Senior Contracts Manager

The Senior Contracts Manager will serve as the company’s lead contracts professional and primary business partner for all contractual matters. This is a highly visible role with significant ownership and influence across the organization. This role is a part of the Legal Department and reports to the General Counsel.  

As Ursa Major continues its rapid growth, this individual will play a critical role in establishing, scaling, and maturing the contracts function, developing the processes, tools, templates, and governance needed to support a world-class aerospace and defense organization. 

The Senior Contracts Manager will own the full contract lifecycle across U.S. Government, commercial, international, and strategic partnership agreements while working closely with Executive Leadership, Business Development, Program Management, Finance, Supply Chain, and Engineering teams. This role requires a strategic thinker who can balance risk mitigation with business objectives while helping build the infrastructure necessary to support Ursa Major’s next phase of growth. 

Key Responsibilities 

Contract Lifecycle Management 

• Lead full lifecycle contract management activities including pursuit, capture, proposal review, negotiation, award, administration, modification, performance management, and closeout.
• Review solicitations, RFPs, RFQs, Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements, cooperative agreements, and commercial opportunities to identify contractual and compliance risks.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and administer a wide variety of agreements including:
  • Prime and subcontracts 
  • Teaming agreements
  • Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
  • Memoranda of Understanding
  • Supplier agreements
  • Licensing agreements
  • Commercial customer contracts
  • International agreements
• Support funding actions, contract modifications, invoicing requirements, and audit readiness. 

Government Contracting & Compliance 

• Serve as a subject matter expert on FAR, DFARS, and applicable agency supplements.
• Advise internal stakeholders on contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, flow-downs, and compliance matters.
• Support compliance with government contracting requirements including:
  • Cost Reimbursement contracts
  • Firm Fixed Price contracts (FFP)
  • Time & Materials contracts (T&M)
  • IDIQ contracts
  • OTAs
  • Government property requirements
  • Intellectual property provisions
  • Data rights
  • Export control requirements
• Partner with Legal and Trade Compliance teams to ensure adherence to ITAR, EAR, and other applicable regulations. 

Negotiations & Risk Management 

• Lead complex negotiations with U.S. Government customers, prime contractors, commercial customers, and strategic partners.
• Conduct contractual risk assessments and develop negotiation strategies that protect Ursa Major’s interests while enabling business growth.
• Identify, interpret, and resolve contract formation, administration, and performance issues.
• Advise leadership on contractual risk exposure, claims, disputes, and mitigation strategies. 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of progressively responsible contracts management experience within aerospace, defense, government contracting, or related industries.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex U.S. Government and commercial contracts throughout the full contract lifecycle.
• Deep knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and government contracting regulations.
• Experience supporting both prime contract and subcontract activities.
• Experience negotiating intellectual property rights, including under government contracts.
• Strong experience negotiating and administering FFP, Cost Reimbursement, T&M, IDIQ, and OTA agreements.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating business agreements including NDAs, teaming agreements, strategic partnership agreements, and subcontractor agreements.
• Proven ability to assess and mitigate contractual and business risks.
• Exceptional written, verbal, negotiation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience in defense, launch, propulsion, missile systems, hypersonics, or aerospace industries.
• Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
• Experience supporting agreements with Department of Defense, Air Force, Navy, and Space Force.
• Experience building, leading, or significantly maturing a contracts function within a high-growth defense, government contracting, or technology organization.
• Demonstrated success operating as the senior-most contracts professional within a startup or rapidly scaling business environment.
• Knowledge of government cost accounting and audit requirements.
• Familiarity with government property administration and supply chain flow-down requirements.
• Experience supporting export-controlled programs governed by ITAR and EAR.
• NCMA certifications (CPCM, CFCM, or CCCM)

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $150,000 - $178,000, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. What we can’t quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy. 

Classification: Full-time Exempt