Contract Administrator III

Position Summary

The Contract Administrator III is responsible for the administration, negotiation, interpretation, and management of commercial, industrial, aerospace, defense, and U.S. Government contracts throughout the entire contract lifecycle. This role serves as a key advisor to business leadership, ensuring contractual compliance while balancing business objectives, risk mitigation, regulatory requirements, and customer relationships. The Contract Administrator III partners with Program Management, Sales, Finance, Supply Chain, Engineering, Legal, and Operations to support proposal development, contract negotiations, execution, change management, and contract closeout activities.

Essential Responsibilities

• Lead the review, negotiation, and administration of customer contracts, purchase orders, long-term agreements, non-disclosure agreements, amendments, and modifications.
• Evaluate contractual terms and conditions and identify business, financial, legal, operational, and compliance risks.
• Develop negotiation strategies and lead negotiations with prime contractors, OEMs, commercial customers, suppliers, and government agencies.
• Ensure contractual obligations, deliverables, milestones, and reporting requirements are understood and executed.
• Analyze government flow-down clauses and coordinate implementation across functional teams.
• Support audits, compliance reviews, self-assessments, and customer inquiries related to contractual obligations.
• Advise management on contractual and regulatory requirements affecting business operations.
• Review RFPs, RFQs, and solicitations to identify contractual risks and compliance requirements.
• Partner with proposal, pricing, and program teams to develop compliant proposals.
• Support contract strategy development for new business opportunities.
• Participate in bid/no-bid decisions and management reviews.
• Assist in training of new hires and other departments of contractual terms and government requirements.
• Identify and mitigate contractual, commercial, financial, intellectual property, and compliance risks.
• Prepare risk assessments and executive summaries for management review.
• Recommend alternative contract language and business solutions that protect company interests while supporting growth objectives.
• Serve as the primary contractual point of contact for internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Work closely with Engineering, Program Management, Operations, Quality, Procurement, and Finance to ensure contract compliance and execution.
• Support dispute resolution, claims management, change orders, and equitable adjustments.
• Develop, maintain and manage from a project perspective contract management, compliance procedures and other topics rooted in contractual compliance, templates, and training materials in coordination with other applicable functions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to contract review and administration processes.
• Mentor junior contracts professionals and provide contractual guidance to business teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Contract Management, Legal Studies, Finance, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive contract management experience.
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or government contracting environments.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting, drafting, negotiating and complying with complex commercial and government contracts.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of U.S. Government contracting regulations, preferred.
• Excellent contract drafting and negotiation skills.
• Practical knowledge of project management.
• Ability to assess risk and develop practical business solutions for complex problems.
• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation abilities.
• Experience working with executive leadership and external customers.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and contract management systems.

Pay

The annual base salary range is $83,000 - $142,800 (dependent on location), plus annual incentive plan and benefits.