Contracts Manager

Red Arch Solutions; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Arch Solutions is seeking an experienced Contracts Manager to lead cradle-to-grave prime contract and subcontract administration across our growing Defense and IC portfolio. The role reports to corporate leadership and requires a proactive self-starter who can govern complex agreements with minimal supervision.

The ideal candidate brings a track record in DoD/IC contracting, CPSR readiness, and strategic negotiations, managing the full lifecycle of prime and subcontract terms with oversight

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years of progressive government contracting and subcontracting experience in the DoD/IC/DoW space.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance required.
• Deep knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and federal procurement standards.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Legal Studies, Supply Chain Management, or related field (or equivalent experience).

Responsibilities

• Oversee cradle-to-grave prime contracts and subcontracts for multi-million dollar federal programs.
• Draft, review, and negotiate NDAs, TA s, subcontracts, and JV structures with risk-controlled terms.
• Monitor LOF, LOC, burn rates, and forecast finance and option periods for leadership.
• Ensure CPSR readiness and lead audits with DCAA/DCMA and internal teams.
• Identify and mitigate contractual, financial, and compliance risks including OCI.
• Collaborate with BD and Capture to review RFPs/RFIs and contribute to cost proposals.
• Oversee subcontractor performance, deliverables, and communications with primes.
• Serve as primary liaison with Government COs/COTRs and Red Arch executives.

Skills

Contract negotiations

Federal government contracting

FAR/DFARS knowledge

Autonomy & leadership

Agreement drafting

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Legal Studies, Supply Chain Management, or related field

Tools

CobbleStone

Unanet

Job description

Red Arch Solutions is seeking an experienced, highly autonomousContracts Managerto lead cradle-to-grave prime contract and subcontract administration across our growing Defense and Intelligence Community (IC) portfolio.

Reporting directly to corporate executive leadership, this position requires a driven, proactive self-starter who can independently govern complex agreements, advise executive leadership on contractual risk, and manage prime/subcontract lifecycles with minimal supervision. The ideal candidate brings a proven track record of managing multifaceted DoD/DoW agreements, maintaining CPSR audit readiness, and executing strategic negotiations under minimal oversight.

Key Responsibilities

• Autonomous Prime & Subcontract Governance:Serve as the primary authority for full lifecycle administration (pre-award through closeout) for multi-million dollar federal prime contracts and subcontracts. Independently resolve complex contractual issues with minimal executive escalation
• Agreement Architecture & Negotiation:Draft, review, and negotiate complex Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Teaming Agreements (TAs), Subcontracts, and Joint Venture (JV) structures. Lead negotiations to swift closure while safeguarding corporate terms and fee structures
• Strategic Financial & Funding Oversight:Proactively monitor portfolio financial health, including Limitation of Funds (LOF), Limitation of Cost (LOC), burn rates, and ceiling tracking. Formulate and deliver 60/90/120-day executive financial and option-period forecasts without prompting
• CPSR & Audit Leadership:Establish and enforce corporate compliance frameworks to maintain Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR) readiness. Lead representation during internal, external, DCAA, and DCMA audits
• Risk Mitigation & OCI Oversight:Identify and mitigate contractual, financial, and compliance risks—including Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI). Formulate actionable risk-mitigation strategies and alternative contract clauses
• Proposal Development & Capture Alignment:Partner with Business Development and Capture leadership to review RFPs/RFIs, draft compliance matrices, advise on labor category structures, and contribute to cost and pricing proposal development
• Subcontractor Performance Oversight:Oversee subcontract compliance, deliverable tracking, and vendor performance metrics. Drive proactive communications with prime partners and subcontractors to align performance with program objectives
• Executive Liaison:Serve as the principal point of contact for Government Contracting Officers (COs/COTRs), prime contractor representatives, and Red Arch executive management

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience:8–10+ yearsof progressive, direct government contracting and subcontracting experience in the DoD, IC, or DoW space across all major contract types (FFP, T&M, CPFF, CPAF)
• Clearance:ActiveTS/SCIsecurity clearance required
• Regulatory Expertise:Deep, expert-level knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and federal procurement standards
• Autonomy & Leadership:Proven capability to operate independently, manage competing corporate priorities, and make sound contractual decisions with infrequent executive intervention
• Negotiation Proven Track Record:Demonstrated experience successfully negotiating complex prime and subcontract terms with enterprise-level partners and government authorities
• Education:Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Legal Studies, Supply Chain Management, or a related field (or equivalent experience)

Desired Certifications & Skills

• Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) or Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM)
• Hands-on experience with enterprise contract management software (e.g., CobbleStone, Unanet)
• Prior experience preparing a small-to-midsize defense contractor for a formal CPSR audit

Salary range for this position 120,000-180,000