Job Description

Job Title: Contracts Manager

Location: California, Maryland

Impact Summary:

The Contracts Manager is a critical leadership role responsible for managing the full lifecycle of government and commercial contracts to ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, and DoD procurement regulations. This position supports the company’s growth strategy, business development, and ongoing program execution by providing cradle-to-grave contract management. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced aerospace and defense contracting environment and has extensive experience working with prime contractors and the Department of Defense (DoD).

Responsibilities:

• Lead cradle-to-grave contract administration, ensuring full compliance with FAR, DFARS, and other federal procurement laws.
• Manage the review, negotiation, and execution of customer, subcontractor, vendor, and strategic partner contracts.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of contracts, including but not limited to procurement, sales, leases and service agreements.
• Reviews solicitation requests and proposal volumes to proactively identify and mitigate risk areas and ensure compliance with terms and conditions.
• Collaborate with business development and proposal teams to support the preparation and submission of proposals, request for information, sources sought and white paper, ensuring compliance with submission requirements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate non-disclosure agreements, teaming agreements, consulting agreements, contracts, and subcontracts, from proposal stage to project close out ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Administers a portfolio of contracts through negotiation, correspondence, documentation, certification, financial reporting, and product delivery.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and enforcement of contract policies and procedures in line with government regulations and company objectives.
• Work with Program Managers to ensure all contractual obligations, deadlines, and reporting requirements are met.
• Support the identification, mitigation, and resolution of Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) issues.
• Ensure company preparedness for DCAA and DCMA audits, maintaining audit readiness and contract compliance.
• Evaluate and negotiate Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Quotes (RFQs), and contract terms for prime and subcontract agreements.
• Assist in the development of cost proposals, pricing strategies, and indirect rate schedules to support competitive bidding.
• Support proposal writing, compliance checks, and pricing analysis for new business opportunities.
• Advise executive leadership on contractual risk assessments, legal considerations, and negotiation strategies.
• Collaborate with Finance & Accounting teams on indirect rate development and Incurred Cost Submission (ICS) preparation.
• Ensure accuracy in recording contract cost transactions, including labor allocations and direct expenses.
• Support subcontractor and procurement activities, ensuring proper contract flow-down and compliance with government cost principles.
• Work closely with executive leadership to align contract management strategies with business growth objectives.
• Identify and implement process improvements, automation tools, and technologies to enhance contract efficiency.
• Monitor and report key contract performance metrics to senior management.
• Maintain knowledge of emerging trends, regulatory changes, and DoD acquisition strategies.
• Provie guidance to cross-functional teams on contractual matters, including legal and business implications.

Competencies:

• Expertise in government contract management, including FAR, DFARS, ITAR, and compliance audits.
• Experience with Federal Government contract administration/negotiation experience involving all contract types (Fixed Price, Cost Plus Fixed Fee, T&M, IDIQ Task/Delivery Order) from contract award to closeout.
• Experience in developing proposals, estimates for engineering and manufacturing contracts of multiple contract types.
• Ability to manage multiple contract administration tasks in a fast-paced environment
• Deep knowledge of DCAA, DCMA, and federal acquisition policies.
• Ability to interpret, draft, and negotiate complex contract terms and conditions.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills with a high attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Deltek Costpoint, and other contract management software.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for working with government agencies, subcontractors, and executive leadership.

 Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Law, Finance, or related field (An additional five (5) years of experience may substitute for a degree).
• 10+ years of progressive experience in contracts, procurement, and financial administration/management within the DoD aerospace & defense industry.
• Has lead and mentored a team of contracts personnel.
• Proven experience working with prime contractors and government agencies on large-scale defense contracts.
• Strong background in government cost accounting, proposal compliance, and subcontract management.
• CPCM, CFCM, or DAWIA certification is a plus.
• Security Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

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