Contracts Manager in Merrifield

Energy Jobline ZR; Merrifield (VA); On-site; USD 92,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos seeks an experienced Contracts Manager to support its Solutions Business Area within the Intelligence Sector. The role focuses on cradle-to-grave contract administration, risk management, and strategic guidance across a portfolio of Intelligence Community programs.

The position is located in Chantilly, VA, with optional work location in St. Louis, MO, and requires active Top Secret/SCI with CI polygraph.

Qualifications

• Cradle-to-grave contract administration for U.S. Government contracts.
• Experience with multiple contract types and FAR/DFAR knowledge.
• Ability to review RFPs and prepare compliant Contracts Volumes.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Experience with highly classified environments and IC programs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary contractual advisor to programs, captures, and leadership.
• Provide strategic guidance on risk, compliance, negotiation, and business decisions.
• Advise capture and proposal teams on acquisition strategies and requirements.
• Lead negotiations and administration of contracts, NDAs, and teaming agreements.
• Build relationships with government customers and internal stakeholders.
• Resolve complex contractual matters with cross-functional teams.
• Ensure compliance with FAR/DFAR and customer policies.
• Identify process improvements and mitigate risks across the portfolio.

Skills

Contract administration

cradle-to-grave contracts

Negotiation

Risk management

Leadership

OCI Plans

Analytical skills

Communication

Presentation skills

Collaboration

Education

BA degree with 8+ years experience

Master's degree with 6+ years experience

Job description

Job Description

Description

Contracts Manager – Solutions

Are you ready to apply your contracts expertise to some of the Intelligence Community's most critical missions? Leidos is seeking an experienced Contracts Manager to support our Solutions Business Area within the Intelligence Sector. This is an exciting opportunity to partner with business leaders, program teams, and Intelligence Community customers to deliver innovative solutions that strengthen security.

The location for this position is Chantilly, VA, with St. Louis, MO also being an acceptable work location.

Why This Role Matters

As a Contracts Manager, you will play a key role in supporting a diverse portfolio of Intelligence Community programs and captures. You will serve as a trusted business partner, providing strategic contractual guidance throughout the entire contract lifecycle—from proposal development through contract negotiation, administration, and closeout.

You will work closely with program management, business development, finance, legal, procurement, and executive leadership to help drive mission success while ensuring compliance with company policies and government regulations.

What Makes This Opportunity Unique

• Mission Impact: Support programs and initiatives that directly contribute to U.S. security and Intelligence Community objectives.
• Strategic Partnership: Collaborate with business leaders and program teams to shape acquisition strategies and contractual approaches.
• Complex Challenges: Manage a portfolio of sophisticated government contracts across multiple contract types and customers.
• Professional Growth: Expand your expertise while working alongside experienced contracts professionals and business leaders.
• Innovation and Collaboration: Help drive effective business solutions in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Primary Responsibilities

As a Contracts Manager, you will serve as a strategic business partner to program managers, capture leaders, and senior business leadership for a portfolio of Intelligence Community programs and pursuits. Beyond contract administration, you will provide thoughtful contractual guidance that helps leaders make informed business decisions, manage risk, strengthen customer relationships, and pursue growth opportunities with confidence.

Success in this role requires balancing mission objectives, customer expectations, regulatory compliance, and business goals. You will be expected to anticipate contractual challenges, identify creative and compliant solutions, and influence outcomes through collaboration with internal stakeholders and government customers. The ideal candidate is someone who can translate complex contractual issues into practical business advice and become a trusted advisor to both leadership and program teams.

Key responsibilities include:

• Serve as the primary contractual advisor to assigned programs, captures, and business leaders.
• Provide strategic guidance on contractual risk, compliance, negotiation strategies, and business decision-making.
• Support growth initiatives by advising capture and proposal teams on acquisition strategies, solicitation requirements, and contractual approaches.
• Lead negotiations and administration of contracts, modifications, teaming agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and other business arrangements.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with government customers, industry partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Partner with Program Management, Business Development, Finance, Legal, and Supply Chain teams to resolve complex contractual matters and achieve business objectives.
• Ensure compliance with applicable contractual requirements, company policies, FAR/DFAR regulations, and customer-specific acquisition policies.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, mitigate risk, and enhance overall business performance across the portfolio.

What You Bring

• Educational Foundation: Requires a BA degree and 8+ years of relevant experience, or Master's degree with 6+ years of relevant experience.

• Contracts Expertise: Demonstrated experience providing cradle-to-grave contract administration and management support for U.S. Government contracts, subcontracts, and proposal support including experience with a variety contract types, advanced knowledge of FAR/DFAR and the emerging Federal acquisition environment.

• Leadership Excellence: Must be able to appropriately prioritize work activities and have experience leading the review and analysis of RFP's, the preparation of compliant and complete Contracts Volumes, and OCI Plans. Strong analytical, negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.

• Agility & Collaboration: Proven ability to work in fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities and demonstrated success in identifying and managing risks in support of achievement of business goals. Candidate will spend time co-located with program teams supported.

• Negotiation Mastery: Strategic thinker with advanced-level skills in complex terms and conditions negotiations.

• Security Clearance: Experience supporting Intelligence Community customers and programs and an active Top Secret/SCI with CIpolygraph required.

Qualifications

Candidates with one or more of the following qualifications are strongly :

• Experience supporting Intelligence Community agencies, programs, and acquisition organizations.
• Knowledge of IC-specific acquisition regulations, policies, and contracting practices.
• Formal contracts training, certification, or professional development coursework (NCMA, CPCM, CFCM, or equivalent).
• Experience supporting large captures, strategic pursuits, and proposal efforts.
• Demonstrated success negotiating complex contractual issues and business agreements.
• Experience working in highly classified environments and supporting sensitive security programs.

Ready to Make an Impact?

Join Leidos and become part of a team that delivers innovative solutions to some of the nation's most important security challenges. You'll have the opportunity to work alongside exceptional professionals, support critical Intelligence Community missions, and grow your career in one of the most dynamic areas of government contracting.

Original Posting: October 2, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range: Pay Range $92,300.00 - $166,850.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement.

• Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail].

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to , , , , , citizenship, , physical or mental , medical condition, genetic information, , family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, , or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.