Planet Labs

Senior Contracts Manager

Planet Labs$127K — $180K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in proposals, contract, and subcontract management.
  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Legal Studies, or a related field.
  • Deep knowledge of US and international procurement regulations (FAR, DFAR, NFS).
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Proficiency in contract management software and Google/Microsoft Office Suites.
  • Solid analytical and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to detail.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.

Responsibilities

  • Support assessment of business pursuits and proposal preparation.
  • Negotiate, administer, and manage sales-side contracts and supplier subcontracts.
  • Coordinate with government agencies for proposal documentation and registrations.
  • Identify contractual risks and develop mitigation strategies.
  • Maintain accurate contract records and documentation.
  • Assist in resolving contract disputes and claims.
  • Stay informed about industry best practices and regulatory changes.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans.
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution.
  • Generous Paid Time Off plus holidays.
  • 16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave.
  • Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
  • Home Office Reimbursement and monthly phone/internet reimbursement.
  • Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning.
Full Job Description
About the Role:

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Senior Contracts Manager to join our Global Commercial Legal team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for both managing and supporting the full lifecycle of sales-side contracts and supplier subcontracts, from negotiation and drafting to execution and closeout. This role requires solid analytical skills, excellent communication, and a thorough understanding of contract law and regulations. Domestic and/or International Travel is required 1-2x/year.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our Washington D.C. or San Francisco office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:
  • Support front-end assessment of business pursuits, proposal preparation, contract negotiation, contract administration, and customer relationship management within company policies (including adherence to Delegation of Authority and approval requirements), acquisition regulations, and customer requirements/specifications
  • Coordinate with various state, local, federal, and international government agencies to obtain documentation required for proposals, vendor registrations, and contract closures.
  • Identify potential contractual risks and develop mitigation strategies.
  • Ensure customer requirements are fully understood and flowed through to the execution team and to external suppliers in coordination with Supply Chain in accordance with company policies, legal requirements, and customer specifications
  • Support the administering of contracts and subcontracts, including tracking deliverables, directing requesters through the request process, managing changes and gathering (and submitting) representation and certifications as required through contract closeout.
  • Manage multiple contracts acting as a point of contact for contractual matters, liaising with internal stakeholders (e.g., project managers, legal, finance) and external parties (e.g., clients, subcontractors).
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date contract records and documentation to include maintenance of the contract clause matrix.
  • Assist in the resolution of contract disputes and claims.
  • Manage end-to-end contract activities including managing proposals, then drafting, reviewing, and negotiating sales-side contracts and supplier subcontracts, ensuring compliance with company policies, legal requirements, and client specifications.
  • Support audit activities related to contract compliance such as the General Services Administration (GSA) annual small business subcontract reporting requirements.
  • Performing contracts management functions from capture through proposal, contract award, and all phases of contract administration.
  • Providing business advice and guidance to and coordinating with other functions to effectively manage a breadth of responsibilities.
  • Stay informed about industry best practices, legal developments, and regulatory changes affecting contract management.
  • Support Proposals team and legal operations functions through the entire contract lifecycle.
  • Work with internal SMEs to update and maintain proposal content and contract management repositories.

What You Bring:
  • 10+ years of experience in proposals, contract, and subcontract management.
  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Legal Studies, or a related field.
  • Deep knowledge of US and international procurement regulations (including FAR, DFAR and NFS (NASA)), and standard contractual terms and conditions.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Proficiency in contract management software and Google and Microsoft Office Suites.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
  • Solid analytical and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to detail.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
  • Ability to research and effectively solve problems, effectively collaborate and lead acquisition teams, develop negotiation positions and ensure proper hand-offs with the execution teams

What Makes You Stand Out:
  • Certification in Contract Management (e.g., CPCM, CFCM) or Proposal Management.
  • Experience in Space based business models, specifically familiarity with and/or experience supporting geospatial, commercial space, and/or satellite remote sensing customers and products.
  • Experience with government contracting.
  • Experience managing complex government, academic, and/or enterprise level proposals and use cases.

Application Deadline:

September 24, 2026 by 11:59p / 23:59 CET (Central European Time)

EAR/ITAR Requirements:

This position requires access to export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate's ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.

Benefits While Working at Planet:

These offerings are dependent on employment type and geographical location, based upon applicable law or company policy.
  • Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution
  • Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off
  • 16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
  • Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Home Office Reimbursement
  • Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
  • Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
  • Equity
  • Commuter Benefits (if local to an office)
  • Volunteering Paid Time Off

Compensation:

The US base salary range for this full-time position at the commencement of employment is listed below. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary short-term and long-term incentives (bonus and equity). The final salary range is determined by job related experience, skills and location. The range displays our typical hiring range for new hire salaries in US locations only. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

San Francisco Salary Range

$144,500-$180,600 USD

US National Salary Range

$127,000-$158,700 USD

San Francisco Fair Chance OrdinancePursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

About Planet Labs

Planet Labs is an aerospace and defense company that designs and manufactures small satellites for Earth observation. The company offers services such as satellite imagery, data analysis, and geospatial insights. Planet Labs was founded in 2010 and is based in San Francisco, CA.
Learn more about Planet Labs
Size
500 employees
Industry
Founded
2010

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