Defense Contracts & Growth Manager

NALEJ Corporation

Job Description
Defense FinOps & Contract Management Manager
Job Title:
Defense Contracts & Growth Manager
Position Type:
Full-Time Employee (FTE)
Department:
Corporate Finance & Contracts
Direct Supervisor:
Corporate Operations & CEO
Location:
Arlington, VA (In-Person)
Clearance Required:
Active Secret Required (TS/SCI Preferred)
Job Summary
NALEJ Corporation is seeking an experienced Defense Contracts & Growth Manager to support the company’s defense growth strategy through disciplined contract management, opportunity identification, capture support, pricing coordination, and defense budget literacy. This role is not a traditional finance or accounting position. It is growth-oriented contracts role responsible for helping NALEJ identify fundable defense opportunities, understand government buying pathways, support proposal pricing development, and manage awarded contracts through execution, modification, invoicing, and closeout. The ideal candidate understands how defense agencies buy technology, how appropriated funds and “colors of money” shape acquisition decisions, and how FAR/DFARS, contract vehicles, proposal requirements, pricing strategy, and program execution connect inside a growing defense technology company. This role sits at the intersection of government contracting, financial operations, and business while simultaneously identifying and pursuing new contracting opportunities that align with NALEJ's strategic growth objectives. This is a seasoned individual contributor role with high visibility to Corporate Operations and the CEO, with a direct impact on NALEJ's ability to scale.
Responsibilities
• Own the full lifecycle management of all NALEJ defense contracts — from proposal and award through execution, modification, and closeout — ensuring compliance with FAR, DFARS, and all applicable regulations.
• Serve as NALEJ's primary interface with government Contracting Officers (COs) and Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) across active contracts.
• Develop & manage contract budgets, burn rate tracking & financial forecasts for active programs
• Lead the preparation and submission of contract proposals, including cost volumes, pricing models, and supporting financial documentation.
• Identify, research, and qualify new contracting opportunities across the DOD using SAM.gov, GovTribe, and agency-specific procurement portals.
• Manage invoice submission, payment tracking, and revenue recognition in coordination with internal finance and accounting functions.
• Ensure contract deliverables, reporting milestones, and period-of-performance obligations are tracked and met on time.
• Develop and maintain internal FinOps policies, procedures, and controls specific to defense contract requirements.
• Collaborate with the BD team to provide contract and pricing intelligence to support pipeline development and capture strategy.
• Provide regular financial and contract status reports to Corporate Operations and the CEO, including risk flags and opportunity assessments.
• Support audits, DCAA interactions, and any government-initiated contract reviews or inquiries.
• Monitor regulatory changes to FAR/DFARS and relevant agency supplements, ensuring NALEJ maintains continuous compliance.
• Supports capture planning for priority defense opportunities, including customer research, requirement shaping, competitor/incumbent analysis, and bid/no-bid recommendations.
• Translate defense budget signals, appropriations language, program priorities, and agency forecasts into actionable pursuit recommendations for NALEJ leadership.
• Support RFT, sources sought, white paper, ROM, and proposal responses in coordination with technical BD, and executive stakeholders.
• Identify contract growth opportunities within existing awards, including modifications, option years, scope expansion, adjacent offices, and follow-on work
Job Requirements / Skills
• Active Secret security clearance required; Top Secret/SCI eligibility strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of combined experience in DOD contract administration or management and financial operations roles.
• Direct hands-on experience with FAR, DFARS, and government contract compliance in a defense contractor or government environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing the full financial lifecycle of defense contracts including cost estimation, budget management, burn rate analysis, invoicing, and closeout.
• Experience in commercial or non-DOD finance roles (e.g., FP&A, corporate finance, accounting) is required — candidates with exclusively government-side experience will not be considered.
• Understanding of DoD budget cycles, appropriations categories, and funding pathways, including RDT&E, O&M, Procurement, unfunded requirements, & end-of-year funding dynamics.
• Familiarity with contract types including FFP, CPFF, T&M, OTAs, and IDIQs.
• Experience with SAM.gov, GovTribe, or equivalent government contract intelligence platforms.
• Strong command of Microsoft Excel and financial reporting tools; experience with ERP or contract management software a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial and regulatory information for executive audiences.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field required; advanced degree or professional certification (CPCM, CPA, CFCM, PMP) preferred.
• Ability to work in-person at NALEJ's Arlington, VA office.
Key Tasks
• Assume ownership of all active NALEJ defense contracts within first 30 days, conducting a full contract health review covering compliance, burn rate, deliverables & upcoming milestones.
• Establish and maintain a master contract tracker covering all active awards, contract ceilings, funded values, period-of-performance dates, and key deliverable schedules.
• Build and implement a standardized cost proposal template and pricing model for NALEJ's core service and technology offerings.
• Conduct weekly opportunity scans on SAM.gov and GovTribe, maintaining a prioritized pipeline of new contracting opportunities in coordination with the BD team.
• Develop and deliver monthly FinOps reports to Corporate Operations and the CEO covering revenue recognition, burn rates, outstanding invoices, and contract risk areas.
• Prepare and submit all contract invoices on schedule, ensuring accuracy, compliance with contract terms, and timely follow-up on payment.
• Draft and negotiate contract modifications, teaming agreements, and NDAs as required in coordination with legal counsel.
• Establish a DCAA-audit-ready financial recordkeeping and documentation standard for all contract-related financial activity.
• Provide contract and pricing input to the BD team for active pursuits, including competitive analysis and should-cost modeling.
• Maintain and update all contract and financial records in NALEJ's internal systems, ensuring data integrity and executive accessibility.


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