Director of Contracts

Hanwha Defense USA, Inc.; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanwha Defense USA, Inc. is seeking a Director of Contracts to lead the company’s U.S. defense contracting efforts and ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS across prime, subcontracts and teaming agreements.

The role requires extensive DoD program knowledge and the ability to guide senior leadership on legal and contractual aspects of business operations. The ideal candidate will have 15+ years of U.S. defense contracts experience, hands-on leadership of a contracts team, and a track record in

Qualifications

• 15+ years of U.S. defense contracts experience, incl. leading contracts teams
• Experience negotiating complex prime/subcontracts and teaming agreements
• Deep knowledge of FAR/DFARS, CAS and government regs
• Ability to obtain a DoD Secret Clearance
• Experience with DoD programs, acquisitions and OTAs/IDIQs/TOs

Responsibilities

• Serve as contracts lead for U.S. defense programs and interface with DoD offices and contractors
• Develop and implement contract strategies aligned with growth
• Lead complex negotiations for prime contracts and subcontracts
• Support proposal activities and cost/price development
• Identify contractual risks and manage mitigation strategies
• Build and coach a high-performing contracts team including talent decisions

Skills

Negotiation skills

Communication & briefing

Defense acquisition knowledge

Leadership

Contract principles

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/defense acquisition

MBA / MS / JD preferred

Tools

CRM

ERP

Microsoft Office

Job description

Director of Contracts will lead all efforts to expand our presence in the U.S. defense market by ensuring government contract compliance, leading negotiations, protecting company intellectual property, developing and maturing internal processes, and advising senior leadership on the legal and contractual aspects of business operations. The role requires deep expertise in Department of Defense programs, defense acquisition, and government contracting (OTAs, IDIQs, TOs, etc.). The ideal candidate will have proven experience handling large commercial and government transactions, including post-merger integration (PMI) of acquisitions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the contracts lead for U.S. defense programs, acting as the company’s primary interface with DoD acquisition offices, customer contracts/subcontracts, and key subcontractor/partner contracts personnel.
• Develop, implement and enhance contract strategies that align with company growth initiatives.
• Lead complex negotiations for prime contracts, subcontracts, and teaming agreements, ensuring compliance with FAR/DFARS, CAS, agency-specific regulations, and federal, state, and local laws.
• Participate in proposal activities, including the stage-gate process, color team reviews, and cost/price development, providing recommendations that protect company interests.
• Identify and mitigate contractual risks and develop risk management strategies to ensure adherence to company policy, as well as pertinent laws and regulations.
• Lead and develop a high-performing contracts team, providing coaching, training and development opportunities and conducting personnel actions including hiring, performance management, and terminations.

Qualifications / Experience

• 15+ years of relevant experience in U.S. defense contracts, with a minimum of 2 years managing a contracts team
• Significant experience negotiating business agreements and interpreting complex contracts, including change management, for U.S. Government Agencies.
• Knowledge and understanding of contract principles, theories, concepts, and regulations, and experience applying those practices across varied situations.
• Deep knowledge and extensive experience working with FAR, DFARS, and other government regulations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD Secret Clearance.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed to support program and capture needs.

Special Knowledge / Skills

• Expertise in the U.S. defense acquisition system and ability to navigate complex program requirements across multiple domains.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of competitive dynamics in the defense sector.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to brief senior leaders across internal and external stakeholders.
• Technically conversant in weapon systems and able to articulate company capabilities to a range of audiences.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and common business development platforms (CRM, ERP, etc.).
• Experience working within and managing international contracts / subcontracts

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in business, defense acquisition, or related fields
• Advanced degree (MBA, MS, JD) is preferred

Physical Demands / Work Environment

• Normal amount of sitting or standing, with average mobility to move around an office environment; able to conduct normal work at a computer. Vision abilities required include close vision and ability to adjust focus. Travel domestically (40%) and occasionally internationally (1%) is required.

Hanwha Defense USA is committed to pay transparency and equitable compensation practices. The salary range listed for this position represents a good faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant skills/experience, education and certifications, market conditions, geographic location and internal pay equity. In addition to base salary, employees may be eligible for discretionary annual bonuses, benefits, and other forms of compensation as part of Hanwha Defense USA's total rewards package.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.