Manager, Contracts

How you'll help us Keep Climbing (overview & key responsibilities)

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Delta) is a forward‑thinking aviation company dedicated to the continuous growth and innovation within the industry. We’re constantly looking to build upon our successes, adapt to new challenges, and expose our teams to a diverse set of challenges to empower them to further develop as professionals and leaders. The Contract Manager – Contracts position will play a key role within the Delta Legal team, serving as the primary contract steward for the Delta MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) services division, Delta Air Operations Group and the Panama City group (Delta Customer Relationships).

The role will be responsible for drafting, negotiating, and managing vendor and service agreements while coordinating with the:

• Delta Legal team
• Delta Operations Group
• Delta Vendors
• Delta C-suite

• Develop and maintain standard agreement templates in collaboration with the Delta Law Department
• Support time‑sensitive MRO agreements and ensure timely contract development
• Identify and mitigate high‑risk provisions; negotiate modifications where appropriate

• Draft, review, and negotiate subcontracts ensuring compliance with FAR/DFARS and prime contract obligations.
• Perform pre‑award risk assessments on bid proposals for government and military programs.
• Interpret prime contract requirements and advise on subcontractor obligations under federal regulations.
• Ensure proper flow‑down of prime contract terms and compliance with regulatory standards.

• Provide legal and contractual guidance to internal teams to minimize exposure.
• Maintain comprehensive records of negotiated positions and compliance actions.
• Maintain electronic database of all contracts in Salesforce, Ariba and other enterprise tools.

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required
• 4–7 years of contracts‑related experience, preferably in the aviation industry
• Ability to communicate with executives and stakeholders on contract status and negotiations
• Ability to synthesize and summarize complex issues for escalation to executive leadership
• Exceptional analytical, negotiation, and communication skills
• Proficient in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Salesforce; experience with SAP Ariba preferred
• Demonstrates Delta’s core values of integrity, respect, and perseverance
• Must be performing satisfactorily in current position
• Consistently prioritizes safety and security of self, others, and personal data.
• Embraces diverse people, thinking, and styles.
• Possesses a high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency.
• Is at least 18 years of age and has authorization to work in the United States.

• JD or advanced legal degree strongly preferred; MBA a plus
• 2‑4 years managing a team of high‑performing individual contributors
• Experience as a prime contractor and/or a subcontractor in military/government aviation programs
• Aviation MRO services experience
• 5+ years of experience in U.S. Government contracting, with emphasis on military programs and subcontracting structures
• Expert knowledge of FAR/DFARS, SSOW, PWS, IDIQs, GTAs, and related frameworks
• High attention to detail and ability to manage complex compliance requirements

Our culture is rooted in a shared dedication to living our values – Care, Integrity, Resilience, Servant Leadership, and Teamwork – every day, in everything we do. At Delta, our people are our success. At the heart of what we offer is our focus on Sharing Success with Delta employees. Exploring a career at Delta gives you a chance to see the world while earning great compensation and benefits to help you keep climbing along the way:

• Competitive salary, industry‑leading profit sharing program, and performance incentives
• 401(k) with generous company contributions up to 9%
• Paid time off including vacation, holidays, paid personal time, maternity and parental leave
• Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, vision,…