Director, Contracts

Overview:
Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation.

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The Director, Contracts is a member of the Contracts Leadership Team reporting directly to the VP, Contracts with matrixed responsibilities to the VP/GM of a large or strategic Business Area. This highly visible position oversees a team of contracts professionals with cradle-to-grave accountability for a diverse portfolio of contracts, opportunities, and agreements. This future focused role requires the ability to think strategically, to drive actions/decisions proactively, and to lead a team to meet the needs of our internal and external customers in a manner that focuses on contract compliance.

The Director, Contracts owns our functional customer relationships for the Business Area and demonstrates strong communication and leadership skills to develop our future talent. The Director, Contracts is a FAR/DFARS subject matter expert who works collaboratively with program-facing functional leadership to optimize solutions for customers, while balancing risk for the corporation throughout the lifecycle of our contracts and agreements. This role delivers annual operating plan objectives aligned to the longer-term integrated business plan as part of a team through comprehensive negotiation strategies, robust change management, strong contract management and proactive dispute resolution.

• Lead a Contracts team and manage performance by recruiting, retaining, training, developing and optimizing personnel to successfully deliver critical captures, sole source and/or competitive proposals, and contract execution
• Manage strategic aspects of internal and/or external customer relationships as an advocate for our function and corporation to influence results
• Support the Business Area with Contracts expertise for shaping and capture, negotiation, and change management strategies for risk balanced solutions and compliance with solicitation/contract requirements, internal policies, and regulations
• Manage a portfolio of high complexity contracts across multiple contract types and provide guidance, support and mentorship to Contracts staff in the areas of internal delegation of authority, customer requirements review and interpretation, proposal development, contract negotiation, contract administration, change management and contract closeout
• Creatively solve complex challenges to align with Business Area objectives; own mitigation plans and lessons learned for systemic implementation across our cross-functional teams and/or the entire Contracts function
• Raise the bar for application of contract management principles and compliance including up-to-date FAR & DFARS interpretation, Truthful Cost or Pricing Data Act Requirements, and the interplay of CAS cost principles
• Develop and implement effective training plans, and foster an environment of learning, transparency, and continuous improvement of process and team culture

An industry leader in functional knowledge who is on the cutting edge of understanding industry trends and anticipating regulatory changes/impacts and compliance solutions; demonstrated in-depth understanding of FAR/DFARS/supplemental regulations, including intellectual property rules, Business System requirements (Accounting, EVMS, Estimating, Property Management and Purchasing System), full life-cycle contract management of many contract types (CPFF, CPIF, FFP, FPI, T&M, etc.) and Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs).

Exceptional interpersonal, leadership, communication (verbal and written), analytical and problem-solving skills. A strategic thinker with the ability to set an organizational vision and achieve results; a confident leader with the complexity of knowledge and patience to develop, execute and coach others on complex multi-faceted negotiation strategies. An inquisitive leader with the ability to make quick, informed decisions even when dealing with ambiguity.

Ability to balance priorities in a dynamic, matrixed environment; willingness to take ownership, accept accountability, and thrive under pressure. The ability to produce high quality risk analyses, compelling business cases, presentations intended for an executive level audience and to craft contract language / ground rules and assumptions that influence results with customers. Ability to effectively interact at all levels within the organization and with external customers.

Comprehensive understanding of…