Defense Contracts Manager

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Defense Contracts Manager based in United States.** The role is responsible for leading the full lifecycle of defense contracting activities, from opportunity identification and proposal development through contract execution and compliance management. You will play a key role in supporting growth by helping secure new government business while ensuring successful delivery of awarded programs. Working closely with engineering, leadership, finance, and external stakeholders, you will translate complex requirements into winning proposals and effective contract strategies. This position requires strong knowledge of federal acquisition processes, attention to detail, and the ability to navigate the Department of Defense contracting environment. The ideal candidate is proactive, strategic, and comfortable balancing business development activities with rigorous compliance responsibilities. This is an opportunity to make a direct impact on expanding and strengthening defense-focused operations within a growing organization. ### Accountabilities: The Defense Contracts Manager will oversee business development, proposal execution, and contract administration activities while ensuring alignment with federal contracting standards and organizational objectives. - Identify and evaluate new defense contracting opportunities through platforms such as SAM.gov, GSA eBuy, DIBBS, agency forecasts, and other government procurement channels. - Develop capture strategies, assess opportunity alignment, and provide go/no-go recommendations in collaboration with leadership. - Build and maintain relationships with contracting officers, program stakeholders, government representatives, and industry partners. - Lead end-to-end proposal development, including technical narratives, staffing plans, past performance documentation, and cost/price submissions. - Coordinate proposal inputs across engineering, operations, and leadership teams to ensure compliant and competitive responses. - Manage proposal timelines, review processes, submission requirements, and final delivery activities. - Oversee contract lifecycle management, including negotiations, awards, modifications, renewals, and closeout activities. - Ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, agency-specific regulations, and internal contracting procedures. - Monitor contract performance elements including funding levels, contract ceilings, milestones, deliverables, and potential risks. - Support subcontract management, teaming agreements, and documentation requirements for audits and compliance reviews. - Partner with technical teams to align contractual obligations with program execution and delivery expectations. - Provide guidance on contract structures, pricing approaches, risk considerations, and negotiation strategies. ## Requirements: The ideal candidate brings strong federal contracting expertise, excellent communication skills, and experience managing complex Department of Defense acquisition activities. - Bachelor’s degree in Business, Contracts Management, Supply Chain, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience. - 5+ years of experience managing DoD or federal government contracts. - Strong understanding of FAR, DFARS, and federal acquisition processes. - Proven experience developing and managing competitive government proposals. - Experience working with common defense contract types, including IDIQ, Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), and Time & Materials (T&M). - Ability to interpret solicitations, develop compliant responses, and translate technical information into clear proposal content. - Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate across technical and business teams. - Experience using government procurement platforms such as SAM.gov and GSA eBuy. - Strong organizational skills with the…