Chief Legal Officer & Secretary

Overview

At Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA), we tackle the most complex national security challenges with high-impact technical solutions. With over 53 years of proven expertise and a track record of consistent growth, we are recognized for driving innovation and delivering value to our government customers in the U.S. and beyond. An exceptionally talented and collaborative team powers our success, united in producing Results that Matter . When you join us, you'll find opportunities, meaningful challenges, and a shared commitment to mission success. Come work with the best and make a difference where it truly counts.

As SPA continues to grow, we are seeking a strategic, agile and experienced Chief Legal Officer (CLO) to lead our legal function and serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive team. The ideal candidate will have experience building an in-house legal department from the ground up, supporting private-equity backed organizations, and preparing a company for a successful initial public offering.

This is a key executive role responsible for overseeing the company's legal, contracts, procurement, ethics and quality functions. This position reports directly to the CEO and will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, and ensure SPA operates with the highest level of legal and ethical integrity in a complex, compliance-driven defense contracting environment.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active bar membership in Virginia, DC, and/or Maryland.
• 15+ years of legal experience with a minimum of 5 years in a public or privately held company with a strong focus in government contracting, federal acquisition regulations, and corporate law.
• Demonstrated executive leadership experience as a General Counsel or senior legal executive supporting M&A, public-company readiness, corporate governance, oversight of contracts/procurement or similar operational teams experiencing high growth and organizational change.
• Track record of successfully managing complex legal issues and providing strategic advice in a corporate or fast-growth environment.
• Knowledge of employment law
• Deep understanding of the U.S. defense and national security landscape.
• Strong executive presence with proven ability to operate as a trusted advisor at the C-suite level and Board of Directors at a large organization (≥$1.5B in revenues).
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Active or eligible for a Top Secret DoD security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a fast-paced, growth-oriented government contractor or A&AS/SETA environment.
• Exposure to CFIUS/FOCI, international compliance, and classified work environments.
• Strong situational judgment, discretion, and business acumen.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Legal Affairs & Governance

• Establish corporate governance best practices to support the transition to public-company readiness.
• Serve as the company's chief legal advisor, providing strategic legal guidance to the CEO, executive team, and Board of Directors.
• Oversee all corporate legal matters, including corporate governance, risk mitigation, mergers & acquisitions and other corporate transactions, intellectual property, employment law, and U.S. and global regulatory compliance.
• Advise on government relations and policy matters impacting SPA's business interests, including legislative and regulatory trends.

Contracts, Procurement & Quality Oversight

• Lead and integrate the Contracts, Procurement, and Quality Assurance teams under a unified legal and compliance structure.
• Provide executive leadership and oversight for all contractual matters, including prime contracts, protests or other disputes, subcontracts, NDAs, teaming agreements, and procurement activities.
• Ensure SPA maintains rigorous quality assurance standards aligned with industry best practices and customer expectations.

Compliance, Risk Management & Ethics

• Design and implement a scalable corporate compliance program covering FAR, DFARS, ITAR, FCPA, CFIUS, and other federal and international regulations and internal policies.
• Oversee and manage all legal risk, including litigation, investigations and disputes.
• Manage relationships and cost-efficient use of outside legal counsel and consultants.
• Serve as executive sponsor and support and refine enterprise risk management and ethics programs.

Corporate Strategy & Transactions

• Play an integral role in SPA's corporate strategy, particularly in M&A due diligence, negotiations, execution and post-acquisition integration from a legal and compliance perspective.
• Evaluate and structure business ventures, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships.
• Serve as corporate secretary to Board of Directors.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing legal and compliance team.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration across business units, corporate functions, and operational teams.
• Partner closely with Human Resources, Finance, IT, Security, and Program leadership to align legal strategy with SPA's business objectives.