At Areté, we are on the forefront of utilizing innovative solutions, with great minds from all backgrounds, to help solve the nation’s most complex security challenges. We strive for an inclusive, collaborative team environment that approaches differences as opportunities for innovation and excellence. As an employee-owned company, we foster an atmosphere that propels diverse career opportunities and professional growth.
Discover your future with us.
We are seeking a Senior Contracts Manager who will be charged with significant responsibilities in negotiating simple and complex contracts with government and commercial customers, advising program management on contract risk and risk mitigation strategy, supporting proposal efforts, and administering government and commercial contracts and other agreements.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Coordinate with teams comprised of senior management, technical staff, business administration, and supply chain in negotiating contracts for government/commercial customers.
- Review Government and Commercial customer RFPs and proposed contractual terms. Complete pre-award /post-award administrative requirements, such as representations and certifications and other questionnaires.
- Redline documents as needed and negotiate terms to protect company interests and mitigate risk.
- Effectively communicate and advise program management and proposal teams on proposal requirements, non-standard terms, potential risks, and compliance requirements during proposal development, contract negotiations, and contract execution.
- Based on Program team cost estimates, prepare detailed, accurate, and competitive cost proposals. Review basis of internal cost estimates for reasonableness and allowability. Prepare pricing and cost proposals compliant with customer requirements and company accounting system.
- Administer all post-proposal activities such as audits, contract negotiation, and award. Work with customer and Areté staff to respond to RFIs, track, and expedite contract award.
- Maintain current and accurate contract data in the Deltek Costpoint Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system.
- Prepare and issue internal contract work authorizations.
- Advise program management of contractual rights and obligations; maintain company contract file and historical information under established procedures.
- Establish and maintain strong internal communications within the company at all levels to provide information on open contract matters. Establish and maintain positive relations with external customers to communicate all proposal and contract matters.
- Other duties, as assigned.
This position may be based in either our Tucson, AZ, or Northridge, CA, office with periodic travel requirements to other Areté offices. This is an exempt, non-supervisory, full-time position.
We have an impressive range of benefits, programs, and perks that we offer:
Health & Wellness:
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- Life and Long-Term Disability (LTD)
- Vision Reimbursement
- Fitness Reimbursement
Financial:
- Company-funded 5% contribution to your 401(k) retirement plan
- Company-funded 5% contribution to your Employee Stock Ownership Plan
- Continuing Education Assistance
Work-Life Balance:
- Flexible Scheduling
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Parental and Bereavement Leave
What We Value:
- Creativity and innovation in solving challenges
- Integrity and responsibility in all actions
- Collaboration across teams and specialties
- Responsiveness in fast-paced environments
- Passion for national security and excellence
Experiences and Background We Look For (Required Skills):
- Extensive experience with government contracting and proposal preparation, including contracting under FAR Part 15 and Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs).
- Experience administering a variety of contract types, including Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (term and completion), Firm-Fixed-Price, Fixed-Price Level of Effort, and Time-and-Materials contracts.
- Strong knowledge of federal and agency-specific acquisition regulations, including the FAR and DFARS.
- Strong familiarity with DCAA and DCMA administrative responsibilities, and typical requirements when interfacing with contractors.
- Demonstrated ability to research and interpret regulations and contractual requirements to resolve complex contractual matters.
- Experience developing noncommercial pricing and applying FAR Part 31 cost principles.
- Proven negotiation experience with a range of customers and partners, including U.S. federal government agencies, large and small businesses, and educational institutions.
- Ability to develop strategic and innovative proposal and contracting solutions through a collaborative, cross-functional approach while maintaining regulatory compliance and balancing the needs of the customer, program, business unit, and company.
- Strong interest in learning the technical aspects of the business and its product lines to understand internal and external customer needs.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, management, and executive leadership.
- Familiarity with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications.
- U.S. citizenship is required.
Nice to Have (Preferred Skills):
- Familiarity with ProPricer.
- An active Top Secret national security clearance or the ability to obtain one.
The salary range for this role is $120,000/yr to $145,000/yr; however, Areté considers several factors when extending an offer of employment, including but not limited to: the position and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.
Other Considerations
Areté is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination, and we believe every person has the right to be treated with fairness, dignity, and equal consideration.
Areté is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
U.S. citizenship is required to meet position eligibility.
Successful passage of a criminal background screen is required to meet position eligibility.
Selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
Areté will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.
Successful passage of a Department of Transportation (DOT) drug test is required to meet position eligibility.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website because of your disability. To request an accommodation, please contact Areté Human Resources at 818-885-2200 for assistance.
Skills Required
- Extensive experience with government contracting and proposal preparation, including FAR Part 15 and Other Transaction Agreements
- Experience administering Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee, Firm-Fixed-Price, Fixed-Price Level of Effort, and Time-and-Materials contracts
- Strong knowledge of federal and agency-specific acquisition regulations, including FAR and DFARS
- Familiarity with DCAA and DCMA administrative responsibilities and contractor interface requirements
- Ability to research and interpret regulations and contractual requirements to resolve complex matters
- Experience developing noncommercial pricing and applying FAR Part 31 cost principles
- Proven negotiation experience with federal agencies, businesses, and educational institutions
- Ability to develop compliant, collaborative proposal and contracting solutions
- Strong interest in learning technical aspects of the business and product lines
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Familiarity with ITAR and EAR
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
- U.S. citizenship
- Familiarity with ProPricer
- Active Top Secret national security clearance or ability to obtain one
- Successful criminal background screening
- Successful Department of Transportation drug test
What We Do
Areté, an employee-owned company, is an advanced science and engineering company that provides innovative solutions to the most challenging technical problems faced by the United States Defense and Intelligence agencies. Areté is derived from the Greek word “ἀρέτη”, meaning the pursuit of excellence and the achievement of maximum performance. Areté was founded in 1976 by five scientists, tasked by the DoD to help solve the challenge of detecting weak signals in heavy clutter over very wide areas. The signatures involved in this work were so weak that any advancement in signal processing algorithms demanded a new approach and understanding of the underlying fundamentals affecting the sensors and signal phenomena in the environments of interest. This first-principles-of-physics approach has been a hallmark of Areté’s development programs for the past 40 years Areté now works across the electromagnetic spectrum. We develop sensors and the associated signal processing algorithms necessary for the extraction and interpretation of data for systems operating under water, in the atmosphere, and in space. With our emphasis on enhanced signal processing and real-time executable software, Areté is able to improve the performance of existing sensor systems at fractions of the cost and time to operations of replacement systems. We work directly with customers and partners seeking maximum performance. Building on our expertise in detection theory we will continue to exploit the contextual, spatial, spectral, and temporal characteristics of data, incorporating them into our signal processing algorithms. These robust algorithms will continue to enable Areté to rapidly deliver innovative solutions to the ever evolving challenges of our customers.
