Contracts Manager

Government technology has failed citizens, public servants, and service members for decades. Kaizen powers America’s application layer. We replace the legacy systems federal agencies run on with modern software, built with craft. The ticketing platform a resident uses to visit a presidential library. The marketplace DoW uses for counter-drone procurement to protect lives and critical infrastructure. The system a Veteran uses to access benefits. We build systems of record, of national consequence. Our AI-native modules and harness allow us to do so in weeks and months, not years. This year, our revenue has grown 35x. Next year, our software will serve over 100 million Americans across dozens of federal agencies. Founded in 2022 and based in New York City and DC, Kaizen has raised $35 million from NEA, a16z, Accel, 776, and Carpenter Capital. The Role Federal software companies run on contracts, and most manage compliance through a mix of inboxes, spreadsheets, and hope. Kaizen holds work across civilian agencies and DoD: FAR-based, subcontracts, IDIQ vehicles, BPAs, DoW agreements. Training deadlines, labor postings, OCI requirements, VETS filings - this role builds the function that keeps all of it current. It's the first contracts hire at Kaizen, reporting to the Head of Business Operations & Corporate Affairs and working daily with IT, security, the FSO, and the deployment team. The BD team brings you deals in progress. You advise on structure, flag compliance risks, help with pricing justification, and get it to signature. Turnaround is hours, not days. If a standard teaming agreement takes you a week, this isn't the right seat. You work with outside counsel on interpretation when needed, but the turnaround is yours to own. What You'll Do Build and own the obligation register across every federal agreement, keeping it current through mods and change ordersRun the compliance calendar: training certificates back to the AOR, required notices and postings, annual filings including VETS-4212AMake applicability calls on thresholds, commercial-item carve-outs, and what actually applies at our sizeAdminister federal portals: SAM reps and certs, PIEE and WAWF for invoicingReview flowdowns on new subcontracts and agreements before signature and flag what we'd be taking onOnboard new subcontractors: program context, systems access, security requirements, and operating expectations; hold them to committed scope, timelines, and deliverablesRoute execution to People Ops, IT, and security and hold the map of who owns whatServe as the primary interface with government COs and AOs on active contractsSupport BD and capture teams with contract strategy, pricing input, and T&C risk assessment on proposalsManage clause interpretation with outside counsel What You'll Bring 5+ years of federal contracts or subcontracts administration on the contractor side, where the follow-through was yoursFAR and DFARS fluency, including flowdown matrices and applicability thresholdsYou've built a compliance register or calendar, not just worked from one someone else builtDoD contract experience, including FAR-based awards or other transaction agreementsGSA Schedule administration: catalog maintenance, pricing justifications, BPA setup and updates, SIN and SKU modifications, option year reporting, and price reduction clause complianceDirect submissions into federal systems: SAM, PIEE or WAWFComfortable on a small team with no department behind you, able to assign your own weekExperience managing subcontractors or teaming partners against committed scope, milestones, and deliverables, including escalating when they slipNegotiation experience on federal contracts, not just post-award administrationFamiliar with data rights and IP provisions in federal software contractsEligible to work with CUI Strong Candidates May Also... Primed on subcontracts with flowdown obligationsManaged relationships with major defense prime subcontractorsManaged subcontractors delivering software, data, or AI capabilitiesHold an NCMA certificationCarry an active or recently lapsed clearance Don't Apply If... Your contracts background is commercial. The federal compliance context here is the whole job.You want to write policy rather than close obligations.You need a system to step into. There isn't one yet.You want the security and technical compliance work. That lives on a different team.The agencies Kaizen serves run essential public services. The obligations matter. If you want to build the compliance infrastructure behind software that reaches tens of millions of Americans, reach out! What Kaizen Offers Health & Insurance 100% coverage across the board: medical through Oxford/United (Gold and Platinum PPO plans), dental through Guardian PPO, and vision through Beam — all fully covered for employees, with 100% coverage for dependents.$100,000 in fully paid life insurance. FSA and Dependent Care FSA.One Medical membership, on us — same-day primary care, 24/7 virtual visits, and offices all over the city.Fertility and family-building support through Carrot.401(k) through Guideline, with a 2% company match. Family & Time Off 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing parents. 10 weeks fully paid for non-birthing parents.Unlimited PTO, with a two-week minimum (we mean it when we say take time off!)Closed for all federal holidays.Company-wide winter break the week of Christmas.Company offsites throughout the year. Office & Remote Setup Up to $750 one-time home office or desk setup stipend for NYC-based employees. $500 for remote employees.$50/month commuter benefit (company contribution).Expensed lunch while in the office.Company-provided laptop of your choice. Wellness Fully covered gym membership at Grindhouse — right across the street from our office at 47 W 17th St (and in Williamsburg). A $225/month value, on us. For remote employees, $100/month dedicated to gym or physical fitness reimbursement. Stipends $100/month utility stipend.$500/year professional development.$250/year recreation.$300/quarter pet care stipend.