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.'  

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About This Role:

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• 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  

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Must Haves:

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• 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  

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Some of Our Awesome Benefits:

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• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance option for employees and dependents  
• Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings (HSA) Accounts offered with an employer contribution to the HSA  
• 100% employer paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability insurance  
• Flexible Time Off policy for vacation and sick leave, and 12 paid holidays  
• 401(k) plan and equity options  
• Daily catered lunches and snacks  
• International exposure to our team in France  
• Fully paid parental leave; 14 weeks for primary caregiver and 10 weeks for secondary caregiver  
• Carrot Fertility provides comprehensive, inclusive fertility healthcare and family-forming benefits with financial support  
• Off-sites and many social events and celebrations  
• Relocation assistance when applicable  

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Who We Are  

Loft Orbital builds “shareable” satellites, providing a fast & simple path to orbit for organizations that require access to space. Powered by our hardware & software products, we operate satellites, fly customer payloads onboard, and handle entire missions from end to end - significantly reducing the lead-time and risk of a traditional space mission. Our standard interface enables us to fly multiple customer payloads on the same satellite, with capabilities such as earth imagery, weather & climate /science data collection, IoT connectivity, in-orbit demonstrations, and national security missions. Our customers trust us to manage their space infrastructure, so they can focus on what matters most to them: operating their mission and collecting their data. At Loft, you’ll be given the autonomy and ownership to solve significant challenges, but with a close-knit and supportive team at your back. We believe that diversity and community are the foundation of an open culture. We are committed to hiring the best people regardless of background and make their time at Loft the most fulfilling period of their career. We value kind, supportive and team-oriented collaborators. It is also crucial for us that you are a problem solver and a great communicator. As our team is international, you will need strong English skills to better collaborate, easily communicate complex ideas and convey important messages. With 4 satellites on-orbit and a wave of exciting missions launching soon, we are scaling up quickly across our offices in San Francisco, CA | Golden, CO | and Toulouse, France. As an international company your resume will be reviewed by people across our offices so please attach a copy in English. State law requires us to tell you the base compensation range for this role, which is $160,000- $215,000 per year which is determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The salary range for this role is intentionally wide as we evaluate individuals based on their unique experience and abilities to fit our needs. Most importantly, we are excited to meet you, and see if you are a great fit for our team. What we can’t quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy.