Program Contracts Manager

About the Role

As we expand our U.S. Marine Corps program, we are seeking a Program Contracts Manager to build and own the contract operations backbone that enables successful program execution.

The Program Contracts Manager will own contract operations, subcontract administration, milestone acceptance coordinator, invoice readiness and execution governance for a major US defense program.

You will build the systems, processes, templates, and operating rhythms that allow the program team to execute effectively while ensuring subcontractors, deliverables, invoices, modifications, and contractual obligations remain aligned. You will serve as the day-to-day owner of routine contract and subcontract execution.

What You'll Do

Own Contract & Subcontract Operations

• Manage the full lifecycle of contracts and subcontracts, teaming agreements, and consulting arrangements
• Draft, review, negotiate, and administer subcontract agreements and modifications
• Translate prime agreement requirements into executable subcontract structures
• Maintain subcontract records, deliverables, milestones, and commercial terms
• Coordinate with program leadership and finance on business positions and negotiations

Drive Milestone & Invoice Readiness

• Develop and manage milestone tracking and contract execution artifacts
• Coordinate acceptance-package development across technical, program, and finance stakeholders
• Build invoice-support packages and readiness documentation
• Identify and flag contractual and compliance risks including terms ambiguity, flow-down gaps, undocumented scope changes, and invoice or acceptance exposure before they become program or legal issues
• Maintain audit-ready records and submission documentation

Build Scalable Contract Operations

• Design templates, trackers, governance processes, and escalation paths
• Build process that fits where the program is today while laying the foundation for where it needs to go
• Improve discipline around contract execution without slowing delivery
• Establish standards for documentation, reporting, and contract governance
• Operate independently and effectively without established playbooks, defined predecessors, or a contracts team to hand work off to

Support Program Leadership

• Conduct change-impact assessments and modification analysis
• Develop decision-ready recommendations for leadership review
• Support customer correspondence, clarification requests, and issue resolution
• Escalate complex issues with facts, options, and recommended courses of action

Required Qualifications

• Experience administering and negotiating contracts and subcontracts in a U.S. defense contracting environment
• Experience drafting, redlining, and negotiating contract language
• Experience translating prime contract requirements into subcontract flow-downs
• Experience supporting milestone-based deliverables and contract execution
• Experience building lightweight repeatable processes in fast-moving or immature environments
• Ability to operate independently within a matrixed o