Contracts Operations Manager

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

Job summary

Axle Energy in Rockville, MD is seeking a Contracts Operations Manager to lead a team responsible for contract administration across government and commercial engagements.

You will oversee day-to-day operations from post-award through closeout, build scalable processes, and coordinate with Business Development, Finance, and Legal to prevent gaps.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business or related field.
• 5+ years in contracts administration or operations, including government work.
• 2–3 years supervising a team.
• Knowledge of FAR and related supplements.
• Coordinate across functions to drive execution.
• Experience automating workflows to improve operations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day contract administration and ensure timely deliverables.
• Set KPIs, conduct performance reviews, and support hiring and training.
• Coordinate with Business Units to track requirements and execution.
• Escalate issues and build scalable processes.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Contract Management

Tools

Deltek Costpoint

Unanet

GovWin

Job description

Contracts Operations Manager

Summary

We are seeking a Contracts Operations Manager to lead and oversee a team responsible for contract administration across government and commercial engagements. Success will be indicated by the team's work consistently getting done on time, in compliance, and coordinated with every function that touches a contract. The ideal candidate ensures accountability within the team while working closely with Business Development, Program Management, Finance, and Legal so nothing falls through the cracks between functions.

Role Overview

The Contracts Operations Manager will manage a team executing day-to-day contract administration — from post-award through closeout while building the operational structure, tools, and processes that let that work scale as Axle expands. This role oversees the team's output and priorities, escalates and resolves issues that cross functional lines, and is accountable for the team consistently delivering even as priorities shift. This role requires an in-person presence in our Rockville, MD office.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Oversight

• 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

Cross-Functional Contract Operations

• Coordinate with various Business Units to ensure contract requirements are understood, tracked, and executed across teams
• Act as the operational link between Contracts leadership and other functions, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks between proposal, award, and execution
• Track contract status, deliverables, and risk across the portfolio, surfacing issues to leadership and cross-functional partners before they become problems

Compliance & Process Support

• Ensure the team's work complies with FAR, DFARS, and applicable commercial contract terms
• Oversee subcontracting plan compliance, SAM reporting, and other recurring compliance obligations
• Maintain and enforce standard operating procedures for contract administration across the team

Systems, Automation & Continuous Improvement

• Identify manual, repetitive, or inconsistent contracts processes and implement automation and digitalization to improve accuracy and scale
• Build and refine operational infrastructure to support Axle's expansion into commercial contracting
• Evaluate and implement contract management systems and tools, training the team on adoption

Required 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 Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and related supplements
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate across functions (Business Development, Program Management, Finance, Legal) to drive contract execution
• Proven track record of implementing automation or new systems to improve team operations
• Comfortable overseeing team output while remaining hands-on on complex or escalated items

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting or transitioning into commercial contracting alongside Government work
• Exposure to GSA Schedules, IDIQs, or other Government contract vehicles
• Experience with contract management systems (e.g., Deltek Costpoint, Unanet, GovWin)

What Success Looks Like

• The contracts team consistently meets deadlines and compliance requirements without last-minute scrambles
• Cross-functional partners view Contracts as a reliable, coordinated partner rather than a bottleneck
• Contract processes are increasingly standardized, automated, and scalable
• The team is well-managed, developing, and equipped to handle shifting priorities

Salary Range: $120,000 — $140,000 USD