Contracts Sr Principal

The Senior Contracts Principal will lead the preparation, negotiation, and administration of large‑scale Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and defined‑delivery federal government contracts. This role not only ensures compliance with company policies, legal requirements, and customer specifications but also plays a critical role in guiding contractual strategies that align with program objectives and business outcomes.

The ideal candidate is well-versed in federal contract and proposal management processes and serves as a strategic advisor to Program Managers, senior leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders across SAIC. The role requires advanced knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), proposal strategy, and financial analysis to solve complex challenges and contribute to business growth. 

For the right candidate, this position may be remote anywhere in the US. 

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Contract Management
  Administer complex contracts throughout their lifecycle, including acquisition, baseline management, execution, and closeout, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations (FAR/DFARS), company policies, and contractual obligations.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in reviewing, interpreting, and negotiating contract terms and conditions; proactively identify areas of risk, develop mitigation strategies, and propose solutions to protect SAIC’s financial interests.
• Maintain the integrity of the contract baseline, including deliverables, responsibilities, and key milestones; brief program staff to ensure operational alignment with contractual requirements.
• Track, manage, and communicate contract changes, modifications, and obligations to ensure accurate implementation and timely resolution of issues.
• Support audits, contract data requests, and compliance assessments as needed, ensuring internal and external alignment on contractual expectations.
  Proposal Development
• Evaluate and guide proposal activities in collaboration with Program Managers, capture teams, and pricing analysts; ensure proposals meet regulatory and contractual requirements while optimizing for SAIC's competitive advantage.
• Draft proposal-specific terms and conditions, identify risk areas, and lead the development of creative solutions for proposal submissions.
• Support the negotiation and finalization of contract awards, ensuring changes in scope or pricing are documented and aligned with proposal assumptions.
  Negotiation & Business Strategy
• Lead the resolution of complex contractual issues by developing comprehensive negotiation strategies tailored to balancing customer and company priorities.
• Engage directly with Federal clients to negotiate terms, resolve disputes, and strengthen customer relationships, applying expertise in conflict resolution, negotiation techniques, and financial modeling (e.g., margin analysis, burn-rate projections).
• Work as a trusted business partner to Program Managers by conducting detailed program risk assessments, providing financial insights, and crafting agreements that address performance, cost, and schedule requirements.
• Leverage financial and contractual acumen to evaluate impacts of proposed changes and recommend revised positions that protect SAIC’s financial health and align with program goals.
  Collaboration & Communication
• Collaborate cross-functionally across SAIC to align proposal, contract, and program activities with overall business and financial strategies.
• Synthesize and effectively communicate complex legal, financial, and programmatic topics to diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership, program staff, legal, finance, and external customers.
• Proactively share best practices and innovative solutions to consistently enhance processes related to contract management, compliance, and proposal quality.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree and 15+ years of federal contracts/contract management experience; Master’s degree and 13+ years of experience; or PhD/JD and 10+ years of experience. Four years of related professional experience may substitute for the degree requirement.
• US Citizenship is required.
• Technical Knowledge: Extensive experience negotiating and managing a variety of contract types, including FFP and FPIF, across high-dollar federal programs. Proficiency in FAR and federal procurement processes required.
• Leadership: Strategic thinker with proven ability to act as a business advisor, build stakeholder relationships, and drive impactful negotiations under tight deadlines.
• Communication: Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills; ability to synthesize complex contractual and financial topics into clear, actionable insights.
• Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to independently resolve complex contractual and financial issues while managing compliance and risk.
• Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) or Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM) preferred.
   

SAIC® is a premier mission integrator focused on advancing the power of technology and innovation to serve and protect our world. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, intelligence, and civilian markets includes secure high-end solutions in mission IT, enterprise IT, engineering services, and professional services. We integrate emerging technology, rapidly and securely, into mission critical operations that modernize and enable critical national imperatives.