Contract Specialist I

Who We Are:
Paragon Space Development has been delivering groundbreaking life support and thermal control solutions for extreme environments since 1993 serving space defense and commercial markets with innovative engineering excellence. We recognize that our people are the power behind that success and we strive to create a work environment where talented individuals can do the best work of their lives bringing creativity curiosity and teamwork to complex challenges every day. We seek individuals who enjoy solving difficult problems thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic setting and want a role where their contributions truly matter. Paragon is committed to fostering an inclusive culture that supports personal and professional growth encourages innovation and values collaboration across disciplines.

Summary:
Detail-oriented and highly adaptable Contract Specialist I supporting a small business operating in a high-growth phase within the engineering and manufacturing sector. Operates with a high degree of responsibility and accountability while managing multiple contracts across varying stages of the lifecycle in a high-ops-tempo environment. Demonstrates the ability to quickly reprioritize stop and restart tasks in alignment with program office requirements and executive leadership direction without compromising compliance schedule or quality.
Performs contract administration and coordination activities while receiving mentorship and technical guidance from the Senior Contract Specialist to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements company policy and strategic objectives. Effectively partners with program management engineering finance supply chain and leadership to ensure contractual alignment with technical cost and schedule objectives. Exercises sound judgment discretion and independent decision-making while appropriately elevating complex or high-risk matters.
Thrives in dynamic environments requiring agility cross-functional collaboration and disciplined contract administration to support complex engineering and manufacturing deliverables during periods of rapid organizational growth.

Responsibilities:

Contract Administration & Lifecycle Support

Support cradle-to-close contract administration activities for prime contracts and subcontracts within a small business operating in a high-growth phase.
Draft routine contractual documents including NDAs subcontract templates modifications and administrative amendments for Senior Contract Specialist review and approval.
Maintain organized contract files documentation logs and version control to ensure audit readiness and traceability.
Track deliverables funding key milestones and option periods to support program execution and compliance.
Develop increasing proficiency in contract lifecycle management processes to support progression toward greater independent contract ownership.

Operational Execution in a High-Tempo Environment

Monitor and manage daily contract-related requests including NDA processing secure file transfer (SFTP) coordination proposal extensions confirmations and document routing.
Attend daily technical and program meetings to maintain situational awareness of scope schedule and funding impacts.
Demonstrate the ability to reprioritize pause and resume assignments in alignment with program office and leadership direction.

Risk Identification & Scope Awareness

Identify potential scope changes funding impacts performance risks and contractual misalignments during technical discussions and elevate findings to the Senior Contract Specialist.
Support preparation of change documentation subcontract modifications and equitable adjustment materials as directed.
Build analytical skills in contractual risk assessment and mitigation through mentorship and applied experience.

Subcontract & Cross-Functional Coordination

Support subcontract administration activities including tracking revisions funding updates compliance documentation and flowdown requirements.
Coordinate with engineering program management finance and supply chain to gather required documentation and ensure contractual alignment.
Escalate complex contractual interpretation matters to the Senior Contract Specialist while developing independent issue-resolution capability.

Document Control & Technical Proficiency

Draft revise and format contractual documents in Microsoft Word using advanced tools including tracked changes bookmarks cross-references structured formatting and protected templates.
Maintain document integrity to prevent formatting errors broken references or unintended clause modifications.
Utilize Microsoft Excel to track contract status obligations and modifications in a non-automated contract management environment.
Contribute to standardized templates and process improvements in preparation for future implementation of contract lifecycle management software.
Successful performance in this role may lead to expanded authority and advancement within the Contracts function as the organization continues to grow.

Minimum Qualifications Contract Specialist I

Education & Experience

Bachelors degree in Business Administration Business/Global Leadership or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
23 years of experience in contract administration procurement or related functions in engineering manufacturing or technical environments
Familiarity with government or commercial contracts including NDAs subcontract flowdowns and basic contract clauses preferred but not required

Technical & Functional Skills

Proficient in Microsoft Office especially Word (advanced formatting bookmarks tracked changes) and Excel (tracking tables basic formulas pivot tables).
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple documents and contracts accurately in a non-automated contract management environment.
Ability to quickly understand contract language scope and obligations to support risk identification and workflow prioritization.

Interpersonal & Professional Skills

Strong communication skills including the ability to clearly document and escalate issues to leadership or the Senior Contract Specialist.
Comfortable working in a high-ops-tempo environment with dynamic priorities where tasks may be paused and restarted frequently.
Proficient in virtual collaboration tools particularly Microsoft Teams and able to communicate effectively with team members across multiple time zones.
Demonstrated professional judgment discretion and tact when collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
Self-motivated adaptable and able to learn from mentorship to progressively take on greater contract responsibility.

Summary:

The Paragon Contract Specialist is responsible for administration of contracts of various types to support engineering services and programs. This position has a high degree of independence and will work under the general direction and review of the Contracts & Compliance Director.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the focal point for formal communications between internal and external customers
• Maintain close professional relationships with internal customers
• Ensuring all communication with external customers is concise
• Conduct thorough review and analysis of contract terms and conditions
• Provide contract briefs negotiate new and renewal contracts and contract changes
• Work with legal counsel in the development and drafting of contractual terms and conditions teaming agreements non disclosure agreements and other legal agreements
• Attended to internal and external contract progress review meetings
• Periodic inner internal and external reporting of contractual performance and issues
• Assist with company compliance to export control ITAR and controlled goods regulations
• Responsible for contracting activities and assisting others with contracting activities including planning developing writing issuing tracking and maintaining all contract related documents and records
• Collects data on subcontractors past performance and documents subcontractors performance on current contracts.
• Ensures contract and regulatory compliance
• Acts as liaison with other departments subcontractors and government agencies as required
• Responsible for interpreting regulations and policies developing and implementing procedures
• Monitors contract-related schedules and budgets and tracks expenditures progress payments and invoices
• Prepare appropriate documentation for the exercise of options prepare Modifications and assist in the resolution and documentation of performance issues and problems including letters and correspondence
• Reviews regulatory publications to stay informed of current regulations and trends

Minimum Qualifications:

• Five plus years industry experience with contract management emphasis
• Bachelors degree
• Preference will be given to those who have experience in government contracts analysis
• Knowledge of the FAR and related FAR supplements- this is a must
• Excellent knowledge of Ms. office especially advanced excel skills
• Good organizational and time management skills
• Above average interpersonal and written communication skills
• Good problem solving skills and ability to learn and a pass in a fast-paced environment next slide responsibility close attention to detail ability to meet tight deadlines
• Must be eligible to meet requirements for the US international traffic and arms regulations ITAR

Other required qualifications include:

• Proficiency utilizing automated data systems and high level of competency in the use of Microsoft Office applications.

• Experience performing professional procurement and contracting activities
• Ability to write professionally and understand technical and legal language related to procurement and contracting processes.
• Ability to work independently with general direction
• Ability to think logically and develop solutions to complex procurement and contracting problems.
• Ability to effectively communicate and work cooperatively with staff other departments vendors governmental agencies and the general public.
• Ability to maintain reports and data in a highly organized manner using established administrative protocols.
• Knowledge of process analysis and improvement methods.
• Ability to analyze and organize information to prepare clear comprehensive and concise guidelines procedures and reports.

Who We Are:

As Paragon celebrates 31 years of providing award-winning life support and thermal control solutions for extreme environments weve recognized that it is our employees that keep our business thriving. By any measure Paragon Space Development is an exciting and rewarding place to work. Our goal is to hire the best and allow you to do the work that you enjoy! We are interested in developing individuals who enjoy a challenge and like working on a variety of projects in a fast paced environment. We are committed to our employees and providing an inclusive work atmosphere that allows our talent to grow both personally and professionally.

Required Experience:

IC