Sr. Contracts Administrator

The Contracts Administrator, Sr. is a part of a dynamic corporate team. The Contracts Administrator will provide support in every aspect of the contract lifecycle and use creative thinking skills to drive solutions for the business. This position will be embedded in a mission focused operations group and serve as the central point of contact for the Contract Support Operations Center (KSOC) including day-to-day contract and order management system operations oversight. Position Responsibilities Act as escalation POC for contract entry, order management, WAWF submissions, and error resolution. Coordinate with Finance, Operations, and Program Management to resolve booking issues. Support intake governance (i.e., ensure required documentation is provided). Maintain process knowledge and support training for contract department. Partner with leadership on Fusion process improvements and preparation for CLM migration. Provide quality checks on system entries (contract header, lines, billing/revenue plans, milestones). Develop and maintain contract templates, clause libraries, approval workflows, and reporting dashboards in the ERP. Support integration between the new CLM system and existing ERPs and document management systems. Assist in drafting training materials, delivering training sessions, and driving user adoption across the organization. Monitor system usage, provide ongoing support, and recommend process improvements to maximize efficiency and compliance. Maintain compliance with company policies, procedures, and applicable regulations while ensuring data integrity. Work with the Contracts Manager and other functions including Sales, Strategy and Marketing, Finance, and the Legal team on bid and proposal preparation, contract negotiation, contract review and administration for new and sustaining products. Responsible for generating compliance matrices and making recommendations in accordance with AV policies and procedures. Ensure compliance with contracting policies, laws and regulations, including but not limited to Federal Acquisition Regulations, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplements, Cost Accounting Standards, Export Administration Regulations and International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Serve as point-of-contact for assigned customer portfolio and serve as customer interface on pre-contract and active contract activities. Manage and monitor the performance of long‑term contracts and agreements. Analyze and concisely summarize contractual obligations, commitments, and performance for internal stakeholders. Analyze the impact of modifications and revisions to contract terms and prepare recommendations and risk reviews for management. Coordinate flow-downs of terms and conditions with all functional departments including program management, engineering, product support, finance, quality, supply chain management, manufacturing, as required. Assist other Contracts Administrators in ensuring the customer is compliant with the terms and conditions. Evaluate proposals for accuracy and compliance with AV Terms and Conditions and export regulations, prepare and submit quotes. Participate in proposal planning. Liaison with Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) for sources, inspections and quality checks. Maintain an accurate audit file for each contract which will include original contract, all correspondences, changes/deviations, amendments, clarifications, etc. Support maintenance and retrieval of contract documents/files and validated data, preparation of reports and participation in status reviews. Other duties as assigned. Basic Qualifications Associate and/or Bachelor degree in Business Administration is required or equivalent combination of experience and education Minimum of 8 – 12 years' experience performing duties and responsibilities in an aerospace/defense/ government contracting environment Working knowledge of federal acquisition process, government contracting principles and regulations (e.g., FAR, DFARS, contract‑specific flow-downs, etc.) required Demonstrated understanding of contractual terms and conditions and high‑risk terms required Demonstrated knowledge of EAR and related U.S. regulations required Experienced with finance and accounting procedures Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously without sacrificing quality or timeliness Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S. Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies Federal Contract Manager (CFCM) certified Experience with systems such as Unanet, Oracle Fusion, Technomile, SalesForce A key contributor to continuous improvement and implementation of company procedures and contract management processes Demonstrates strong critical thinking, negotiation and conflict resolution skills Provides the highest customer service experience to our domestic and international customers and internal customers Demonstrates competency in working with varying seniority levels, including staff, managers and external partners Demonstrates high organizational skills and conducts business in a professional manner. Process‑oriented, results and deadline‑driven; Professional appearance and conduct at all times Able to excel in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company Has effective problem‑solving, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills Focuses on teamwork, collaboration and puts the success of the team above one's own interests Physical Demands Physical Demands Ability to work in an office environment (Constant) Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent) Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating. May have some exposure to outside environment while traveling. Special Requirements Special Requirements U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required. Must be able to travel within the Continental U.S. required Clearance Level Secret Benefits medical dental vision 401K with company matching a 9/80 work schedule a paid holiday shutdown For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: Salary and Employment Terms The salary range for this role is: $80,500 - $123,000 AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Secret or Top Secret clearance, or the ability obtain a clearance is desired. ITAR Requirement ITAR Requirement: This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements. Equal Opportunity We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. About AV About AV: AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV. Careers at AeroVironment #J-18808-Ljbffr AeroVironment, Inc.