Government Contracts Manager

Legal Recruiting Expert  | California Bar, Vanderbilt Law

Location: East Hartford, CT (United States)

Commitment: 40 hours/week

Rate: $80–$110/hr

A leading aerospace and defense technology company is seeking an experienced Contract Manager to support U.S. Government contracting activities for a high‑visibility program. This attorney or contracts professional will manage all stages of the contract lifecycle, lead negotiations, ensure compliance with federal acquisition requirements, and partner closely with engineering, program management, and business functions.

This role is ideal for a contracts expert who is exceptionally detail‑oriented, collaborative, and comfortable advising on complex government contracting issues in a fast‑paced environment.

• Provide legal and contractual guidance on U.S. Government proposals, ensuring compliance with solicitation requirements, FAR/DFARS provisions, and internal review standards.
• Participate in pre‑proposal strategy meetings to identify risks, interpret requirements, and ensure proposal alignment with business objectives.

• Draft, negotiate, and finalize a variety of agreements, including Government contracts, Subcontracts, Teaming agreements, Cooperative agreements, Academic and research partnerships, Commercial customer agreements.
• Ensure negotiated terms mitigate risk, comply with regulatory obligations, and align with company policies.

• Manage the full lifecycle of contracts from initiation to closeout, including modifications, extensions, and amendments.
• Perform contract interpretation and provide guidance to internal stakeholders throughout performance and execution.
• Monitor deliverables, contractual obligations, reporting requirements, and performance milestones.

• Partner with engineering, supply chain, finance, export compliance, and program management teams to assess contractual risk and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Provide training and guidance to internal stakeholders on contract requirements, compliance issues, and negotiation strategy.

• Ensure adherence to relevant federal regulations, including FAR, DFARS, and agency‑specific supplements.
• Identify potential areas of noncompliance or risk exposure and recommend practical solutions.
• Support internal audits, customer audits, and documentation requests.

• Use MS Office, SharePoint, Teams, and other contract management tools to maintain accurate records, drafting, and workflow management.
• Prepare summaries, negotiation positions, and internal briefing materials for leadership review.

• Juris Doctor (JD) or bachelor’s degree with significant government contracting experience.
• Active admission to at least one U.S. state bar if applying as an attorney.

• 8+ years of experience in U.S. Government contracting, preferably within aerospace, defense, engineering, or high‑tech.

• FAR/DFARS application
• Teaming agreements and subcontracting arrangements
• Strong working knowledge of procurement regulations, compliance frameworks, and solicitation evaluation criteria.

• Exceptional negotiation, drafting, and contract interpretation abilities.
• Ability to explain complex regulatory concepts to non‑legal stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and project‑management skills with the ability to manage multiple high‑stakes matters simultaneously.
• Proficiency in MS Office, Teams, SharePoint, and document management systems.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across functions.

• U.S. citizenship required (no clearance required).
• Ability to work onsite or hybrid in East Hartford, CT if needed for key meetings.

• Medical insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)

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