Contracts Manager V

About the role

JPL’s Accounting & Contracts Division (ACD) seeks enthusiastic, visionary leaders to join our team of experts in Enterprise Accounting, Travel and Invoice Management, and Contracts. The Contracts Manager V role focuses on enabling mission success by delivering expert contractual strategy, stewardship, and execution.

Responsibilities

• Provide advisory support to executive leadership and represent the Laboratory externally.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage priorities, budgets, and staffing.
• Recommend and implement strategic initiatives to strengthen organizational efficiency and compliance posture.
• Be the interpretive body for contractual matters. Provide strategic guidance to Laboratory personnel and executive management on rights, obligations, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Lead Laboratory-wide teams addressing complex issues with mission or sponsor impact. Contribute to emerging contract strategies, innovations in compliance methods, and transformative process improvements.
• Serve as the principal interface and manage critical relationships with the NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight (NOJMO), NASA Centers, and Caltech/JPL leadership, and Sponsors to ensure alignment on institutional goals and strategies.
• Negotiate and execute high-level agreements, including Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA), Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI), Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), and other high-level contractual instruments with the government, civil and commercial sponsors.
• Ensure strict adherence to Caltech/JPL policies and federal regulations. Conduct rigorous reviews of documentation and maintain gold-standard contract records.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field with a minimum of 12 years of related experience; OR a Master’s degree in similar discipline with a minimum of 10 years of related experience; OR PhD in similar discipline with a minimum 8 years of related experience.
• Proven track record in a managerial or project leadership role, with the ability to lead change and innovation under pressure.
• Demonstrated leadership in forming and directing cross-organizational teams addressing crucial and complex issues.
• Expert knowledge with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and other government and/or commercial contracting principles. Demonstrated expertise analyzing and negotiating complex contract terms and conditions.
• Demonstrated multidisciplinary and in-depth knowledge of advanced contract principles, theories, and concepts. Applied industry best practices in contracts, personnel, and program/project management.
• Apply executive judgment and lead with composure in a high-stakes environment with integrity and discretion.
• Excellence in analytical and research skills, working knowledge of financial applications, and proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite.

Qualifications

• Previous experience working with Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC)s, NASA, and/or academic institutions.
• An active TS/SCI clearance is highly desirable.

Benefits

JPL offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave, and more. JPL is committed to work-life balance and fostering a healthy, fulfilling work environment.

Pay

The typical full-time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California is $162,968 - $204,568.

Schedule

Full-time position.