RAVN Group ("RAVN") is pushing the boundaries of innovation in the aviation industry, focusing on cutting-edge technology and advanced aerospace solutions. As part of the RAVN team, you'll be at the forefront of revolutionizing pilot training on military grade aircrafts and aerospace engineering in the defense sector. RAVN provides combat or high maneuver training for pilots, RDT&E, and maintenance services with its fully owned fleet of aircraft.

Job Description:

Trade, Contracts & Compliance Administrator

RAVN Aerospace

Position Name: Trade, Contracts & Compliance Administrator

Position Location: RAVN Headquarters - Ellington Airfield, Houston, Texas (On-Site)

Salary/Hourly Rate: Salary

Schedule: Full-Time | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Company Summary

RAVN is pushing the boundaries of innovation in the aviation industry, focusing on cutting-edge technology and advanced aerospace solutions. As part of the RAVN team, you'll be at the forefront of revolutionizing pilot training on military-grade aircraft and aerospace engineering in the defense sector. RAVN provides combat and high-maneuver training for pilots, RDT&E, and maintenance services with its fully owned fleet of aircraft.

Department Summary

The RAVN Aerospace Contracts & Compliance Department supports the company's U.S. Government and commercial contracting activities across CONUS and OCONUS operations. Reporting to the VP of Contracts & Compliance, the department partners with Program Management, Engineering, Operations, Information Technology, Security, Finance, and other business functions to manage contract execution, trade compliance, regulatory risk, and responsive business support. The team emphasizes practical risk management, accurate recordkeeping, efficient processes, and operationally useful guidance.

Position Summary

RAVN Aerospace is seeking a Trade, Contracts & Compliance Administrator to support the company's contracting needs, with a primary focus on U.S. trade and export compliance. The successful candidate will help administer RAVN's compliance program under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), applicable U.S. sanctions laws, and related authorization, screening, recordkeeping, training, and audit requirements.

The position also supports the full contract lifecycle for U.S. Government and commercial agreements, including drafting, review, negotiation, execution, administration, and closeout. The ideal candidate brings sound judgment, meticulous attention to detail, strong cross-functional communication skills, and a practical approach to protecting controlled information while enabling timely business execution.

Key Responsibilities

Trade and Export Compliance

• Support RAVN's trade compliance program, with particular emphasis on ITAR, EAR, and other applicable U.S. export-control and sanctions laws.
• Review contracts, technical data, defense articles, software, services, and proposed business relationships to identify export-control restrictions, foreign-person concerns, and licensing or authorization requirements.
• Help ensure controlled technical data, defense articles, defense services, and technology are accessed, handled, stored, transferred, and disclosed only to authorized individuals in accordance with ITAR, EAR, and company requirements.
• Assist with export licensing activities, Technical Assistance Agreements (TAAs), Manufacturing License Agreements (MLAs), exemptions, exceptions, provisos, required government filings, and related recordkeeping.
• Conduct or coordinate restricted-party screening and trade-compliance due diligence involving customers, foreign persons, international partners, consultants, vendors, suppliers, subcontractors, and OCONUS activities.
• Ensure applicable ITAR, EAR, and other trade-compliance requirements are properly incorporated into contracts, subcontracts, purchase orders, NDAs, consultancy agreements, teaming agreements, partnership agreements, and customer flow-downs.
• Coordinate with Program Management, Engineering, Operations, Information Technology, Security, and other internal stakeholders to identify and manage export-controlled activities and information.
• Maintain accurate trade-compliance records and support internal reviews, audits, employee training, investigations, disclosures, and corrective actions.
• Monitor changes to applicable trade-compliance regulations and assist with updating company policies, procedures, templates, and guidance as needed.

Contract Lifecycle Management

• Support pre-award and post-award functions, including drafting, reviewing, negotiating, executing, administering, modifying, and closing out agreements.
• Assist the department head with negotiating terms involving scope, payment, schedule, indemnity, insurance, warranties, limitation of liability, termination, confidentiality, intellectual property, and dispute resolution.
• Ensure agreements align with company policies, risk tolerances, business objectives, FAR/DFARS requirements, legal obligations, and applicable customer flow-downs.
• Prepare contract modifications and change orders and support documentation for research, development, production, and service programs.
• Review and establish NDAs, consultancy agreements, teaming agreements, partnership agreements, and other business-relationship documents.
• Track open issues, negotiation status, approvals, signatures, deliverables, reporting obligations, notices, milestones, and execution requirements.
• Maintain accurate contract files and support document retention, configuration management, templates, fallback positions, negotiation guidance, employee training, and workflow improvements.

Cross-Functional and Program Support

• Partner with Program Management, Engineering, Operations, Finance, Information Technology, and Security to align contract terms, compliance requirements, and operational realities.
• Assist programs with monitoring contract costs, schedules, deliverables, technical data, reporting obligations, and performance milestones.
• Support the resolution of contractual issues, claims, disputes, notices, and related project documentation.
• Support special projects and other duties connected with the company's contracting and compliance functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• Five to eight or more years of experience in the aviation, aerospace, or defense industry, preferably within a corporate contracts or trade-compliance function.
• Working knowledge of ITAR, EAR, U.S. export licensing, foreign-person restrictions, restricted-party screening, sanctions requirements, and export-controlled information handling.
• Familiarity with FAR, DFARS, customer flow-downs, and multiple contract types, including FFP, CPFF, and T&M.
• Meticulous recordkeeping skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage complex matters with minimal oversight.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively across multiple business functions.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and professionalism when handling confidential, proprietary, export-controlled, or sensitive information.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.
• Ability to align with RAVN's core principles of Ownership, Innovation, Integrity, Credibility, and Collaboration.

Desired Experience/Skills

• Professional certification such as Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM) or Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM).
• Formal training or certification in ITAR, EAR, export controls, sanctions, or international trade compliance.
• Experience supporting export licenses, TAAs, MLAs, exemptions, exceptions, provisos, disclosures, audits, and corrective actions.
• Experience conducting restricted-party screening and international partner, supplier, consultant, or subcontractor due diligence.
• Experience supporting complex, high-value aerospace or defense R&D, production, or services programs.
• A growth-oriented mindset, positive can-do attitude, and demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and process improvement.

Physical Demands

• Regular use of computers and other standard office equipment.
• Regular use of hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls.
• Ability to work full time in an office environment at RAVN Headquarters.
• Periodic work in aircraft hangar, ramp, warehouse, or other operational environments may be required.
• Specific work hours may vary based on operational, departmental, or contractual requirements.
• Periodic travel, including possible OCONUS travel, may be required based on business needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Authorization

• Must be a U.S. citizen due to the position's access to export-controlled information and ability-to-obtain-clearance requirement.
• Must be lawfully eligible to work in the United States and complete an I-9 Form.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain applicable security clearances and access credentials.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and meet company driving requirements.
• RAVN Aerospace is a Drug & Alcohol-Free Workplace. Pre-employment, random, or for-cause drug/alcohol testing, including testing for marijuana, may be required as applicable.

RAVN Aerospace is an EEO/AA/Disabled/Veterans Employer.

I understand that if an offer of employment is made, I may be required to undergo investigation into all statements and references contained in this application. Said investigation may include credit, driving, criminal background, professional references, and other background checks. By applying for this position, I authorize post-offer investigation into my background as necessary and as a condition of employment. Note: a criminal conviction does not constitute an automatic bar to employment and will be considered only as it substantially relates to the position in question.