Defense Contracts Manager

Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds aerostructures for both commercial and defense customers. With headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit operates sites in the U.S., U.K., France and Malaysia. The company's core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components for the world's premier aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems focuses on affordable, innovative composite and aluminum manufacturing solutions to support customers around the globe.

Defense Contracts Manager

Reporting to the Director of Defense & Space Contracts, the Manager, Contract Administrator will lead a team of Contract Specialists and Contract Administrators, taking responsibility for all aspects of customer contracting (business development phase through contract closeout), negotiations, and delivering strong customer satisfaction, successful financial performance and risk mitigation on multiple programs of varying size and complexity in Spirit's Defense & Space aerostructures portfolio.

It is key that the Manager, Contract Administrator has the ability to provide concise and effective communication through presentations, written documentation, or email format with different levels of management. Additionally, the successful candidate will be a role model for employees and peers by exhibiting respect for others and maintaining a positive working environment. They must have the ability to solve complex problems by actively seeking information and new ideas from a variety of sources. This position will require a general understanding of terms and conditions and the ability to collaborate with experts to negotiate all types and complexities of contractual instruments and agreements.

Key Accountabilities:

• Reviewing and responding to RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs
• Advising management of contractual rights and obligations
• Administering, extending, negotiating and terminating standard and nonstandard contracts IAW company policies, legal requirements, and customer requirements
• Critically examining estimates of material, engineering services, production costs, performance requirements, and delivery schedules to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Reviewing and approving contractual documents
• Planning and executing successful contract negotiations of a complex nature
• Negotiating targeted profit rates and favorable terms and conditions to assist in meeting profit and cash goals
• Providing direction based upon the contract requirements and change management discipline
• Making decisions in a timely manner
• Working with program, finance, supply chain, legal, security, and other functions
• Building strong customer intimacy and engaging with employees
• Conducting staff meetings and one on one sessions with direct reports
• Assessing the business needs on assigned programs and working/elevating actions as needed
• Executing mid-year and year-end performance evaluations

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree with 5+ years or Master's Degree with 3+ years of relevant experience in contract administration, management or related field
• Experience presenting to and briefing senior management
• Existing U.S. Government security clearance at the Secret level
• Ability to travel domestically as required (less than 5%)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with FAR and DFAR government regulations
• Experience negotiating and administering various contract types of varying sizes and types of agreements
• Demonstrated people leadership experience, either in a management, team or project lead role
• Experience negotiating complex contracts

Spirit AeroSystems is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law.

Kansas Tax Credit: Join Spirit AeroSystems' Kansas team and you may be eligible for a $5,000 state of Kansas Aviation tax credit for up to five years. Click here for more information on the tax credit.