Director of Contracts, Junior

Director of Contracts Expeditionary Diplomacy and Supply Chain – Mission Solutions Amentum is a global leader in advanced engineering and innovative technology solutions, trusted by the United States and its allies to address their most significant complex challenges in science, security, and sustainability. Headquartered in Virginia, we have more than 53,000 employees in approximately 80 countries across all 7 continents. Position Summary The Director of Contracts is a key leadership role within Amentum’s Mission Solutions organization, responsible for end‑to‑end management of the contracts supporting both government (defense and federal) and commercial clients. This position oversees the full contract lifecycle—from opportunity capture and proposal development through negotiation, award, administration, compliance, performance monitoring, and closeout—while ensuring regulatory adherence, risk mitigation, and alignment with business objectives. Reporting to the Senior Director of Contracts, the Director provides strategic and operational leadership to a team of contracts professionals. The role includes direct supervisory oversight, talent development, performance accountability, and team management to build and sustain a high‑performing contracts organization. Emphasis is placed on proactive collaboration with Growth/Capture, Program Management, Operations, Finance, Legal, and Subcontracts teams to maximize win rates, protect company interests, and deliver mission‑critical outcomes in a highly regulated environment. Key Responsibilities Pre‑Award / Capture and Proposal Development Lead contracts support for opportunity capture and proposal development, including RFP/RFQ analysis, compliance reviews, risk assessments, and development of contract terms, conditions, and strategies that optimize for award and post‑award performance, targeting improved proposal win rates and reduced capture cycle times. Collaborate with Growth and Capture teams to shape solicitations, prepare compliant proposals, and develop winning strategies for both government (DoD, DoS, and other federal agencies) and commercial clients. Conduct make‑or‑buy analyses, subcontract strategy development, teaming agreements, and prime/subcontractor negotiations to support competitive positioning. Provide expert guidance on pricing strategies, cost/price analysis, and proposal risk mitigation to ensure competitive and compliant submissions. Negotiations Lead or support prime contract and subcontract negotiations with government and commercial customers, including modifications and teaming arrangements, to secure favorable terms while protecting Amentum’s interests. Negotiate key provisions such as pricing, payment terms, intellectual property, warranties, indemnification, termination, flow‑down clauses, and dispute resolution. Facilitate resolution of negotiation issues through close coordination with internal stakeholders and customer/subcontractor counterparts. Contract Award and Administration Oversee post‑award contract and subcontract administration, including setup, baseline establishment, change management, modifications, equitable adjustments, and performance monitoring across the portfolio. Manage contract and subcontract closeout processes, including final invoicing, property disposition, release of claims, and audit support, targeting timely closeout rates above 90%. Serve as the primary point of contact for all contractual matters with customers, subcontractors, and internal leadership. Subcontract Management Provide senior leadership and oversight of the subcontract management process, including subcontractor sourcing, selection, flow‑down of prime contract terms, performance monitoring, compliance enforcement, and relationship management. Ensure effective subcontract strategies that support program execution, supply chain resilience, small business goals, and risk mitigation in expeditionary, global, and austere environments, with KPIs focused on subcontractor on‑time delivery >95% and performance scores. Monitor subcontractor performance against key metrics (delivery, quality, compliance), resolve disputes, and implement corrective actions as needed. Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management Ensure full compliance with FAR, DFARS, agency‑specific supplements, export control regulations (ITAR/EAR), small business subcontracting requirements, cybersecurity mandates (CMMC, NIST SP 800‑171), and commercial contracting laws, targeting compliance rates exceeding 95% with minimal audit findings. Develop, implement, and enforce contracts policies, procedures, flow‑down matrices, and compliance programs to minimize exposure and support Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR) readiness. Conduct regular compliance audits, training, and risk assessments for both prime contracts and subcontracts; identify, assess, and mitigate contractual, financial, operational, and regulatory risks throughout the lifecycle, measured by risk mitigation effectiveness and reduction in dispute frequency. Team Leadership and People Management Provide direct supervisory leadership to a team of contracts managers, administrators, specialists, and subcontract professionals, including hiring, performance management, goal setting, accountability measures, and talent development. Conduct regular performance reviews, provide coaching and mentoring, identify professional development opportunities, and build succession planning to strengthen organizational capability and team KPI achievement. Foster a culture of compliance, integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the contracts organization. Allocate resources effectively, manage team workload, and drive high standards of execution across all contracts and subcontract activities. Strategic and Business Support Deliver executive‑level reporting and dashboards on contract/subcontract portfolio health, compliance status, key performance indicators (e.g., proposal win rates, contract cycle times, compliance rates >95%, small business utilization goals, subcontractor on‑time delivery, and risk exposure). Support Annual Operating Plan (AOP) objectives through integrated planning, performance tracking, and achievement of contracts‑related metrics. Lead cross‑functional working groups and tiger teams to resolve issues, capture lessons learned, and drive process enhancements. Represent the contracts function in senior customer engagements, industry forums, and internal leadership meetings. Champion best practices in contract and subcontract management to enhance efficiency, reduce revenue leakage, and support sustainable business growth. Qualifications and Experience Required: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Law, Supply Chain, or related field (Master’s, MBA, or Juris Doctor strongly preferred). 10+ years of progressive experience in contracts management within the U.S. defense/government contracting industry, with demonstrated expertise in both government (FAR/DFARS) and commercial contracting, including substantial subcontract management experience. Proven leadership experience managing and developing contracts teams (minimum 3–5 direct or matrix reports, or complex contracts), with a track record of improving team performance and achieving KPIs such as compliance rates, win rates, and cycle time reductions. Deep working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, subcontract regulations (FAR Part 44, DFARS Part 244), export controls, and commercial contracting principles. Strong executive presence with exceptional negotiation, communication, analytical, and problem‑solving skills. Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance (Secret or higher). Willingness to travel up to 25% as needed. This is a hybrid position. Preferred Prior experience at Amentum or similar large defense contractors supporting mission solutions, expeditionary operations, or global supply chain programs. Direct experience with LOGCAP programs, Department of State contracts, Department of Defense programs (including contingency/wartime operations), and commercial clients. Professional certifications such as Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM), or equivalent. Experience with IDIQ vehicles, LOGCAP‑type programs, or complex commercial service agreements. Demonstrated success leading teams that deliver measurable improvements across key contracts KPIs. Competencies for Success Strategic thinker who connects contractual and subcontract details to broader business and mission outcomes while driving KPI performance. Collaborative people leader with high emotional intelligence who builds trust, develops talent, and drives accountability across matrixed organizations. Proactive problem‑solver with a strong bias for action, attention to detail, and focus on team and portfolio performance metrics. Commitment to the highest standards of compliance, ethics, safety, integrity, and Amentum’s core values. Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment while delivering both operational excellence and strategic contracts/subcontracts leadership with a data‑driven approach. Other Responsibilities Safety – Amentum enforces a safety culture whereby all employees have the responsibility for continuously developing and maintaining a safe work environment. Quality – Quality is the foundation for the management of our business and the keystone to our goal of customer satisfaction. Procedure Compliance – Each employee must read, understand and implement the general and specific operational, safety, quality and environmental requirements of all plans, procedures and policies pertaining to their job. Benefits Overview Health, dental, and vision insurance Paid time off and holidays Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching) Educational reimbursement Parental leave Employee stock purchase plan Tax‑saving options Disability and life insurance Pet insurance Equal Opportunity Employer Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low‑income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters. #J-18808-Ljbffr PAE