Director, Contracts
Listed on 2026-08-20
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Business
Business Administration, Supply Chain & Logistics, Operations Management -
Management
Business Administration, Supply Chain & Logistics, Contracts Manager, Operations Management
Director, Contracts
Based onsite at one of Rocket Lab's US Sites (Long Beach, CA, Silver Spring, MD, Denver, CO, Albuquerque, NM), the Director of Contracts will be responsible for helping to lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing contracts team, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement to ensure that Rocket Lab meets its contractual obligations and performance milestones for its customers.
What You'll Get To Do:
- Negotiate government contracts, commercial contracts, non-disclosure agreements, teaming agreements and IP licenses.
- Ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of government and commercial contracts, including prime contracts, and serve as the key customer interface for any contractual changes, disputes, or requests for equitable adjustment during contract performance.
- Assist in proposal review and preparation in response to government and commercial solicitations and respond to government and commercial requests for information/clarification during a procurement competition.
- Review, interpret and provide advice to internal clients regarding contract provisions and agreement types.
- Develop and evolve processes for efficient contract management with cross-functional partners.
- Establish and maintain excellent relationships with government and other customer counterparts.
- Management of a small team of contracts professionals at various levels of professional development.
You'll Bring These
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent years of work experience (16+ years total work experience)
- 12+ years of contract administration or contract management experience
- US Citizenship is required due to program requirements
- Ability to obtain a DoD Top Secret security clearance
These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have:
- Extensive knowledge of government contracts and contract types, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR), and/or the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS).
- Experience managing DoD and NASA prime contracts and/or subcontracts supporting DoD and NASA programs.
- Request for proposal (RFP) analysis and proposal preparation experience.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to articulate and effectively communicate contract compliance information to various levels of management and program teams.
- Proven ability to support professional growth of team members by identifying development opportunities and coaching direct reports toward their personal and professional goals.
This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.
Join one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package, giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.
Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts. Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base Pay Range (CA Only)
$165,000 - $220,000 USD
What To Expect
We're on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that's not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless…
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