Contracts Operations Lead - Scale Compliance & Automation

Axle Labs; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Axle Labs in Rockville, MD is seeking a Contracts Operations Manager to lead a team responsible for post-award to closeout contract administration across government and commercial engagements. You will build the operational structure, KPIs, and automation to scale the function, coordinate with Business Development, Program Management, Finance, and Legal, and ensure on-time, compliant delivery.

The role requires in-person presence at our Rockville office and a proven track record in contract

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Contract Management, or related field.
• 5+ years of contracts administration or contracts operations experience, including Government contracting.
• At least 2–3 years directly managing or supervising a team.
• Working knowledge of the FAR and related supplements.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate across functions (Business Development, Program Management, Finance, Legal) to drive contract execution.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day execution of contract administration work to ensure deliverables, deadlines, and compliance requirements are consistently met
• Set team KPIs, conduct performance reviews and coaching, and support hiring, training, and succession planning
• Serve as the escalation point for complex contract issues, stepping in hands-on when needed while keeping the team accountable for their own work
• Track contract status, deliverables, and risk across the portfolio, surfacing issues to leadership and cross-functional partners before they become problems

Skills

Team leadership

Cross-functional coordination

Contract management

Automation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Contract Management

Tools

Deltek Costpoint

Unanet

GovWin

Job description

Axle Labs in Rockville, MD is seeking a Contracts Operations Manager to lead a team responsible for post-award to closeout contract administration across government and commercial engagements. You will build the operational structure, KPIs, and automation to scale the function, coordinate with Business Development, Program Management, Finance, and Legal, and ensure on-time, compliant delivery.

The role requires in-person presence at our Rockville office and a proven track record in contract