Contracts Manager

Candidates With a Future; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Candidates With a Future seeks an experienced Contracts Manager in the Arlington area. This role is a hands-on, individual contributor position focused on reviewing, negotiating, and managing contracts, NDAs, and subcontracts while identifying risks and ensuring obligations are clearly understood and enforced.

The ideal candidate will handle government and commercial agreements, flow-down requirements, and compliance with FAR/DFARS, collaborating with finance, purchasing, engineering, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated experience in contract management or administration.
• Strong negotiation and redlining of complex terms.
• Experience preparing NDAs, supplier agreements, and subcontracts.
• Understanding of flow-down requirements and risk mitigation.
• Familiarity with FAR/DFARS government contracting.

Responsibilities

• Review and negotiate customer contracts, POs, and related docs.
• Identify unfavorable provisions, risks, inconsistencies, and clarifications.
• Redline terms to protect organizational interests and obligations.
• Manage contract lifecycle from review to closeout.
• Ensure NDAs and confidentiality agreements are prepared and administered.
• Coordinate with customers, vendors, and subcontractors on negotiations.
• Maintain accurate contract documentation and compliance.
• Monitor modifications for scope, obligations, or risk.
• Ensure proper flow-down to suppliers and subcontractors.
• Support government contracting compliance with FAR/DFARS.

Skills

Contract management

Negotiation

Risk assessment

Attention to detail

Independent worker

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Contract Management, Finance, Legal Studies, or related field

Tools

NDAs

Subcontracts

Contract flow-down

FAR/DFARS

Job description

We are seeking an experienced, detail-oriented Contracts Manager to join an established organization supporting complex manufacturing and government-related programs.

This is a hands-on, individual contributor position for someone who enjoys working directly with contracts, identifying potential risks, negotiating terms, and ensuring contractual obligations are clearly understood and properly managed.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience reviewing and negotiating commercial and government contracts, managing nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), evaluating terms and conditions, and ensuring contractual requirements are appropriately flowed down to vendors and subcontractors.

This opportunity is particularly well suited for a contracts professional who is comfortable independently managing the details of contract administration while collaborating with leadership, finance, purchasing, engineering, and program management.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Review and Risk Management

Conduct detailed reviews of customer contracts, purchase orders, agreements, and related contractual documentation.

Identify potentially unfavorable provisions, contractual risks, inconsistencies, and areas requiring clarification.

Review, negotiate, and redline contractual terms and conditions to protect organizational interests.

Evaluate liability, indemnification, warranties, termination provisions, intellectual property rights, and other contractual obligations.

Proactively identify contractual concerns and recommend practical solutions before agreements are executed.

Contract Negotiation and Administration

Manage the contract lifecycle, including review, negotiation, execution, modification, and closeout.

Prepare, review, negotiate, and administer nondisclosure agreements and confidentiality agreements.

Support contract negotiations with customers, vendors, and subcontractors.

Maintain accurate contract documentation and monitor compliance with contractual commitments.

Review contract modifications and amendments to identify changes in scope, obligations, or risk.

Subcontracts and Flow-Down Requirements

Review vendor agreements and subcontracts to ensure alignment with customer requirements.

Identify applicable contractual flow-down provisions and ensure they are properly incorporated into supplier and subcontractor agreements.

Evaluate subcontractor terms and conditions for potential conflicts or unacceptable risks.

Work with purchasing and program management to address supplier-related contractual issues.

Government Contracting and Compliance

Review applicable government contracting requirements, including FAR and DFARS provisions.

Support compliance with contractual obligations and applicable regulations.

Assist internal stakeholders in understanding government contract clauses and customer-imposed requirements.

Identify and help resolve contractual compliance concerns.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with executive leadership, finance, purchasing, engineering, and program management.

Provide clear guidance regarding contractual requirements, risks, and potential solutions.

Support proposal reviews, contract negotiations, and post-award contract administration.

Maintain organized records of contractual agreements, changes, and correspondence.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Contract Management, Finance, Legal Studies, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

Demonstrated experience in contract management, contract administration, or a closely related function.

Strong experience reviewing, negotiating, and redlining complex contractual terms and conditions.

Experience preparing and managing NDAs, supplier agreements, and subcontracts.

Understanding of contractual risk identification and mitigation.

Experience reviewing and implementing contractual flow-down requirements.

Familiarity with FAR, DFARS, and government contracting requirements.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Excellent attention to detail, organization, and analytical capabilities.

Ability to work independently and manage multiple contractual priorities.

Ability to work onsite five days per week in the Arlington Area.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting aerospace, defense, government contracting, or complex manufacturing environments.

Familiarity with prime contractor and subcontractor relationships.

Experience supporting engineered-to-order or project-based manufacturing programs.

Knowledge of government procurement procedures and compliance requirements.

Professional contract management certification, such as CPCM or CFCM.