Contracts Manager
Riverside Research Institute
Summary
The Contracts Manager supports cradle-to-grave contract lifecycle management for a diverse portfolio of government and commercial contracts. This role ensures compliance with applicable regulations, contractual requirements, and company policies while facilitating efficient contract execution, risk management, and business growth.
Job description
Position Overview
The Contracts Manager supports cradle-to-grave contract lifecycle management for a diverse portfolio of government and commercial contracts. This role ensures compliance with applicable regulations, contractual requirements, and company policies while facilitating efficient contract execution, risk management, and business growth.
This is a mid-level position suited for experienced contracts professionals who can independently manage complex contractual matters, negotiate favorable business terms, and provide strategic guidance to leadership. The ideal candidate will possess experience with federal government contracting as well as demonstrated expertise supporting commercial contracting environments, technology licensing, and non-traditional contracting mechanisms. The position requires independent judgment and the ability to identify, analyze, and resolve significant contractual, compliance, and business issues.
Contract Formation & Negotiation
- Draft, review, negotiate, and administer a variety of government and commercial agreements, including prime contracts, subcontracts, task orders, OTAs, CRADAs, NDAs, teaming agreements, reseller agreements, and commercial services agreements.
- Coordinate contract terms and conditions with internal stakeholders, including Finance, Procurement, and Program Management teams.
- Support cradle to grave proposal development by reviewing solicitation, assessing contractual risk, drafting contract volumes, and ensuring compliance with solicitation requirements.
- Lead negotiations involving terms and conditions, intellectual property rights, data rights, licensing provisions, and other business considerations.
Contract Administration & Management
- Manage contracts throughout the full lifecycle, including award, modification, funding management, performance monitoring, and closeout.
- Maintain and track active contract files, modifications, funding ceilings, deliverables, key milestones, and periods of performance.
- Serve as the primary contractual interface with government contracting officers, contracting officer representatives, subcontractors, consortium managers, commercial customers, and strategic partners.
- Ensure timely and compliant contract closeout and records retention.
Compliance & Risk Mitigation
- Interpret and apply FAR, DFARS, agency supplements, and commercial contracting principles as applicable.
- Identify contractual, compliance, financial, and business risks and develop mitigation strategies.
- Support internal audits, DCAA audits, DCMA reviews, and other compliance assessments.
Process Improvement
- Recommend and implement improvements to contract management processes, templates, playbooks, and documentation standards.
- Promote consistency, efficiency, and compliance across the contracts function.
Leadership
- Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively across the organization to develop practical business solutions.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to program leadership and executive management on contractual matters.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, Contracts Management, Finance, Law, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
- 8+ years of progressive experience in contract administration and management within a federal contracting environment
- Knowledge of commercial contracting activities, including Commercial Products and Services, FAR Part 12 acquisitions
- Active TS or TS/SCI security clearance
- Demonstrated expertise in FAR, DFARS, and federal acquisition regulations
- Experience supporting proposal development, including contractual compliance reviews and cost volume participation
- Hands-on experience administering Cost-Reimbursement, Firm-Fixed-Price, Time-and-Materials, Labor-Hour, IDIQ, GSA Schedule, and commercial agreements
- Strong analytical, negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Proficiency with contract management and ERP systems, preferably Deltek Costpoint
- High attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities
- Thorough understanding of subcontracting, flow-down requirements, contract risk management, and intellectual property considerations
- Master's degree preferred
- NCMA Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) or Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM) preferred
- Knowledge of government property management requirements under FAR Part 45 and FAR 52.245-1 preferred
- Familiarity with DCMA, DCAA, and other federal compliance reviews preferred
- Administering Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) and other non-traditional acquisition vehicles as a consortium manager preferred
Benefits
- Comprehensive compensation and benefits package
Company overview
Riverside Research Institute is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1967 and chartered to advance scientific research for the benefit of the U.S. government and public interest. Operating as a national security nonprofit, the institute specializes in delivering innovative solutions for the defense and intelligence communities' most challenging problems. Through its open innovation concept, Riverside Research conducts multidisciplinary research and development across diverse technological domains including artificial intelligence, machine learning, optics and photonics, electromagnetics, plasma physics, radio frequency systems, and biomedical engineering. The organization focuses on moving science from the laboratory to the field by building teams of recognized experts who deliver high-value solutions and services to government customers. With a strong emphasis on national security, Riverside Research provides technical, engineering, and advisory support to agencies such as the Department of Defense, Air Force Research Laboratory, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and other federal organizations. The institute's work spans critical areas including cybersecurity, sensor technologies, trusted systems, modeling and simulation, and advanced radar development, positioning it as a key partner in advancing U.S. technological capabilities for defense and intelligence applications.