Government Contracts Manager

Vannevar Labs; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote friendly with WeWork access

401(k) match

Unlimited PTO

Fully paid parental leave

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Company-wide off time at year end

Job summary

Vannevar Labs in Washington, DC is seeking a Contracts Manager to scale operations within our Legal/GRC team. You will build and maintain government contracts, ensure compliance, and drive efficient workflows across capture, revenue, and finance.

You’ll work on government contracts with a strategic, process-oriented mindset and partner with stakeholders to improve processes. The role requires 3+ years in government contracting, knowledge of FAR/DFARS, and experience with OTAs and multi-award

Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant government contracting experience.
• Knowledge of the FAR/DFARS and agency supplements.
• Experience with OTAs, GSA schedules, GWACs, BPAs, and other contract vehicles.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects.
• Proven initiative and resourcefulness to achieve ambitious goals.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Fluency with spreadsheets and data-driven decision making.
• Interest in AI/ML, law, privacy, and cybersecurity.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain government contracts management processes from pre-contract activities to final milestones.
• Build AI-native workflows into contract management and compliance processes.
• Maintain government contract registration, reporting, and disclosures in SAM.gov, PIEE, CPARS.
• Assist in negotiating and administering agreements with customers, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Provide frontline support for contract-related requests from internal stakeholders.
• Monitor contract performance on complex government contracts and escalate challenges.
• Design and implement policies to ensure compliance with laws and regulations including export control/OFAC and FAR/DFARs.

Skills

Government contracting

FAR/DFARS knowledge

Cross-functional leadership

Data-driven decisions

Strategic planning

Attention to detail

Tools

SAM.gov

PIEE

CPARS

GSA schedules

GWACs

OTAs

Job description

Vannevar is a defense technology company building AI to deter our adversaries.In the 21st century, conflict moves at algorithmic speed and foresight equals firepower. Our agentic AI is purpose-built to compete with China—from cross-Strait conflict to gray zone coercion. Trained on the most mission-relevant datasets in defense, our technology models adversary behavior, simulates campaigns, and recommends the best course of action to decision makers. Our AI systems are some of the most trusted in the industry and actively used on the front lines of the Indo-Pacific to keep the peace and save lives.

Exceptional technology starts with exceptional people. Vannevar is a small agile team combining world‑class engineers with veteran strategists who bring deep expertise in defense and tradecraft. We’re building a company defined by mission impact, user empathy, and disciplined growth. In just three years, we grew from $3M to $80M in ARR, achieved early profitability, and reached unicorn status—proving that disruption doesn’t require an ego, and staying power doesn’t mean standing still.

About the role

We're looking for a Contracts Manager to help us stay organized as we scale.You are ambitious and thrive in a fast-paced and quickly evolving environment, but are also detailed, process oriented, and organized. You are strategic. You’re focused on where we’re going and build the plans and processes to support our goals. At this point we’re still learning. You’re energized by the prospect of creating new tools and processes to make the company operate more effectively, and not afraid to make changes when the first, or second, attempt can be improved.

As contractsmanager, you will work fromwithinthe Legal/GRC team across capture, revenue, and finance organizations to build and maintain contract files, assist with managing government contracts compliance, and createthe workflowsand processesto drive efficiency in existing and new business requirements.

What you’ll do

• Developandmaintaingovernment contracts management processes, from pre-contract activities tofinalcontract milestones/deliverables
• Build AI-native workflows into contract management and complianceprocesses – replacing manual review wherever possible
• Maintaingovernment contractregistration, reporting, and disclosures in government systems such as SAM.gov, PIEE, CPARS, etc.
• Assistin negotiating and administering agreements with our customers, subcontractors, and vendors, ensuring adherence to company policies and government regulations
• Provide frontline support for contract-related requests from internal stakeholders; respond to inquiries from customers, subcontractors, and vendors
• Monitor contract performance on complex government contracts; identifying and escalating challenges that may threaten performance
• Design and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with laws and regulations in support of our federal business including export control/OFAC and FAR/DFARs requirements

What we’re looking for

• 3+ yearsrelevant experience (e.g.government contractingspecialistorcontractingofficer,contracts manageratadefensecontractor, or paralegal or legal ops experience)
• Knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement (DFARS), and other agency supplements
• Experience withOther Transaction Agreements (OTAs)GSA schedules, Government Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), BPAs, and other multi-award contract vehicles
• Experience leading cross-functional projects
• A track recordof taking initiative and being resourceful toaccomplishambitious goals
• Effective organizational skills and ability to jugglemany competingpriorities
• Fluency with spreadsheets, basic statistics, and an ability to use data to drive decisions
• Interest in AI/ML, law, privacy, and cybersecurity

What we value

• Experience with government acquisitions via Broad Agency Announcement, Commercial Solutions Opening,SBIR Phase 3, Consortiums, and other unique competitive and non-competitive government procurement types
• Knowledge of governmentcontractand subcontract processes including flow downs, change management, inspection, acceptance, payment, warranty,close-outand records retention
• Experience at a startup, defense contractor, or high-growth technology company
• Experience negotiating subcontracts on Federal programs
• Active Security Clearance(or ability to obtain one) and willingness to travel onsite.

What we offer

We’re proud to offer competitive benefits that support our employees. Some key highlights of our benefits package include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Remote friendly with WeWork access
• Unlimited PTO, shared downtime during the federal holiday calendar, and company-wide off time at the end of each year
• 401(k) match
• Salary top-up during military reserve duty
• Fully paid parental leave
• Child and pet care reimbursement during travel

Vannevar is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.