Director of Contracts Jobs
Director of Contracts jobs are open across defense, healthcare, government contracting, and technology, from manager-level to VP, with specializations in federal procurement, commercial contracts, and subcontract administration. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Title: Senior Manager of Contracts
Location: Midtown
Org Unit: Contracts
Work Days:
Weekly Hours: 35.00
Exemption Status: Exempt
Salary Range: $151,900.00 - $174,400.00
- As required under NYC Human Rights Law Int 1208-2018 - Salary range for this role when Hired for NYC Offices
Position Summary
The Senior Manager of Contracts leads complex sponsored research negotiations and oversees the team’s substantive review within Weill Cornell Medicine’s Office of Sponsored Research Administration, which executes over 2,000 agreements annually. The Senior Manager resolves matters requiring departures from established negotiation positions, coordinates institutional decisions, and advises leadership on contractual risk. Working with the Associate Director and General Counsel, the Senior Manager develops review standards and guides staff through difficult contractual issues to protect institutional interests and support the timely conduct of research.
Job Responsibilities
- Responsible for serving as the primary escalation point for contractual issues that remain unresolved after initial team review or require departures from established negotiating positions.
- Determines the negotiation approach for complex agreements and disputed contractual terms.
- Ensures proposed terms that create precedent or exceed delegated authority receive appropriate institutional review and approval.
- Develops substantive review standards and negotiation guidance with the Associate Director and General Counsel.
- Recommends changes to approval requirements and clarifies decisions managers and staff may make independently.
- Evaluates contractual risk and negotiated outcomes across the contracting portfolio.
- Directs corrective action to address recurring issues and inconsistent application of institutional positions.
- Responsible for coordinating with legal counsel, privacy, compliance, technology transfer, and research finance departments to resolve complex contractual obligations.
- Resolves matters involving intellectual property, publication rights, liability, and data or material use.
- Ensures accepted exceptions are documented and communicated to the team.
- Evaluates performance and develops staff judgment through coaching on difficult contractual provisions and negotiation strategy.
- Monitors changes in sponsor requirements, regulations, and research activities to inform training priorities.
- Assesses portfolio trends to identify persistent barriers, emerging demands, and gaps in team capacity.
- Makes recommendations to departmental leadership regarding staffing, resource allocation, and operational improvements.
- Maintains current knowledge of federal, state, sponsor, and institutional regulations governing sponsored research.
- Includes human subject protections, animal care and use (IACUC), FDA regulations, export controls, conflict of interest requirements, privacy laws, research security mandates, and intellectual property regulations.
- Delivers strategic guidance to staff and institutional stakeholders regarding regulatory changes and operational impacts on contracting.
- Leads the definition and prioritization of contracting business requirements for WRG Sponsored Programs (InfoEd) enhancements.
- Evaluates whether implemented system changes improve workflow, reporting, and contractual oversight.
- Performs other advanced duties and responsibilities as required.
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in related field required
- Juris Doctor or relevant master’s degree is strongly preferred
Experience
A Juris Doctor or relevant master’s degree is strongly preferred.
Approximately 7 or more years of experience in sponsored research contracting, including three years supervising staff. A record of resolving complex negotiations and advising on contractual risk is required. Prior work in an academic medical center or university is preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrated research integrity policy knowledge (Conflicts, IRB, DSMB, IBC, IACUC, etc).
- Demonstrated proficiency working with the implementation of an electronic research administration system and a broad range of ITS skills.
- Exceptional communications and negotiation skills.
- Leadership and management capabilities.
Licenses and Certifications
Working Conditions/Physical Demands
Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “any person, any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRRA). We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.
Title: Senior Manager of Contracts
Location: Midtown
Org Unit: Contracts
Work Days:
Weekly Hours: 35.00
Exemption Status: Exempt
Salary Range: $151,900.00 - $174,400.00
- As required under NYC Human Rights Law Int 1208-2018 - Salary range for this role when Hired for NYC Offices
Position Summary
The Senior Manager of Contracts leads complex sponsored research negotiations and oversees the team’s substantive review within Weill Cornell Medicine’s Office of Sponsored Research Administration, which executes over 2,000 agreements annually. The Senior Manager resolves matters requiring departures from established negotiation positions, coordinates institutional decisions, and advises leadership on contractual risk. Working with the Associate Director and General Counsel, the Senior Manager develops review standards and guides staff through difficult contractual issues to protect institutional interests and support the timely conduct of research.
Job Responsibilities
- Responsible for serving as the primary escalation point for contractual issues that remain unresolved after initial team review or require departures from established negotiating positions.
- Determines the negotiation approach for complex agreements and disputed contractual terms.
- Ensures proposed terms that create precedent or exceed delegated authority receive appropriate institutional review and approval.
- Develops substantive review standards and negotiation guidance with the Associate Director and General Counsel.
- Recommends changes to approval requirements and clarifies decisions managers and staff may make independently.
- Evaluates contractual risk and negotiated outcomes across the contracting portfolio.
- Directs corrective action to address recurring issues and inconsistent application of institutional positions.
- Responsible for coordinating with legal counsel, privacy, compliance, technology transfer, and research finance departments to resolve complex contractual obligations.
- Resolves matters involving intellectual property, publication rights, liability, and data or material use.
- Ensures accepted exceptions are documented and communicated to the team.
- Evaluates performance and develops staff judgment through coaching on difficult contractual provisions and negotiation strategy.
- Monitors changes in sponsor requirements, regulations, and research activities to inform training priorities.
- Assesses portfolio trends to identify persistent barriers, emerging demands, and gaps in team capacity.
- Makes recommendations to departmental leadership regarding staffing, resource allocation, and operational improvements.
- Maintains current knowledge of federal, state, sponsor, and institutional regulations governing sponsored research.
- Includes human subject protections, animal care and use (IACUC), FDA regulations, export controls, conflict of interest requirements, privacy laws, research security mandates, and intellectual property regulations.
- Delivers strategic guidance to staff and institutional stakeholders regarding regulatory changes and operational impacts on contracting.
- Leads the definition and prioritization of contracting business requirements for WRG Sponsored Programs (InfoEd) enhancements.
- Evaluates whether implemented system changes improve workflow, reporting, and contractual oversight.
- Performs other advanced duties and responsibilities as required.
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in related field required
- Juris Doctor or relevant master’s degree is strongly preferred
Experience
A Juris Doctor or relevant master’s degree is strongly preferred.
Approximately 7 or more years of experience in sponsored research contracting, including three years supervising staff. A record of resolving complex negotiations and advising on contractual risk is required. Prior work in an academic medical center or university is preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrated research integrity policy knowledge (Conflicts, IRB, DSMB, IBC, IACUC, etc).
- Demonstrated proficiency working with the implementation of an electronic research administration system and a broad range of ITS skills.
- Exceptional communications and negotiation skills.
- Leadership and management capabilities.
Licenses and Certifications
Working Conditions/Physical Demands
Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “any person, any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRRA). We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.
See All 37 Director of Contracts Jobs
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Find Director of Contracts JobsDirector of Contracts Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in director of contracts jobs.
- 7 or more years of contract management experience in relevant industries
- Deep knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation and contract compliance
- Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial or government contracts
- Bachelor's degree in business, law, finance, or a related field
- Proficiency with contract lifecycle management software and enterprise resource planning systems
- CPCM, CFCM, or equivalent professional contracts management certification preferred
Tips for Your Director of Contracts Job Search
Tailor your resume to contract types
Hiring managers distinguish between FAR-based government contracts and commercial agreements. Specify which contract vehicles you've managed, such as IDIQ, FFP, or cost-plus, so reviewers immediately see your fit for their environment.
Highlight your negotiation dollar volume
Directors of contracts are evaluated on the size and complexity of deals they've closed. Quantify the total contract value you've managed or negotiated, since that figure signals scope of responsibility better than job titles alone.
Get your CPCM or CFCM certification current
Many federal and defense openings list a Certified Professional Contracts Manager or Certified Federal Contracts Manager credential as preferred or required. Renewing or pursuing one before applying strengthens your candidacy against equally experienced competitors.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists director of contracts openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare for scenario-based interview questions
Interviewers for this role routinely ask how you resolved a dispute with a subcontractor or handled a scope change mid-performance. Prepare two or three concrete examples that show your judgment on risk, compliance, and stakeholder management under pressure.
Negotiate total compensation, not just base pay
Directors of contracts often have leverage on signing bonuses, remote work arrangements, and professional development budgets. Research the full package before your offer call, and come prepared with specific asks tied to your contract portfolio and seniority level.
Director of Contracts Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most director of contractss?
SpaceX, Leidos, and Werfen are hiring the most director of contractss right now, with openings concentrated in New York, Virginia, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Defense contractors and large healthcare systems tend to post the highest volume of openings at this level.
How many director of contracts jobs are remote?
About 74% of director of contracts openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though the share varies significantly by industry. Commercial technology and SaaS companies offer the most remote flexibility, while federal government contracting roles typically require on-site presence due to clearance and compliance requirements.
How do you become a director of contracts?
Most directors of contracts build their path through progressively senior contracting roles, starting as a contract administrator or specialist before moving into management. Earning a CPCM or CFCM certification, gaining exposure to both government and commercial contract environments, and developing cross-functional leadership experience with legal and finance teams are the steps that most consistently lead to director-level hiring.
Can you get hired as a director of contracts with limited experience?
Breaking into a director of contracts role with limited experience is difficult, since most postings require significant hands-on contract management. Candidates who transition successfully often come from adjacent fields like procurement, legal operations, or program management, and they emphasize contract-adjacent responsibilities, any formal contracts training, and their ability to lead teams and manage compliance risk.
What does the director of contracts interview process look like?
The interview process typically includes an initial recruiter screen, a panel interview with legal, finance, and operations stakeholders, and a final round with a VP or C-suite executive. Candidates are usually asked to walk through a complex negotiation or dispute they resolved, and some employers include a written scenario or contract review exercise to assess technical judgment before extending an offer.
Where can I find and apply to director of contracts jobs?
You can find and apply to director of contracts jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your background and contract focus, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 37 Director of Contracts Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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