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Senior Contracts Manager
Job No: 503634
Work Type: Staff Full Time (1500 hours or greater)
Location: Dayton, OH
Category: Research Institute Staff
Department: Contracts & Grants Office - 250240
Pay Grade: P3/P4 - Exempt
Advertised: June 10, 2026
Applications close:
Position Summary:
Join University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI), where innovation meets purpose in advancing critical research that shapes our world. We're seeking a detail-oriented Contracts Manager to support proposal teams, operations, leadership, and senior management across a wide range of contract and grant activities. Apply today and be part of work that makes an impact!
The Contracts Manager provides advice and support to proposal teams, operations leadership and senior management. They are responsible for all aspects of contracting from pre-award support, contract negotiation and award, resolution of post-award issues and support of close-out.
Specific responsibilities for this position include:
• Developing a clear understanding of customer and program requirements and providing advice and support to proposal teams to ensure compliance with request-for-proposal or customer guidelines, applicable regulations and University policies.
• Thoroughly review solicitations and perform pricing related analysis, lead and develop the proposal cost/price strategy, author the cost and business volume, and ensure the cost proposal is of the highest quality prior to submission.
• Review terms and conditions to address provisions and risks of financial terms, acceptance criteria, delivery requirements, warranties, intellectual property, termination provisions, indemnification and all other potential risk areas and recommend risk mitigation strategies
• Recommend changes, additions, and deletions to the contract structure to ensure accurate reflection of customer requirements and alignment with University policies
• Negotiate fixed fee and provide fee justification to the customer, ensuring that the profit/fee is consistent with and appropriate for the contract type, identified program risks, market standards, and Research Institute requirements
• Ensure the contract and statement of work are consistent with pricing assumptions to effectively manage financial risk related to contract terms and conditions, and ensure the underlying cost estimate is consistent with and appropriately addresses performance risk
• Establish equitable payment terms, facilitate timely payments through coordinated oversight with Research Accounting of the invoicing process, and ensure customer compliance with payment terms and University cash-flow requirements
• Efficiently and collaboratively negotiate contractual modifications and resolve customer issues
Minimum Qualifications:
P3 minimum qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of six years of experience, including experience with federal government contracting of research efforts; OR a Master's plus a minimum of five years of experience, including experience with federal government contracting of research efforts
• Two years of experience working for a Defense Contractor in support of Department of Defense programs
• Sound knowledge of the federal acquisition process, government contracting principles, the bid and proposal process (including budget development), and governing regulations, including Federal Acquisition Regulations and other laws and regulations applicable to federal contracting
• Sound understanding of commercial contracts, business agreements, business law and general business practices, including demonstrated experience in reviewing terms and conditions, identifying risk areas and proposing and negotiating favorable terms
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of contracting principles and all contract types including Firm Fixed Price, Time and Material, Cost Plus Fixed Fee, Cost Reimbursable
• Excellent contract drafting and negotiation skills
• Experience in contract administration
• Knowledge of ITAR and US import and export regulations
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, organizational and communication skills including both written and verbal communications
• Successful experience working and collaborating with various and diverse constituents
• Experience managing multiple work assignments and meet critical deadlines
• Due to the requirements of our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be a U.S. citizen and be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance
A P4 must meet all P3 minimum qualifications in addition to the qualifications listed below:
• Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of ten years of experience; OR a Master's plus a minimum of nine years of experience is required
• Two years of experience working for a Defense Contractor in support of Department of Defense programs
• Extensive knowledge of the federal acquisition process, government contracting principles, the bid and proposal process (including budget development), and governing regulations, including Federal Acquisition Regulations and other laws and regulations applicable to federal contracting
Preferred Qualifications:
While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:
• A Juris Doctor or MBA degree
• Three years of experience working with the General Services Administration (GSA)
• Five years of experience working for a defense contractor in support of Department of Defense programs
• Experience pricing complex R&D proposals
• Experience working with classified programs
• Experience with 2 CFR 200 OMB Uniform Guidance
• Experience with Deltek Costpoint ERP
• Active Security Clearance
Special Instructions to Applicants:
To apply please submit a cover letter addressing each minimum qualification and any applicable preferred qualifications that you meet.
Closing Statement:
Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the dignity of every human being. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity in all of its forms, achieve fair outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. The University is committed to policies of affirmative action designed to increase the employment opportunities of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1973.
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