The Contracts & Compliance Manager will lead all aspects of contract administration and regulatory compliance. This role will work closely with US Government agencies, prime defense contractors and internally, with engineering, production and finance leadership to ensure contractual, regulatory and export compliance across the contract lifecycle.

Role Purpose

The Contracts & Compliance Manager is responsible for overseeing contract administration and ensuring regulatory and export compliance throughout the contract lifecycle. This role supports U.S. Government, prime contractor, and commercial programs by coordinating with internal teams and external stakeholders to mitigate risk and ensure adherence to contractual, regulatory, and quality requirements.

Scope & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:
• Perform assigned duties in accordance with documented procedures, work instructions, and quality system requirements.

Contracts Management:
• Manage the contract lifecycle for U.S. Government, prime contractor, and commercial agreements, including review, execution, modification, and closeout.
• Review and analyze contract terms and conditions related to pricing, intellectual property, delivery schedules, warranties, and liability, escalating risks as appropriate.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for contracting officers, government program managers, and prime contractor representatives.
• Support proposal development by reviewing contractual requirements, compliance matrices, and risk considerations.
• Track contractual obligations and coordinate with internal execution teams to support compliance with contract requirements.

Compliance & Regulatory Oversight:
• Support and maintain compliance with applicable U.S. Government regulations, including:
- Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)
- International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
- Export Administration Regulations (EAR)
- Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), as applicable
- Prime contractor terms and conditions and flow-down requirements
• Develop, implement, and maintain internal compliance policies, procedures, and training programs.
• Conduct internal compliance reviews and support external audits, assessments, and government inquiries.
• Coordinate export compliance reviews for international customers, partners, and shipments of controlled products or technical data.
• Support compliance with applicable environmental, state, and regional regulations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:
• Work closely with Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, Finance, and Sales to ensure contractual and regulatory requirements are understood and supported.
• Advise leadership on contractual risk, compliance exposure, and mitigation strategies.
• Support subcontractor and supplier compliance, including flow-down clauses, NDAs, and supplier agreements.

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement:
• Identify contractual and compliance risks and recommend practical, compliant solutions.
• Maintain contract and compliance documentation, templates, and best practices.
• Monitor regulatory and industry changes impacting defense, optics, and advanced technology manufacturing environments.

• Other duties as required.

Work Experience & Skills
• Education:
Bachelor's degree in Business, Law, Contract Management, or a related field; advanced degree or Juris Doctor (JD) preferred but not required.
• Experience:
Five (5) or more years of experience in contracts management and compliance within defense, aerospace, optics, or advanced technology manufacturing sectors.
• Skills / Knowledge:
- Working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and U.S. Government contracting practices
- Experience supporting ITAR and EAR export compliance programs
- Familiarity with CMMC requirements preferred
- Ability to review, interpret, and manage complex contractual and regulatory requirements
- Strong documentation, audit, and record-keeping skills
• Personal Attributes:
- High level of integrity, ethical judgment, and discretion
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
- Effective communicator with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements (if applicable)
• Work Environment: Primarily office-based within a manufacturing environment; interaction with production, engineering, and compliance personnel as required.
• Physical or Operational Requirements: Ability to sit or stand for extended periods, review detailed documentation, and use standard office equipment.