal, Government and Commercial business development opportunities under general supervision.

This position may be filled at either the Principal or Senior Principal level.

Role and Responsibilities:

The Contracts function administers, extends, negotiates and terminates standard and nonstandard contracts. Conducts proposal preparation, contract negotiation, contract administration, and customer contact activities to provide for proper contract acquisition and fulfillment in accordance with company policies, legal requirements, and customer specifications.

• Provides direct contract support such as review and approval of contractual documents to ensure protection of company's contractual/risk posture, satisfaction of contractual requirements and adherence to company policies.

• Reviews and analyzes government or commercial solicitations to understand requirements and advise on all relevant contract issues.

• Ensures company proposals are fully responsive to prospective customer requirements

• Maintain communication with Program Management Office on contract performance and act as formal communication channel to customers regarding funding or additional budget needs, documentation compliance concerns, schedule impacts, and negotiation of change management actions to ensure mutually satisfactory performance and adherence to AOX’s Quality Management System.

• Advise management of contractual rights and obligations and, as needed, provide interpretation of terms and conditions.

• Maintain official program records including contractual documents and correspondence with customer and respond to company data calls for assigned programs.

• Prepares, negotiates, and maintains records of standard and non-standard agreements such as Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Teaming Agreements, Bailments, and Terms of Sale.

• Enters data related to incoming customer contracts, and modifications for commercial, government, domestic and international customers into applicable NGC business systems using defined computer software (CMS, Deltek Costpoint, Microsoft Office products).

• Compiles, validates, and audits data and prepares reports in accordance with established quality and schedule parameters.

• Validates data with applicable customer purchase documents and internal policies, procedures, and business system requirements for completeness and accuracy.

• Investigates questionable data and recommends actions to resolve discrepancies to maintain data integrity within applicable business systems and databases. Notifies appropriate departments of any new or updated data.

• Maintains documentation integrity for audit.

• Performs a variety of assigned activities in support of the functional areas of Contracts and Business Management in furtherance of business goals and initiatives. 

• Interface and collaborate across various departments, with senior and program management, and customer counterparts.

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Basic Qualifications for a Principal level:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, or related field

• 6+ years’ Contract and/or Subcontract administration experience, or 4+ years' experience with a Masters degree

• Knowledgeable of the government contracting environment and have direct experience working with the FAR and DFARS, Sarbanes-Oxley and U.S. export regulatory requirements

• Familiarity with multiple contracting formats, including Firm Fixed Price and/or Cost Reimbursable agreements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong business aptitude

• Familiarity with terms and conditions and/or special contract clauses such as intellectual property protection

• Must be a team player, proactive, possess excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, and have thorough organizational skills

• Direct experience working with program management, finance, quality, engineering and/or manufacturing

• Ability to work and multi-task in a dynamic, fast paced environment

• Can work successfully with limited supervision

• Introductory knowledgeable of the government contracting environment

• Able to manage priorities effectively working with teams to meet deadlines

• Possesses Intermediate – Advanced MS Office skills

• US Citizenship is a requirement for employment

Basic Qualifications for a Senior Principal level:

• Same as above, but with 10+ years’ Contract and/or Subcontract administration experience, or 8+ years' experience with a Masters degree

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with international contract administration

• Demonstrated leadership, critical thinking and innovative behaviors in past projects, roles or experiences

• Active clearance or ability to obtain a Top Secret Clearance a plus

Physical Requirements:

• Occasional travel possible

• Ability to stand or sit for long periods of time

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Salary Range: $86,300 USD - $129,500 USD

Salary Range 2: $107,000 USD - $160,600 USD

Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The health and safety of our employees and their families is a top priority. The company encourages employees to remain up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. U.S. Northrop Grumman employees may be required, in the future, to be vaccinated or have an approved disability/medical or religious accommodation, pursuant to future court decisions and/or government action on the currently stayed federal contractor vaccine mandate under Executive Order 14042 https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.