Director of Contracts

**Reports To:** Vice President of Revenue Management **Department:** Finance **Location:** Valencia, California (on\-site) **Employment Type:** Permanent, Full\-time, Exempt **Security Requirement:** U.S. citizen; able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance **POSITION SUMMARY** Applied Companies is growing fast. And every dollar of that growth runs through a contract, and the Director of Contracts is the person who makes sure each one is structured right, protected right, and executed right. The Director of Contracts owns the full life of every government and commercial agreement, from the first solicitation through negotiation, award, modification, and final closeout. You will be the company's lead negotiator, its expert on the FAR, DFARS, and the Truthful Cost or Pricing Data Act (TINA), and the person responsible for defending our intellectual property, our terms and conditions, and our margins at the table. You will work side by side with our business development, program management, engineering, and finance teams, and you will be trusted to represent Applied Companies independently with the Department of Defense, prime contractors, and commercial customers. As we grow, you will also build the contracts function itself: the policies, the playbooks, and the team that will support our growth trajectory. **WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS** We design and build ruggedized Environmental Control Systems and Pressure Vessels for tactical military platforms. Our work is high\-mix and low\-volume, which means nearly every program has its own scope, its own pricing structure, and its own risk profile. There is no autopilot here. The right contract leader turns that complexity into an advantage by knowing where the risk sits in each deal, pricing it accurately, and protecting the engineering know\-how that sets us apart. **KEY RESPONSIBILITIES** **Contract Strategy and Negotiation** * Lead negotiations on prime contracts, subcontracts, and commercial agreements, including firm\-fixed\-price, cost\-type, time\-and\-materials, IDIQ, Other Transaction Authority (OTA), and long\-term supply agreements. * Serve as the company's lead negotiator on price, terms, and risk. Know our walk\-away positions, prepare leadership for key decisions, and close deals that protect margin and cash flow. * Partner with Business Development early in the capture process to shape deal structure, contract type, and pricing strategy before proposals are submitted. * Develop negotiation strategies and fallback positions, and document outcomes clearly for leadership. **Government Regulations and Compliance** * Act as the company's subject matter expert on the FAR, DFARS, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), and agency supplements, and advise leadership in plain terms on what each obligation means for the business. * Review every solicitation and contract for clauses that carry cost, schedule, compliance, or legal risk, and build compliance matrices that flow requirements to the teams that must meet them. * Coordinate with IT and Compliance on cybersecurity, CUI, and CMMC\-related clauses, and with our Empowered Official on ITAR and EAR requirements. * Maintain the company's readiness for DCMA and DCAA reviews, including contractor business system requirements, and serve as a primary point of contact with government contracting officers and auditors. **Cost Proposals and TINA** * Facilitate the proposal process for cost and pricing submissions, working with Pricing and Sales to prepare proposals that are accurate, well supported, and compliant with FAR 15\.408 requirements. * Determine when certified cost or pricing data is required, manage disclosures, and execute the Certificate of Current Cost or Pricing Data with a clear understanding of defective pricing exposure. * Lead fact\-finding sessions, audit responses, and price negotiations with government customers and prime contractors. * Support Finance on forward pricing rates, incurred cost submissions, and final vouchers so that what we propose, what we bill, and what we close out tell one consistent story. **Intellectual Property and Terms and Conditions** * Protect Applied Companies' intellectual property and technical data. Manage data rights assertions under DFARS 252\.227, ensure proper markings on deliverables, and push back on customer language that would transfer our proprietary designs without fair value. * Defend the company's positions on limitation of liability, warranty, indemnification, liquidated damages, termination, payment terms, and flowdown obligations. * Develop and maintain standard terms and conditions, NDAs, teaming agreements, and a negotiation playbook that defines our preferred, acceptable, and unacceptable positions. * Manage the relationship with outside legal counsel on contract matters, deciding when issues require legal review and keeping outside costs in line. **Contract Administration and Closeout** * Establish contract review and approval procedures, a clear delegation of authority, and metrics that give leadership visibility into backlog, risk, and performance. * Oversee contract modifications, change orders, funding actions, and CLIN\-level tracking so that billings stay within authorized values. * Work with Program Managers to identify scope changes and constructive changes early, and prepare and submit Requests for Equitable Adjustment (REAs) and claims within required time limits. * Ensure no work begins without proper authorization, signature authority is respected, and complete documentation is on file. * Drive timely contract closeout, including final vouchers, property reconciliation, and release documents. **WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN THE FIRST YEAR** * Every active contract has a clear owner, an accurate value and funding status, and a documented risk review. * Standard terms and conditions and a negotiation playbook are in place and used on every new agreement. * Cost proposals move through a defined review process, and the company is prepared for any DCAA or DCMA review without scrambling. * Leadership receives regular, plain\-language reporting on contract backlog, open risks, and pending actions. * The contracts function is recognized internally as a partner that helps win business and protect margin, not a bottleneck. **KEY RELATIONSHIPS** The Director of Contracts reports to the Vice President of Revenue Management and works closely with Sales, Program Management, Engineering, Finance, Quality, and Security. Externally, this role is a primary point of contact with government contracting officers, DCMA, DCAA, prime contractor contracts teams, and commercial customers. This role also partners with Supply Chain to make sure customer requirements flow down to our suppliers correctly. **YOU SHARE OUR VALUES** * Commitment to People and the Mission * Passion for Excellence * Collaboration is our Core * Accountability and Ownership * Continuous Improvement **QUALIFICATIONS** **Required** * Bachelor's degree in Business, Contract Management, Law, or a related field, or equivalent experience. * 10\+ years of contracts experience in the defense or aerospace industry, including at least 5 years in a leadership role. * Deep, working knowledge of the FAR, DFARS, CAS, and TINA, with hands\-on experience preparing and defending certified cost or pricing data. * Proven track record as a lead negotiator on complex government and commercial agreements, including prime contracts and subcontracts under large defense primes. * Demonstrated experience protecting intellectual property and technical data rights in government contracts. * Direct experience supporting DCAA audits and DCMA reviews. * Clear, confident communicator who can explain complex contract issues in plain language to executives, engineers, and customers. * U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance. **Preferred** * Advanced degree, MBA, or NCMA certification (CPCM, CFCM, or CCCM). * Experience with Other Transaction Authority agreements, SBIR and STTR data rights, and international contracting including ITAR and EAR. * Contract due diligence and integration experience in mergers and acquisitions. * Experience in a small to mid\-size, high\-growth manufacturer with a high\-mix, low\-volume product line. * Experience working in ERP and contract management systems. **ABOUT APPLIED COMPANIES** Applied Companies, Inc. is a Southern California manufacturer of ruggedized Environmental Control Units and Pressure Vessels for tactical military systems. In business since 1958, we are veteran\-founded and woman\-owned, and we take pride in building equipment that keeps our warfighters and their systems performing in the harshest conditions on earth. As a small company, we rely on the capabilities and good judgment of our people. We unleash talent rather than controlling it with hierarchy or excessive bureaucracy. The person in this role will be a trusted decision maker, empowered to act in the best interest of Applied and its customers, in a professional, entrepreneurial environment with a team\-oriented, can\-do culture. We offer a competitive salary and a benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, a generous 401(k) match, and participation in our company incentive program. *Applied Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This position requires access to information subject to U.S. export control and national security regulations; applicants must meet applicable citizenship and clearance\-eligibility requirements.* **WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING HERE:** Applied Companies is a Veteran\-Founded, Woman\-Owned business that designs and manufactures ruggedized Environmental Control Systems and Pressure Vessels for tactical military systems. Since 1958, we’ve been driven by our core values: * Dedicated to People \& the Mission * Driven to Excel – Find the Path to Yes! * Collaboration is Our Core * We Take Ownership * Every Day, We Improve We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical/dental/vision benefits, a generous 401(k) match, profit sharing, and \- best of all \- a team that genuinely enjoys working together. Job Type: Full\-time Pay: $160,000\.00 \- $190,000\.00 per year Benefits: * 401(k) * Dental insurance * Disability insurance * Employee assistance program * Flexible spending account * Health insurance * Life insurance * Paid time off * Referral program * Tuition reimbursement * Vision insurance Work Location: In person