Director, Contracts & Proposals

Location: Columbus, MS
Industry: Aerospace & Defense

Position Overview

The Director of Contracts & Proposals is responsible for overseeing the full lifecycle of proposal development, contract administration, and compliance across government and commercial programs. This role ensures all bids, negotiations, awards, and post-award activities adhere to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), DFARS, and company standards while enabling competitive, compliant submissions and flawless contract execution.

Key Responsibilities

Proposal & Acquisition Support

• Review, interpret, and analyze Requests for Proposals (RFPs/RFQs) from government and commercial customers.
• Lead development of compliant, compelling proposals in collaboration with Program Management, Engineering, Operations, and Finance.
• Ensure all submissions meet FAR/DFARS, ITAR, and internal procedural requirements.
• Assess, prioritize, and recommend bid opportunities based on compliance, strategic alignment, and financial considerations.

Contract Administration & Execution

• Serve as the primary customer interface for contractual matters from award through closeout.
• Track contract deliverables, funding, milestones, and obligations to ensure full compliance and timely execution.
• Maintain complete and accurate contract documentation in support of audits, reporting, and management reviews.
• Coordinate and support customer meetings, compliance reviews, and audit activities.

Negotiation & Risk Management

• Draft, review, and negotiate contractual terms, modifications, NDAs, and subcontracts.
• Identify contractual risks and provide clear guidance and mitigation strategies to internal stakeholders.
• Work closely with Legal and Executive leadership on contract interpretation, rights, obligations, and strategy.

Leadership & Internal Support

• Provide expert-level advice on acquisition regulations and contracting best practices.
• Support continuous improvement efforts for proposal development and contract lifecycle processes.
• Ensure company policies, procedures, and tools are aligned with regulatory requirements and industry standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Legal Studies, Contract Management, Engineering, or related field.
• 3–7+ years of progressive contract management experience within Aerospace, Defense, or regulated manufacturing.
• Strong working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, federal procurement processes, and government contracting principles.
• Experience supporting proposal development, contract negotiation, and post-award execution.
• Ability to interpret complex contractual and regulatory language and communicate implications clearly.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organization, and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and relationship-building capabilities across internal and external stakeholders.