Senior Contracts Administrator

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), is NASA’s science operations center for missions including the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes. STScI leads observation planning, data analysis, public engagement, and data archiving for flagship missions. Our staff spans astronomy, engineering, education, IT, communications, and administration—working together to bring space science to the world. STScI is seeking a Senior Contracts Administrator.

Our world-class astronomical research center is based on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus in Baltimore, Maryland. Visit our website to learn more about our missions.

This role is eligible for hybrid work and may require an intermittent on-site presence per the specific needs of this role to support on site meetings or projects as needed. You must reside in or be willing to relocate to our local market. (MD, DE, VA, PA, DC & WV).

The annual salary range for this title is $95,000 - $110,000.  The posted salary range represents a general guideline; however, STScI considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers, such as internal pay equity, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's experience, education, and skill, and current market conditions.

The Senior Contracts Administrator Role performs advanced professional government and commercial contracting management work and manages the most complex or high-visibility NASA Prime Mission contracts, issues, and contract-related processes. Job responsibilities include:

Complex Contract Lifecycle Management

• Manages and oversees assigned contracts throughout the lifecycle by planning, organizing, and executing complex pre-award, award, post-award, renewal, modification, and closeout activities
• Reviews and analyzes complex contractual requirements, special provisions, flow-downs, deliverables, and administrative obligations to ensure proper implementation and ongoing compliance
• Leads administration of nonstandard, sensitive, high-risk, or strategically significant contract actions and related documentation

Advanced Compliance, Risk, and Issue Resolution

• Oversees and resolves the most complex issues related to contracts and contract-related laws, regulations, policies, and procedures, escalating or coordinating with legal counsel and leadership as appropriate
• Reviews contract administration practices and contract files to identify deficiencies, compliance gaps, inconsistent interpretation, or control weaknesses, and drives corrective action
• Evaluates contractual and administrative risk, documents findings, and recommends mitigation strategies, including corrective actions, withholding recommendations, or other remedies within established governance processes

Policy, Process, and Governance

• Develops, implements, and maintains SOPs, templates, policies, procedures, and systems for contract management activities to improve consistency, compliance, and operational efficiency
• Establishes or refines standards for contract files, milestone tracking, renewal workflows, review protocols, and records retention practices
• Interprets evolving requirements and translates them into practical administrative guidance for contracts staff and business stakeholders operating in a federally regulated environment

Leadership and Cross-Functional Partnership

• Serves as a senior subject matter resource to contracts staff, program management, procurement, finance, legal, and operational leadership
• Supports audits, internal reviews, customer inquiries, and process assessments

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

6+ years of progressively responsible experience in contract administration, subcontract administration, procurement, or government contracting, including responsibility for complex agreements and issue resolution.

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, contracts management, public administration, finance, legal studies, or a related field and a preference for (but not required) for an advanced degree in a related graduate/advanced degree  (J.D., MBA, etc.)

• Advanced contract administration principles across the full lifecycle
• Regulatory, policy, and contractual framework applicable to federal contracting environments, including structured governance and documented authority
• Risk identification, quality assurance review methods, corrective action processes
• Process design, internal control concepts, records governance, and audit-readiness standards needed to sustain a compliant contracts administration function

Your Skills:

• Interpreting complex contract language into actionable guidance for stakeholders
• Leading resolution of difficult contract administration
• Designing and improving SOPs, templates, reviewing workflows, and control mechanisms that strengthen compliance and operational consistency.
• Process improvement
• Clear written analysis, practical recommendations, and credible business judgment

Experience in a federal contractor, aerospace, research, higher education, or other highly regulated environment is strongly preferred; experience with NASA, FAR-based, or flow-down compliance environments is highly desirable

TO APPLY: Share your experience by uploading a resume and completing an online application. Applications received by August 7, 2026, will receive full consideration. Applications received after this date will be considered until the position is filled. Reference: HRC0015854

Please only use this link to apply: https://apply.workable.com/j/70733888FF

Individuals needing assistance with the employment process can contact us at 

careers@stsci.edu