Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

Position LocationArlington, VA / Hybrid / RemoteReports ToChief Executive OfficerTravelApproximately 20-30%, based on acquisition activity, business-unit needs, customer requirements, and leadership meetings.Citizenship / ClearanceU.S. citizenship required. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.Role TypeExecutive leadership roleCompany ContextHeadquartered in Arlington, Virginia, TSC—operating under the Falcata brand—is a defense technology company with more than 50 years of experience providing technical services and solutions to U.S. Government customers. The company supports mission-critical capabilities across airborne sensors and ISR, electronic warfare, precision weapons, radar, air and missile defense, space, and intelligence and information systems.As Falcata enters its next stage of significant organic growth, acquisition activity, and private-equity-backed platform development, the company requires an enterprise marketing and communications leader who can sharpen market positioning, strengthen the brand, build scalable communications capabilities, and support growth and integration across an increasingly complex organization.Position SummaryFalcata is seeking a hands-on, business-oriented Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to lead and scale the company's Contracts function and core administrative operations in support of rapid growth, active acquisition activity, and a more mature platform operating model.The CAO will serve as a builder, operator, and enterprise partner. The successful candidate must be equally comfortable providing executive leadership to Contracts, strengthening policies and controls, integrating acquired administrative functions, improving service delivery, and solving detailed operational issues that affect contract performance, compliance, risk, and scalability.The CAO will have executive ownership of Contracts and related administrative functions assigned to the role, including Facilities and Real Estate, Physical Security, Records and Administrative Services, and other enterprise support capabilities. Legal will remain a separate function. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CAO will report to the CEO and work closely with the CFO, COO, CPO, CGO, Corporate Development, Legal, IT/Cybersecurity, Industrial Security, P&L leaders, Program Management, Finance, and the broader Executive Leadership Team.Key ResponsibilitiesContracts and Subcontracts Strategy, Governance, and ExecutionProvide executive leadership for the Contracts and Subcontracts function and establish a scalable operating model aligned with TSC's growth strategy, customer commitments, acquisition activity, and risk profile.Oversee the full contract lifecycle, including proposal and pre-award support, contract review and negotiation, administration, modifications, change management, claims support, compliance, closeout, and records.Partner with Growth, Finance, Operations, Program Management, and Legal to evaluate contractual terms, risk, pricing and business assumptions, customer requirements, and execution obligations before commitments are made.Establish contract/subcontract policies, delegations of authority, review thresholds, approval workflows, templates, playbooks, metrics, and escalation protocols that improve speed, consistency, accountability, and risk management.Identify and establish metrics and dashboard to measure organization goals, performance, and overall productivity.Ensure appropriate interpretation and administration of FAR, DFARS, agency supplements, contract clauses, flow-down requirements, representations and certifications, and other GovCon obligations in coordination with Legal and subject-matter experts.Build strong relationships with contracting officers, customers, prime contractors, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders while maintaining appropriate separation between business, contractual, and legal decision-making.Provide executive oversight for Subcontracts, with clear accountability for subcontract administration, subcontractor performance, and compliant file documentation.Ensure subcontracting practices support program execution while meeting applicable FAR/DFARS, CPSR, small-business, cost/price analysis, consent, flow-down, and recordkeeping requirements.Work with Supply Chain to ensure that policies, procedures, and practices are aligned and consistently implemented between the two organizations.Provide the CEO and Executive Leadership Team with visibility into material contractual risks, disputes, obligations, trends, and decisions requiring executive attention.Administrative Operations, Facilities, and Enterprise ServicesLead assigned enterprise administrative functions such as Facilities and Real Estate, Physical Security, Records and Administrative Services, and other shared support capabilities designated by the CEO.Develop consistent service standards, policies, budgets, vendor-management practices, performance metrics, and escalation paths across assigned functions.Partner with business-unit and functional leaders on facility capacity, office and site requirements, leases, relocations, acquired locations, workplace services, and other infrastructure needs that support growth.Ensure assigned administrative functions operate with clear ownership, practical controls, responsive service delivery, and appropriate business continuity and risk-management practices.Physical SecurityProvide executive oversight of enterprise physical security, including site access controls, visitor management, physical protection standards, and coordination of security requirements across company facilities.Partner with Facilities, Industrial Security, IT/Cybersecurity, Legal, and business leaders to align physical security controls with classified-program, customer, regulatory, and business-continuity requirements.Integrate physical security requirements into new facilities, relocations, and acquired locations, with consistent standards, accountability, incident escalation, and vendor oversight.M&A, Integration, and Platform ScalingPartner with Corporate Development, Finance, Legal, Human Capital, IT, Security, and operating leaders across the M&A lifecycle, including diligence, Day 1 readiness, integration planning, and post-close execution for Contracts and assigned administrative functions.Assess target-company contract portfolios, customer and prime relationships, subcontract/procurement practices, facilities, security posture, administrative systems, policies, staffing, and related risks.Develop and execute functional integration plans addressing contract novations and consents, policies, systems, delegations, facilities, security, procurement/subcontracts, records, and acquired-team transition.Establish repeatable administrative integration playbooks, decision rights, metrics, and reporting routines that support multiple acquisitions and preserve customer and program continuity.Coordinate with the COO-led Integration Management Office (IMO), sponsor resources, and functional executives; the CAO will own integration of assigned administrative functions while the COO retains accountability for the enterprise integration model.Compliance, Risk, and Cross-Functional GovernancePartner with Legal as a separate enterprise function on legal interpretation, disputes, investigations, claims, litigation, regulatory matters, and other issues requiring legal judgment or privilege.Partner with Finance on DCAA/DCMA-sensitive processes, purchasing-system requirements, cost allowability considerations, indirect-rate implications, and audit support related to Contracts and assigned administrative functions.Partner with Human Capital on workforce policies and with IT/Cybersecurity and Industrial Security on contractual, CMMC, classified, facility-clearance, export-control, personnel-security, and customer-security obligations, while maintaining CAO accountability for physical security.Establish risk-based governance that identifies material administrative and contractual issues early, assigns accountable owners, and escalates decisions to the appropriate executive forum.Maintain audit-ready documentation, records-retention practices, policies, and controls across assigned functions.Executive Leadership and Organizational CapabilityServe as a trusted business partner to the CEO on contracting, administrative infrastructure, enterprise risk, scalability, and operating effectiveness.Build and lead a high-performing administrative organization with clear role accountability, succession depth, talent development, operating cadence, and continuous-improvement discipline.Develop budgets, staffing plans, vendor strategies, systems roadmaps, and investment priorities for assigned functions.Use data and operating metrics to identify bottlenecks, improve cycle time and service quality, and create scalable processes without unnecessary bureaucracy.Present material risks, trends, performance, and recommendations to executive leadership, the Board, sponsor representatives, customers, or advisors as appropriate.Required Qualifications15+ years of progressive leadership experience in Contracts/Subcontracts, Administration, Operations, or related GovCon functions, including significant responsibility for federal government contracting.5+ years in a senior executive or enterprise functional leadership role such as Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Contracts Officer, SVP/VP Contracts, VP Administration, or equivalent.Demonstrated experience leading the full government-contract lifecycle in a complex defense, aerospace, technology, engineering, or professional-services environment.Deep working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, agency supplements, contract types, flow-down requirements, subcontracting, procurement controls, change management, claims/disputes support, and audit readiness.Experience with commercial item justification under FAR 2.101 and in receiving commercial item determinations.Experience building or scaling Contracts and administrative operating models, including policies, systems, metrics, delegations, service delivery, and functional teams.Proven experience supporting M&A diligence and post-close integration involving contracts, novations/consents, administrative functions, facilities, security, procurement/subcontracts, or related infrastructure.Ability to work effectively with P&L leaders, program managers, engineers, growth leaders, Finance, Legal, Human Capital, IT, Security, customers, contracting officers, advisors, and Board or sponsor stakeholders.Strong analytical, organizational, negotiation, communication, executive-influence, and problem-solving skills with a practical, business-oriented approach to risk.Experience developing and managing functional budgets, vendors, priorities, systems, and staffing in a growth or integration environment.Preferred QualificationsExperience in defense, aerospace, government contracting, advanced manufacturing, electronics, hardware/software, engineering services, or other complex technical businesses.Experience in a private equity-backed company or an organization scaling through both organic growth and multiple acquisitions.Experience with DCAA/DCMA audits, purchasing systems, subcontract compliance, and government-property or related administrative requirements.Experience overseeing Facilities/Real Estate, Physical Security, Records Management, Procurement/Subcontracts, or other shared administrative services in addition to Contracts.Experience with Deltek Costpoint, contract-management/procurement systems, analytics tools, and integration of acquired administrative systems.Advanced degree in Business, Contracts/Acquisition Management, Finance, Public Administration, or a related field; relevant NCMA, CPCM, CFCM, or equivalent certification preferred.Employment RequirementsU.S. Citizenship Required: Yes.Security Clearance Required: Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.Travel: Approximately 20-30%.Relocation Assistance: Not currently available.Position Contingent upon Award of Contract: No.Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background check, security investigation, and drug screening requirements.Benefits and Equal Employment OpportunityFALCATA offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including retirement programs, flexible work schedules, tuition reimbursement, paid leave, and other benefits subject to applicable plan terms and company policy. Specific benefit offerings should be reviewed and updated based on the final go-forward benefits and ownership-transition structure approved for the company.FALCATA is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce and is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60–1.4(a), 60–300.5(a) and 60–741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing information about compensation. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. #J-18808-Ljbffr