Senior Director of Contracts

Wanna join the adventure?

The Director of Contracts will be responsible for leading and managing all contractual activities at Loft, focusing on complex and high-value procurements. This role requires a blend of contractual expertise, business acumen, and strategic thinking. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in the space industry and a proven track record of negotiating and managing large, custom contracts, including those involving multi-million dollar procurements.

*Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalized people tend to only apply when they meet 100% of the qualifications. At Loft, we value respectful debate and people who aren’t afraid to challenge assumptions. We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t ‘check all the boxes.'

About This Role:

• Contract Management: Oversee the entire lifecycle of contracts, including drafting, negotiating, and managing terms and conditions, as well as Statements of Work (SOWs). Ensure that all contracts align with the company’s goals and compliance requirements. Provide process automation and baseline iteration of positions to ensure timely convergence of contractual terms.
• Vendor & Supplier Management: Lead negotiations for high-value and complex purchases, such as satellite buses, satellite subsystems, payloads, launches and ground stations services. Work closely with engineers to ensure intended technical specifications are documented clearly.
• Customer Contracts: Manage customer contracts, ensuring that all agreements are tailored to meet agreement specific needs. Support the sales team in structuring deals that align with Loft Orbital’s business objectives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with engineering, legal, supply chain, and program management teams to ensure contract requirements are understood across the organization.
• International Experience: Utilize international experience to manage contracts with global suppliers and customers.
• Risk Management: Identify potential risks in contracts and develop mitigation strategies. Ensure that all contracts protect the company’s interests while maintaining strong relationships with partners and customers.
• Market Expertise: Stay informed about industry trends and regulatory changes affecting contract negotiations and management. Provide insights and recommendations to the leadership team.

Must Haves:

• Experience: 10+ years of experience in contract management within the space industry or related fields. Experience with large-scale, custom procurements is essential.
• Technical Acumen: Strong understanding of technical specifications related to satellite systems and other space-related technologies. Ability to collaborate effectively with engineers to ensure contract terms align with technical requirements.
• Legal Knowledge: Proficient in drafting and negotiating contracts, with a working knowledge of legal principles related to contracts. Ability to manage complex contract structures without needing to be a generalist in legal matters.
• Global Perspective: International experience is highly valued. Experience working with European and U.S. contracts is preferred.
• Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with the space industry’s unique challenges and requirements. Experience working with start-ups or small to medium-sized companies is a plus.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to clearly articulate contract terms and negotiate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience negotiating with large Companies: Experience working & negotiating with large organizations.

Some of Our Awesome Benefits:

• Equity, we want you to have an active role in our success
• Up to 35 days of Paid Time Off (vacations & RTT ) and flexible working hours, we want you to be at your best
• Health and life insurance, we care about your health
• Lunch Vouchers, because let’s be honest, we love food! (we even have a slack channel about it #loft-gourmand)
• Cross-office travel opportunities between San Francisco, Colorado, and Toulouse to learn from our differences
• Company and team off-sites and many other events to work & celebrate together
• Relocation assistance to Toulouse when applicable