Job Description

BAE Systems, within the Air Transport Systems (ATS) Product Line, is looking for a motivated professional to join our Controls and Avionics Solutions (CAS) Contracts Organization and work across a broad range of contracting activities. The ATS Product line is a growing family of large development, production and sustainment programs for multiple commercial aircraft platforms. The successful candidate will be the contracts manager for the Air Transport Product Line. Primarily supporting development and transitioning the 777X program into production.

The successful candidate shall be accountable for the preparation, negotiation, and management of complex proposals and/or contract activities in accordance with company policies, legal and customer requirements with limited guidance or supervision from the Contracts product line lead. The successful candidate will need to interpret and communicate business commitments and alternatives to program teams and management while proactively managing contractual scope, customer communication and expectations.

This position requires an extensive knowledge of Commercial contracting methods, applicable laws and regulations and the ability to develop and maintain professional and dependable relationships with both internal and external customers, especially in challenging and sometimes demanding situations.

Daily responsibilities to include, but not limited to:
1. Maintain and demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of our current commercial contracting arrangements.
2. Independently lead and/or support proposal activities including, but not limited to, analysis of the solicitation, preparing summaries and developing strategies and recommendations based upon the analysis with attention to the financial and business risk of the proposed effort, participating in all required proposal team meetings, supporting independent proposal reviews (red teams, phase reviews), assisting with the preparation of the terms, conditions and assumptions upon which the proposal may be submitted, reviewing the technical and pricing proposals for adequacy and consistency and assuring that bids and proposals are prepared and presented in a manner so as to afford the Company the greatest opportunity to obtain the contract award while minimizing associated liabilities and risk. Responsibilities also include coordinating with other company functions as required to ensure appropriate reviews are conducted, scheduling required reviews and obtaining required review and approval signatures prior to submittal of proposals or execution of contractual documents.
3. Capable of establishing and managing negotiation strategies and financial requirements. Perform business risk assessment and recommend mitigation plans, negotiate contracts requiring a high degree of negotiation expertise, execute proposals and contracts.
4. Ensure the creation and preservation of contractual arrangements which offer the Company a reasonable probability of accomplishing the established business objectives for any particular contractual arrangement.
5. Prepare contract summaries, and provide management with complete, current and accurate data by reporting progress on contract activity, together with recommendations for management action and decision.
6. Foster and maintain sound and reliable relationships with counterparts in customer organizations.
7. Support Program managers, Product Line Directors, and Business Area leads and provide contracts advice and counsel to management at all levels as required. Regularly contribute to the development and implementation of new business methods, processes and contracting concepts in order to achieve business unit and Contracts Department goals and objectives.
8. Manage, train and mentor Contracts professionals within the product line.

Required Skills and Education

Required education: Bachelor Degree with 8+ years of experience or a Master's degree with 6+ years of experience.

Required skills:

1. Commercial Contracts experience
2. Experience with agreements other than contracts (ex. NDAs, bailment agreements, distributor agreements and/or software license agreements)
3. Strong analytic skills and personal drive to solve problems
4. Proven strong written and verbal skills
5. Proven ability to work effectively both independently and as a team member
6. Proficiency in MS office and use of management/tracking systems
7. Demonstrated experience with agreements to support sales and engineering development teams

Preferred Skills and Education

1. JD or MBA degree in Business or related field.
2. Experience with commercial contracting and intellectual property in the aerospace or similar manufacturing industry
3. A track record of successful change management
4. Experience with providing guidance of policy and procedures
5. NCMA Certification

Benefits Information

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.

Intern Benefits: Temporary employees generally are not eligible for BAE Systems benefits, but can elect to participate in the 401(k) savings plan. Temporary employees working 20+ hours per week are eligible for medical benefits, the employee assistance program, and business travel accident insurance.

Please note: Some benefits may be different for union employees that are governed by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or for positions covered by a wage law called the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).