DIRECTOR OF CONTRACTS & PROJECT CONTROLS

POSITION IS REMOTE / HYBRID (VENTURA, CA or WARRENTON, VA)*** Job Summary VSolvit is seeking a strategic and highly analytical Director of Contracts & Project Controls. This executive-level leadership role provides comprehensive oversight, direction, and management of VSolvit’s Contracting Department and Project Control Department. The ideal candidate will not only ensure 100% compliance with federal acquisition regulations but will serve as a change agent to drive operational efficiencies, modernize project tracking workflows, and institute business transformation initiatives that directly reduce corporate overhead and project delivery costs. This role is also responsible for strategic oversight and operational management of all government contracts throughout their lifecycle — from capture and proposal development to negotiation, administration, and closeout ensuring all contracts are managed in strict compliance with FAR, DFARS, and related federal acquisition policies, while driving strategies that balance risk mitigation, profitability, and compliance. This role partners closely with Program Management, Finance, Business Development, and Legal to support pre-award and post-award activities, including contract negotiation, risk assessment, and execution. The position requires a seasoned contracts leader with deep GovCon expertise, proven negotiation success, and the ability to integrate contracting strategy with finance, legal, and business development functions and will play a pivotal role in shaping contracting policy, ensuring cost-effective execution, and supporting the company's growth from small or mid-tier contractor status into a competitive unrestricted prime. As with any position, additional expectations exist. Some of these include, but are not limited to, adhering to normal working hours, meeting deadlines, following company policies as outlined by the Employee Handbook, communicating regularly with assigned supervisor(s), staying focused on assigned tasks, and completing other tasks as assigned. Responsibilities Serve as the primary point of contact for all contract administration activities, including new awards, modifications, extensions, and closeoutsReview, analyze, and interpret contract terms and conditions to ensure compliance with company policies and government regulationsSupport proposal and capture teams in developing compliant contract responses, pricing structures, and risk assessmentsLead contract negotiations with customers, subcontractors, and teaming partnersCoordinate with Legal and Finance to ensure alignment between contract obligations, billing, and financial reportingPrepare and maintain contractual documents, including NDAs, Teaming Agreements, Subcontracts, and Task OrdersEnsure timely submission of deliverables, contract reports, and modificationsAdvise program teams on contract interpretation, risk mitigation, and change managementConduct internal audits to monitor compliance and identify areas for improvementServe as an internal subject matter expert on FAR/DFARS, SBA regulations, and organizational policies related to procurement and contractingMentor junior contract staff and assist in developing scalable contract management procedures Strategic Objectives Strengthen Compliance and Governance: Build a contracting framework that ensures 100% compliance with FAR/DFARS and internal policiesMitigate Risk Proactively: Identify, quantify, and manage contractual and regulatory risks at every stage of the contract lifecycleEnhance Negotiation Outcomes: Achieve favorable pricing, terms, and conditions through strategic negotiation and stakeholder alignmentOptimize Proposal-to-Award Efficiency: Streamline capture, proposal, and contract award processes to improve competitiveness and win ratesDevelop Talent and Systems: Build a high-performing contracts team supported by modern tools, templates, and training for sustained operational excellence Strategic LeadershipDefine and execute the overall contracting strategy in alignment with corporate goals and risk appetiteServe as a senior advisor to the CEO, CFO, and COO on contractual and regulatory issuesDrive standardization and continuous improvement of contract policies and toolsRepresent the organization in high-stakes negotiations and compliance reviews Team Management and DevelopmentLead and mentor a team of contracts managers, administrators, and analystsImplement career development and certification pathways (CPCM, CFCM)Establish a collaborative, accountable, and compliance-driven team culture Compliance and Risk ManagementEnsure adherence to FAR, DFARS, SBA, ITAR and agency-specific supplementsReview contracts for legal, financial, and performance risks and develop mitigation plansLead internal audits and external compliance responses with DCAA, DCMA, or agency inspectorsMaintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory changes and train staff accordingly Contract Negotiations and PricingLead negotiations for multi-year, multi-million-dollar contracts and subcontractsPartner with finance, capture, and legal teams to define terms, conditions, and pricing modelsEnsure cost proposals are fully compliant and defensible in audits and negotiationsMaintain positive relationships with Contracting Officers and government stakeholders Proposal and Capture SupportOversee proposal strategy and ensure compliant, compelling submissionsReview RFIs, RFPs, and amendments to identify requirements, risks, and opportunitiesProvide contractual input during capture planning and pricing reviewsEnsure timely and accurate preparation of contract modifications and renewals Contract AdministrationManage the full contract lifecycle: award, execution, modifications, and closeoutTrack deliverables, funding, and performance obligationsMaintain a centralized, audit-ready contract repository and document control systemCoordinate with finance for invoicing, funding status, and billing accuracy Stakeholder and Client RelationsServe as the primary interface for contract matters with executives, legal counsel, auditors, and government representativesEnsure cross-functional coordination between Contracts, Operations, and Program ManagementSupport small business subcontracting compliance and reporting Departmental Oversight & Synergy (Contracting & Project Controls)Unified Leadership: Manage and mentor both the Contracts and Project Controls teams, creating a seamless workflow between contract awards, system set-ups, budget tracking, and program executionContract Lifecycle Management: Oversee the administration of all federal, state, and commercial contracts (including IDIQs, GWACs, FFP, T&M, and Cost-Plus types). Ensure adherence to FAR, DFARS, and agency-specific regulationsFinancial Control & Reporting: Provide executive oversight of project execution tracking, budget baselines, Earned Value Management (EVM), and the development of reliable Estimates at Completion (EAC) and Estimates to Complete (ETC)Executive Strategy: Collaborate directly with Executive Leadership, Finance, and Business Development to review contract profitability, optimize indirect cost rates, and manage corporate risk portfolios Efficiency, Cost Reduction & Transformation ExecutionProcess Transformation: Audit existing manual workflows within contract management and project reporting to implement automation, system integrations, and modern toolsets that reduce cycle timesCost Control Initiatives: Drive cost-reduction initiatives across contract execution and internal resource utilization. Identify margin leakage, underutilized software assets, or inefficiencies in project setupsSystem & Tool Standardization: Standardize data tracking across ERP/accounting software to minimize discrepancies between actual costs incurred and project planning commitmentsVendor & Subcontractor Optimization: Renegotiate master service agreements and subcontractor structures to capture economies of scale and improve overall corporate margin performance Basic Qualifications U.S. Citizenship RequiredAbility to obtain / maintain a DoD Secret ClearanceBachelor’s degree in Business, Contract Management, Finance, Accounting, Law, or related field10+ years in government contracting and project controls, with at least 5+ years in a direct managerial departmental leadership capacityAdvanced knowledge of project control methodologies (WBS structures, variance analysis, revenue recognition rules, and indirect rate applications)Thorough, working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, ITAR, SBA, DCAA, DCMA and other federal acquisition regulationsStrong leadership, negotiation, risk management and analytical skills with attention to contractual detailDemonstrated ability to manage multiple contracts and priorities in a fast-paced environmentExcellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface effectively at all organizational levelsProficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with contract management systemsProven history of identifying process bottlenecks and successfully rolling out transformation ideas that resulted in quantifiable cost savings or productivity gainsDeep familiarity with GovCon ERP systems (e.g., Deltek, Unanet, or similar accounting architectures) and project management analytics toolsIf applicable: If you are or have been recently employed by the U.S. government, a post-employment ethics letter will be required if employment with VSolvit is offered Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in Business, Law, Contract Management, or related disciplineNCMA certification (CPCM, CFCM, or NCMA)Experience with cost-plus, fixed-price, and T&M contract typesExperience supporting Navy, Marine Corps, or other DoD customersPrior experience with JAMIS, Deltek, or similar ERP systems Company Summary Join the VSolvit team! Founded in 2006, VSolvit (pronounced " We.Solve.it ") is a technology enabled solutions provider that specializes in AI/ML, cybersecurity, cloud computing, geographic information systems (GIS), business intelligence (BI) systems, data warehousing, engineering services, and custom database and application development. VSolvit is an award-winning CA MBE, WBE, and CMMI Level 3 certified company. We offer a customizable benefits program that best meets the needs of our employees. Offering may include: medical, dental, and vision insurance; life insurance; long and short-term disability and other insurance products; Health Savings Account; Flexible Spending Account; 401(k) Retirement Plan options; Tuition Reimbursement; and assorted voluntary benefits. Our goal is to grow together and enjoy the work we do as a team. VSolvit LLC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.