Title: Director, Contracts
Department: Legal
Revision Date: 7/2/2026
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Chandler, AZ.
Level: M4
Position SummaryThe Director, Contracts serves as the senior leader responsible for overseeing all contractual activities across assigned business areas. This role requires deep expertise in government and commercial contracting, the ability to independently interpret and guide the business through complex contractual matters, and strong leadership in managing customer-facing contracting relationships. The Director, Contracts ensures effective execution, risk mitigation, compliance, and timely closure of contracting actions in support of business objectives.
Responsibilities- Proactively build, strengthen, and maintain effective relationships with customer Contracting Officers and contracting specialists.
- Anticipate contracting issues and initiate engagement before escalation is required.
- Provide leadership with regular status updates on customer relationships, open issues, risks, and next steps.
- Conduct independent analysis of contractual issues, including business impacts, regulatory considerations, and risk assessment.
- Deliver clear, actionable recommendations including issue framing, risk identification, options, preferred path forward, and rationale.
- Develop leadership-ready written responses that are concise, accurate, complete, and require minimal editing.
- Draft and review contractual documents, claims, formal correspondence, and contractual guidance to internal and external stakeholders.
- Manage multiple competing priorities while ensuring timely responses to internal teams and customers.
- Drive contracting issues to closure with limited oversight, maintaining excellent follow-through and responsiveness.
- Operate with independence appropriate for a Director-level role, seeking alignment when needed but without requiring detailed oversight for routine matters.
- Partner closely with Legal, Program Management, Finance, Compliance, and People Operations to ensure end-to-end contracting success.
- Support hiring processes around the contracts team and partner with People Operations when opening requisitions (such as historical practices noted during confidential Director, Contracts openings).
Requirements- 10+ years of progressive experience in government and/or commercial contracting.
- Strong knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and related federal regulations.
- Demonstrated ability to independently interpret complex contract language and develop actionable guidance.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leadership and customer stakeholders.
- Proven experience managing multiple high-priority initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
Skills & Experience- Experience supporting technology, satellite, communications, or defense-related industries.
- Prior leadership experience managing contract professionals.
- Experience with export controls, ITAR/EAR, or collaboration with Trade Operations
- Independent judgment and high accountability
- Strong executive presence and communication
- Ability to translate complex contracting issues into practical business decisions
- Timely, consistent, high-quality work output
- Proactive ownership of customer and internal relationship
Education- Bachelor's degree in Business, Legal Studies, Finance, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
The pay range reflects the expected base salary for this position. Final compensation will be based on role, level, skills, experience, and geographic location. 
