Senior Contracts Specialist

Senior Contracts Specialist at Raytheon Australia

Your mission starts here at Raytheon Australia! We are seeking a bright and energised Senior Contracts Specialist to join our team of outstanding people. This role offers extraordinary opportunities for learning, mentoring, and professional development, backed by global expertise and a supportive culture, including flexible work and career growth.

This is your opportunity to join a fast-moving company working on interesting and unique projects to support Australia’s defence mission and contribute to the critical outcomes of the Australian Defence Force.

About the Role

The Senior Contracts Specialist will play an important role in the Defence Support Systems Product Line, primarily supporting programs based in Southeast Queensland. This position is responsible for the end-to-end contract management of an existing program, acting as the primary contractual interface with both the Customer and our suppliers.

Working in true lockstep with the program leadership team (including Program Management, Engineering, and Finance), the Senior Contracts Specialist will provide day-to-day contractual support, while also offering strategic guidance that will enable effective delivery and future program growth.

The Senior Contracts Specialist is expected to operate semi-autonomously within the program, with oversight, escalation support, and professional guidance provided by a Senior Contracts Manager who sits outside of the program structure. This role suits a capable contracts professional comfortable taking ownership of an established program, whether as a steady, seasoned contributor or as a high-performing early career specialist looking to step up into a broader, more senior role.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure contractual compliance in accordance with company policies, plans, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Manage the end-to-end contractual aspects of an assigned program(s), embedding strong contract management fundamentals including accurate filing, record keeping, correspondence, and adherence to contractual requirements (ASDEFCON).
• Act as the primary contractual interface with the customer and key suppliers, ensuring timely, professional, and effective communication.
• Build and maintain strong and trusted relationships with internal stakeholders across Program Management, Engineering, and Finance disciplines, working in lock-step to influence outcomes and enable delivery.
• Provide pragmatic and commercially sound advice to the program(s), offering solutions that balance contractual rigour with delivery realities.
• Proactively identify and manage contractual risks and issues, remaining responsive and forward-looking, rather than reactive.
• Escalate strategic or high-risk matters to the Senior Contracts Manager as required.
• Support defined parcels of growth within the program(s) including contract changes, variations, and scope extensions.
• Maintain awareness of supplier due diligence requirements and support supplier optimisation activities in line with program and organisational objectives.
• Undertake domestic travel (and potentially internationally) as required to support program and stakeholder engagements.

Skills, Experience And Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Law, Business, Commerce, or a related discipline; or equivalent practical experience with strong transferable skills.
• Demonstrated experience in a contracts, commercial, or procurement role within a complex project or program environment.
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication; including the ability to articulate contractual positions to those without a working contract management knowledge base.
• Familiarity with ASDEFCON Contracting frameworks and Defence contracting practices (or the ability to rapidly build proficiency).
• Exposure to procurement activities, including support from simple tenders, contract formation, or contract change processes.
• Sound understanding of contract management principles and commercial risk, with the judgement and ability to apply them in a way which balances contractual compliance with commercial outcomes/delivery priorities.
• Strong initiative and personal drive, with the ability to take ownership, anticipate issues, and progress work with minimal supervision.
• Awareness of the current Defence and Defence Industry environment, including its operating context, constraints, and priorities; and comfort working in a dynamic environment.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an Australian Government security clearance (Baseline and/or NV1).

Key skills/competency

• Contract Management
• ASDEFCON
• Commercial Risk
• Supplier Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Contractual Compliance
• Program Support
• Procurement
• Defence Industry
• Negotiation