Executive Director, Contracts Operations

Role Description

The Executive Director, Contracts Operations serves as the enterprise leader responsible for developing and executing the organization's contracting strategy, governance framework, operating model, and contract risk management approach. This role is accountable for the performance, effectiveness, and continuous evolution of the contracts function and its contribution to organizational growth, operational excellence, and business performance.

As a senior leader, the Executive Director develops long-term functional strategies, establishes enterprise-wide contracting policies and governance practices, and ensures contractual decision-making appropriately balances business objectives, customer relationships, compliance obligations, financial performance, and enterprise risk.

The role serves as the organization's principal authority on contract management and federal contracting matters and provides strategic guidance to executive leadership on issues that impact organizational performance and growth.

The Executive Director leads through levels of management and is responsible for building a high-performing contracts organization that delivers exceptional customer service, operational efficiency, risk management, and business partnership.

This leader collaborates closely with Legal, Finance, Business Development, Capture, Program Operations, Human Resources, Technology, and Executive Leadership to develop scalable capabilities that support evolving business needs and strengthen the organization's competitive position.

The successful candidate will bring extensive executive leadership experience, deep expertise in federal acquisition and contracting practices, exceptional business judgment, strong external credibility, and a demonstrated ability to lead organizational transformation, influence strategic decisions, and deliver measurable business results.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Policy, Government Contracting, Acquisition, Finance, Law, or a related field.
• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in federal contracting, subcontracting, acquisition, procurement, contract management, or related disciplines, including substantial leadership experience leading contract operations, governance, risk management, and contracting organizations.
• Minimum 8 years of leadership experience managing contract operations, governance, risk management, contracting organizations, or related business functions through multiple levels of management.
• A combination of equivalent education and work experience may be substituted for the above requirements.
• Deep expertise in the FAR, agency supplements, federal contracting requirements, and industry best practices.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing enterprise contracting strategies and leading complex contract operations.
• Advanced contract review, negotiation, and risk management experience across federal, state and local government, commercial, nonprofit, prime contractor, and subcontractor environments.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational transformation, operational improvement, and enterprise change initiatives.
• Experience implementing and leveraging AI-enabled and technology-driven solutions to improve contracting effectiveness and operational performance.
• Strong executive presence, business acumen, stakeholder management, negotiation skills, and analytical capabilities.
• CPCM, CFCM, FAC-C, NCMA certifications, or other relevant professional credentials.
• Experience supporting federal, state and local government, commercial, and nonprofit sectors.
• Experience implementing or optimizing contract lifecycle management systems and contract intelligence platforms.
• Experience supporting growth-oriented organizations through business development, capture, and strategic growth initiatives.

Requirements

• Develop and execute the organization's long-term contracting strategy, governance model, and operating framework in alignment with business unit and enterprise objectives.
• Establish enterprise-wide contracting policies, procedures, controls, and governance practices that support organizational growth while ensuring effective management of contractual, regulatory, financial, and operational risk.
• Serve as the organization's senior advisor on complex contractual matters involving federal, state and local government, commercial, nonprofit, and subcontracting relationships.
• Evaluate highly complex, novel, and ambiguous contractual issues and provide strategic recommendations that balance business opportunities, customer relationships, compliance obligations, operational realities, financial performance, and enterprise risk.
• Establish and oversee enterprise risk assessment methodologies that evaluate contractual issues based on probability, severity, financial exposure, compliance implications, operational impact, and reputational considerations.
• Lead resolution of significant contractual disputes, customer escalations, performance challenges, and business-critical contractual matters.
• Anticipate emerging regulatory, acquisition, and market trends and proactively evolve contracting strategies, capabilities, and governance practices to position the organization for future success.

Benefits

• This position offers an anticipated annual base salary range of $215,000 - $245,000.
• This position is eligible for a discretionary bonus based on company and individual performance.
• A cover letter and resume must be submitted at the time of application via our online application system.
• We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.