WL - Contracts Support Specialist

Ward Leonard, a Fairbanks Morse Defense Company, is an industry-leading provider of electric motor, generator, control, and service solutions critical to Naval applications for more than 120 years. Located in Thomaston, Connecticut, Ward Leonard has worked hard to build a reputation as being a trusted name in powering the defense industry. This trust within the market is not possible without the continued hard work, commitment, and dedication of our team who respect the importance of what we do and the impact it has on the servicemen and women.

Mission-Driven. Honor-Bound. Fairbanks Morse Defense. What's your calling? For the men and women of Fairbanks Morse Defense, it's the rapid and effective support of the fleets that entrust us to design, develop, and deliver the best naval power technology on the planet. We're one of the nation's leading marine defense contractors because of the highly trained and dedicated teams that provide reliable power systems, parts, and aftermarket services to the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and Canadian Coast Guard. When you join Fairbanks Morse Defense, you join a legacy of commitment that spans 150 years. Fairbanks Morse Defense offers competitive benefits with a wide range of training and development opportunities. Our world-class teams are dedicated to helping every individual achieve their full potential. Discover what it's like to be a part of the Fairbanks Morse Defense team here: https://www.fairbanksmorsedefense.com/careers

Position Overview

The Contract Support Specialist will assist in managing the entire lifecycle of business agreements, from initial drafting and coordination through execution and compliance. This role acts as a liaison between internal and external customers, supporting analysis of risks and ensuring all terms protect the company's interests and meet legal and regulatory requirements, while also supporting financial goals and obligations.

This is a newly created position, and an exciting opportunity to join a growing team. This role will help mold, shape, and build out the function, making it a great fit for someone who wants to grow with the organization and have a direct impact on how the role evolves.

This is a strong opportunity for someone in a customer-facing role such as supply chain, procurement, or order management who is looking to expand into the contracts space and gain hands-on exposure to the full contract lifecycle.

This individual must have:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• High attention to detail
• A driven, self-starting mindset
• Flexibility and willingness to learn
• Strong follow-through and accountability
• Confidence working independently and handling direct communication

This role will support multiple departments and require strong coordination across Contracts, Legal, Supply Chain, and Program teams.

In This Function You Will:

• Act as a liaison between Legal and customers on terms and conditions, maintaining a repository of negotiated contract language for quick reference and reuse.
• Build and maintain trackers for contractual deliverables (e.g., CDRL/SDRL-type schedules) and coordinate preparation and submission of required documentation.
• Establish and maintain repositories for supplier quality and contract-related documents, including review history and approvals, to ensure traceability and compliance.
• Coordinate the preparation and submission of annual and recurring documentation required by customers (e.g., certifications, reports, compliance documents).
• Coordinate Small Business Plan-type documentation and similar customer-required plans in accordance with internal and external requirements.
• Support proposal preparation activities, including drafting company overviews, basic technical and management write-ups, and other non-cost sections as needed.
• Establish trackers for manpower needs tied to proposals and contracts and collaborate with functional leaders to assess potential overtime and hiring requirements.
• Monitor smaller, less complex orders to provide status updates to customers, and coordinate with Planning, Operations, and other functions when issues arise.
• Coordinate receipt and distribution of RFQs, including management of customer portal access and documentation.
• Support project schedule management and participate in cross-functional meetings to identify and resolve contract- and schedule-related issues.
• Identify and implement improvements to contract-related processes, tools, and methods to increase efficiency, reduce risk, and support business objectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Management.

Qualifications

Basic (Required):

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of 1-3 years of experience with a Bachelor's degree in contracts, procurement, supply chain, project administration, customer service, or a related business/technical field.
• Candidates without a Bachelor's degree must have a minimum of 4 years of directly related experience in contracts, procurement, supply chain, customer service, or related coordination roles.
• Candidates with an Associate degree must have 1-2 years of additional relevant experience beyond the degree requirement.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, and Excel; must be able to create and maintain spreadsheets, including basic formulas and data tracking.
• Ability to learn ERP, CRM, and contract management systems.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to draft clear business correspondence and contract-related documentation.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, including maintaining contract files, trackers, and document repositories.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and priorities in a fast-paced, project-driven environment.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Preferred:

• Experience supporting pre- and post-award administration of purchase orders or contracts (e.g., fixed-price, time-and-materials, or cost-type).
• Exposure to government or defense contracting (FAR/DFARS) and/or commercial contracting best practices.
• Experience with ERP, MRP, or contract lifecycle management tools.
• Prior involvement in proposal support, RFQ/RFP responses, or customer-facing contract discussions.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate offers, identify risks, and support resolution of contract issues.
• Solid computer skills, including Windows-based operating systems and common business applications (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with internal customers, external customers, and suppliers.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail in drafting, reviewing, and managing documents.

Physical

• Ability to sit at a desk performing normal office work, including frequent computer and phone use, for the majority of the workday.
• Ability to occasionally walk through office, production, or warehouse areas to meet with internal stakeholders.

Fairbanks Morse Defense offers a competitive benefits package including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurances, and 401k retirement plan with employer match. In addition, we offer paid time off, paid holidays, paid parental leave, and tuition reimbursement.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled