Principal Subcontracts Administrator

The Giant Magellan Telescope is the most powerful ground-based telescope ever engineered. It was designed to push the boundaries of human knowledge and discover the unknown. With unmatched image quality, seven of the world’s largest mirrors will launch our view into the universe to uncover the cosmic mysteries of dark matter, investigate the origins of chemical elements, and search for signs of life on distant exoplanets for the first time.

The 30-meter class telescope is under construction at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the best locations on Earth to view the heavens. From this unrivaled vantage into the southern sky, the Giant Magellan Telescope will produce the sharpest and most detailed images ever taken of our universe.

When complete in the early 2030s, the Giant Magellan Telescope will be the largest public-private funded science project in history. The endeavor was founded by an international consortium of 15 research institutions representing Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States, and is managed by the GMTO Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Pasadena, California. Our culture is impactful, inclusive, and fearlessly innovative.

We solve the most difficult engineering challenges and scientific questions with talented individuals who share a passion for revolutionizing humanity’s knowledge of the universe.

We invite you to join our team and leave your mark on astronomy’s future and beyond.

Contracts and Procurement

Contracts Officer

As a recognized expert in contracts and procurement, works independently and exercises a high degree of independent judgment reporting to the Contracts Officer, the Principal Contracts Administrator will manage the contract formation and execution processes for the largest and most complex contracts that GMTO enters.

The Principal Contracts Administrator partners closely with GMT Technical Managers to lead the acquisition of large, complex, and high-value goods and services. This role ensures that all procurements and contracts are executed on schedule, aligned with the defined scope of work, awarded to qualified domestic and international suppliers, delivered within budget, and fully compliant with GMTO policies, federal funding requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.

The successful candidate will lead the bidding and proposal process and assist in the evaluation and selection of suppliers and contractors to provide engineering services, construction services, and complex, high value engineered equipment and components.

• Design and implement procurement strategies for large-scale, complex procurements; negotiate pricing and obtain best value for the Project; comply with all legal requirements and regulatory deadlines.
• Administer the proposal solicitation process, including identification of need, specification/scope development, RFP/RFQ drafting/issuance, receipt and analysis of bid/proposal responses, supplier selection contract negotiation, recommendation for award, award notice, contract execution, and post award contract management.
• Negotiate, administer, modify, and terminate standard and nonstandard contracts.
• Prepare and manage RFx events, competitive tenders, site-walks, commercial evaluations, contract awards, and maintenance for direct projects expenses (e.g., capital equipment, construction/engineering materials, subcontractors, and subconsultants).
• Negotiate, prepare, execute, facilitate framework agreements, teaming agreements, and subcontracts.
• Communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, solve problems, and make efficient and effective supply management decisions.
• Assist in the preparation of client approval packages prior to award.
• Escalate contract and insurance exceptions Legal and Contracts Officer.
• Maintain and provide accurate and effective documentation and records management in compliance with internal and external regulations.
• Support the resolution of supplier disputes.
• Provide oversight and guidance to junior contracts staff, serving as an escalation point for complex negotiations and disputes.
• Coordinate…