Director of Contracts

About Nava

Nava is a consultancy and public benefit corporation working to make government services simple, effective, and accessible to all. Since 2013, federal, state, and local government agencies have trusted Nava to build transformative digital services to help people access public benefits. Meeting our mission is an opportunity to restore trust between people and public institutions. We focus on populations that are the least protected because the stakes are higher.

As a client services company, we work with government agencies to improve how people apply for benefits, navigate their health care, and more. We bill for our time, selling our expertise and problem-solving methodology to government clients. Our clients hire us to help improve their products and services so that their users and beneficiaries have a better customer experience.

These end-users—the humans who benefit from our work—are at the core of everything we do. We research beneficiaries’ needs to help our government clients better deliver on their missions, providing everyone at Nava opportunities to do meaningful, impactful work.

Position summary 

The Director of Contracts is responsible for leading all aspects of the company’s contracts and government compliance function. This seasoned, values-based leader is responsible for managing the strategy and execution of a high-touch, client-centric, and technology-driven operation that oversees all contract types, assigned legal agreements, business proposals, contract negotiations, and the general administration of company awards, vehicles, and contracts. Responsibilities include directing and developing policies, procedures, and business solutions that empower the contracts staff and support internal customers and external business partners. This person is an integral member of the company’s management team and will report to the CFO.

They will work as part of a remote-first team to deliver the highest quality internal support and solutions to employees at scale in a fast-growing company. Nava is ~350 people today, and the Director of Contracts will be integral to help us approximately double over the next several years to become a more mature government contracting firm with a portfolio spanning the federal, state, and local level. Critical to this role will be the ability to deliver contract services and solutions through a customer-centric approach that leverages technology and continuously develops and leverages Nava’s Contracts team. As a proven leader and exceptional operator, this person should build trust and confidence in all interactions, elevate their team, serve as a role model for others, radiate their intent, take pride in strong attention to detail and precision, enjoy solving challenging problems creatively alongside internal colleagues and external teammates, setup scalable technology-enabled processes, and understand our industry’s dynamics and how best to operate within them.

We are seeking “T-shaped” candidates – people with vertical depth of expertise in contracts and government compliance who are strong horizontal leaders and communicators across organizational boundaries. In particular, we are looking for a leader who is an exceptional operator, and will deeply understand our goals, business, delivery approach, and mission, before bringing their expertise to the table to help us get there.

What you’ll do

• Lead or oversee the development, negotiation, and administration of all contracts, ensuring compliance with government regulations, company policies, and best practices
• Provide guidance and oversight to contract managers and specialists throughout the contract lifecycle, including contract review, modification, and closeout
• Develop and implement strategies to mitigate risks and optimize contract performance, including monitoring contract deliverables, milestones, and financial obligations
• Serve as the primary point of contact for contract-related inquiries from clients, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders
• Maintain excellent working relationships with clients, contracting officers, and subcontractors to ensure their needs are met (building trust even when negotiating!)
• Design, implement, and enhance compliance-related technology solutions to deliver high-touch services, efficient internal processes, standardization, and ease of reporting and data analysis
• Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and contractual obligations, including FAR, DFARS, and other federal acquisition regulations
• Conduct regular audits and reviews to assess compliance with contractual and procurement policies, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions as necessary
• Assess and mitigate risks associated with contract performance, procurement activities, and vendor relationships, proactively identifying potential issues and developing contingency plans
• Ensure approved purchasing systems are maintained and compliant with government regulations
• Maintain meticulous records, contracts, and documentation related to contracts and compliance efforts
• Direct the subcontractor procurement process, from establishing and maintaining relationships with key suppliers and subcontractors to contract award
• Negotiating favorable terms and pricing agreements with subcontractors in a manner consistent with maintaining strong relationships with all business partners
• Develop and implement procurement policies and procedures to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
• Oversee the review and approval of purchase requisitions, ensuring alignment with budgetary constraints and project requirements
•  Inspire, lead, and develop the Contracts team in a manner which promotes a customer service mindset, an ability to deliver high-touch solutions, and an inclusive approach to contract management
• Mentor and develop team members, providing guidance, feedback, and professional development opportunities to support their growth and success
• Partner closely with business development and proposal teams to ensure timely and fully compliant bid and proposal submissions
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including executive leadership, program leadership, legal, accounting, finance, business operations, and people operations to achieve organizational goals – serve as a trusted advisor who uses their subject matter expertise to help the team “get to yes”

Required skills

• 7+ years of contracts management experience, including experience leading and managing a contracts team
• BA/BS degree in business administration, contract management, procurement, or related field
• Thorough understanding of federal acquisition regulations (FAR/DFARS) and experience working with various contract types such as T&M, FFP, CPFF, IDIQ, and BPAs
• Proven track record of successfully managing complex contracts, procurement, and subcontracting management operations, including negotiation, risk management, and compliance
• Demonstrated commercial and government contracting experience with an understanding of both commercial and government procurement processes, including contract negotiation, specifically experience with a federal government contractor
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a keen attention to detail and accuracy
• Experience with software and government websites used to manage government contracts
• Strong computer skills and an ability to leverage technology in a contract administration context
• Excellent time management skills with keen attention to detailProblem solving and conflict resolution skills
• Experience managing high-performing employees and teams in the field of contracts administration
• High level of personal integrity, ethics, motivation, and ability to foster mutual respect and inclusion
• Capacity and resilience to develop, build, and grow strong working relationships at all levels of leadership, management, and external stakeholders and clients
• Ability to implement strategies and services and in a fast-paced, dynamic, and growing environment while maintaining alignment across organizational boundaries

Desired skills

• Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM) or Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) designation
• Experience working with GSA, CMS, federal civilian agencies, and state government agencies
• Proficiency in GSuite, Slack, Zoom, Excel, Apple computers, and other tools used to support a remote-work environment

Other requirements

All roles at Nava require the following:

● Must be legally authorized to work in the United States and meet any other requirements for government contracts for which they are hired.

● Candidates who are offered a job with Nava must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by their employer for a visa now or in the future.

● May be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or applicants who are eligible for security clearances.

Perks working with Nava

● Competitive benefits: We prioritize your well-being, offering highly competitive medical, dental, and vision benefits.

● Generous time off: Enjoy 20 days of accrued PTO, 12 paid federal holidays, 5 prorated floating holidays, and unlimited sick leave.

● Annual discretionary bonus: Paid annually to eligible employees. When Nava does well, you do well.

● Parental leave: Receive 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave and weekly meal deliveries during your leave.

● Employee wellness program: Access our comprehensive Employee Wellness Program.

● Virtual doctor visits: Enjoy zero copay virtual doctor visits through UHC.

● Fertility support: Benefit from fertility support and treatment options.

● Sabbatical leave: We offer a sabbatical leave program.

● 401k contributions: We match 4% of your salary in 401k contributions.

● Flexible work arrangements: We offer flexible work arrangements to suit your needs.

● Home office setup: Receive assistance with your home office setup and a monthly phone allowance.

● Utilities reimbursement: Get a monthly partial reimbursement for utilities (where applicable).

● Learning and development: Access our comprehensive learning and development program.

● Tuition and Professional development budget: Receive a prorated annual tuition and professional development budget and a LinkedIn Learning license.

● Equity stock options: Benefit from equity stock options.

● Employee referral program: Participate in our employee referral program.

● Commuter benefits: Enjoy commuter benefits.

● Insurance coverage: Receive short and long-term disability insurance, as well as life and accidental death insurance.

● Inclusive culture: Join our diverse, inclusive, highly collaborative, and vibrant culture that supports remote work.

Location

You can work in a hybrid work arrangement from one of Nava’s offices in NYC, DC, or San Francisco. We also have fully remote options if you reside in one of the following states:

Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.

*If you are not living in one of the states listed above, unfortunately, you will not be considered for a position at this time. 

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Nava PBC equal opportunity employer that is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, age, gender, religious or political beliefs, national origin or heritage, marital status, disability, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, genetic information, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran or any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion not only reflects our values as a public benefit corporation but also enriches our ability to do our work. Learn more about where we are today and hope to be by 2025.

Please contact the recruiting team at [email protected] if you would like to request reasonable accommodation during the application or interviewing process.

We participate in E-Verify. Upon hire, we will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. This role requires you to work from the contiguous United States.