Program Contracts Manager
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
You will own contract operations, subcontract administration, milestone acceptance coordination, invoice readiness, and execution governance for a major US defense program. You will build the systems, processes, templates, and operating rhythms that allow the program team to execute effectively while keeping subcontractors, deliverables, invoices, modifications, and contractual obligations aligned. You will manage the full lifecycle of contracts and subcontracts, draft and negotiate agreements, coordinate acceptance packages and invoice-support documentation, flag contractual and compliance risks, and maintain audit-ready records. You will design scalable contract operations processes, support program leadership with change-impact assessments and decision-ready recommendations, and operate independently without established playbooks.
Requirements
- Experience administering and negotiating contracts and subcontracts in a U.S. defense contracting environment
- Experience drafting, redlining, and negotiating contract language
- Experience translating prime contract requirements into subcontract flow-downs
- Experience supporting milestone-based deliverables and contract execution
- Experience building lightweight repeatable processes in fast-moving or immature environments
- Ability to operate independently within a matrixed organization
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and making defensible decisions without complete information
- US Citizen
- Preferred: experience supporting defense technology or software programs
- Preferred: familiarity with Other Transaction (OT/OTA) contracts
- Preferred: experience working with acceptance-based invoicing models
- Preferred: experience supporting multi-party subcontractor ecosystems
- Preferred: familiarity with DoW program execution environments
- Preferred: NCMA CPCM or CFCM certification
Responsibilities
- Manage the full lifecycle of contracts, subcontracts, teaming agreements, and consulting arrangements
- Draft, review, negotiate, and administer subcontract agreements and modifications
- Translate prime agreement requirements into executable subcontract structures
- Maintain subcontract records, deliverables, milestones, and commercial terms
- Coordinate with program leadership and finance on business positions and negotiations
- Develop and manage milestone tracking and contract execution artifacts
- Coordinate acceptance-package development across technical, program, and finance stakeholders
- Build invoice-support packages and readiness documentation
- Identify and flag contractual and compliance risks before they become program or legal issues
- Maintain audit-ready records and submission documentation
- Design templates, trackers, governance processes, and escalation paths
- Establish standards for documentation, reporting, and contract governance
- Conduct change-impact assessments and modification analysis
- Develop decision-ready recommendations for leadership review
- Support customer correspondence, clarification requests, and issue resolution
- Escalate complex issues with facts, options, and recommended courses of action
Benefits
- 100% employer paid comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision for employee and family
- Unlimited PTO with manager approval
- 14 weeks of fully-paid parental leave
- Flexible work environment
- Fully remote work
- Optional 401K, FSA, and equity incentives
- Mental health benefits through Tara Mind
- GLP-1 solutions through Crux
- Bonus and equity package
- Professional development and continued learning opportunities