Sr. Contract Manager (Services)

Position Summary The Contracts Manager – Services serves as the contract subject matter expert supporting Dawson's federal services portfolio, covering professional services, environmental, operations and maintenance (O&M), and cyber/IT business lines. Core scope includes pre-award risk analysis, post-award contract administration, modification review, equitable adjustment navigation, and post-award risk mitigation, closeout, and contract reporting. The Contracts Manager provides FAR/DFARS expertise, contract risk analysis, contract interpretation, and documentation discipline to support project/program managers and other internal stakeholders throughout the contract lifecycle. The Contracts Manager engages directly with government contracting officers on contract-specific matters (modifications, REAs, contract interpretation) and exercises independent judgment within established authority. The position does not supervise staff. Salary Range: $112,000.00- $163,000.00 based on experience and interview. Key Duties & Responsibilities Pre-Award Contract Risk Analysis

• Review solicitations, RFPs, RFQs, and task order RFPs for contractual terms, evaluation criteria, and risk; conduct contract risk reviews to inform proposal, capture, and bid/no-bid decisions.
• Identify atypical terms and conditions, unusual contract types or pricing structures, OCI exposure, and other contractual risk factors on services solicitations.
• Support pricing, program management, and capture teams with contractual analysis, subcontractor flowdown requirements, and recommended mitigations.
• Prepare representations and certifications, contractual proposal volumes, and required forms.

Post-Award Contract Administration

• Administer the contractual side of assigned federal services contracts and task orders – cost-reimbursable and fixed-priced – from award through closeout.
• Maintain expert-level working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and applicable CFR provisions; stay current on policy changes, regulatory updates, and acquisition reform developments, sufficient to interpret and administer the terms of Dawson’s contracts post-award.
• Conduct ongoing contract risk reviews throughout the contract lifecycle, not only at award; surface emerging risks early and recommend mitigations.
• Ensure contract files are maintained, updated, and accurate; ensure timely and accurate contract data and reporting across all assigned contracts. Oversee documentation completeness to ensure audit readiness for DCAA, DCMA, IG, and agency review. The Contracts Manager ensures file integrity and contract-level recordkeeping.
• Track contract status, option exercises, period of performance, and key contractual milestones; provide contract-level reporting to program management and the Director of Contracts.

Modifications, REAs, and Claims Support

• Support PMs through contractual analysis and interpretation on modifications; identify contractual implications and recommend positioning.
• Identify and frame equitable adjustment requests early; coordinate with program teams to capture cost and schedule impact data and prepare the contractual submission.
• Navigate post-award risk mitigation – scope creep, key personnel substitution issues, ceiling pressure, government direction outside scope – and maintain contemporaneous documentation that supports defensible contractual positions.
• Support dispute resolution activity, including coordination with outside counsel under Director-level authority where applicable.

Subcontract Agreements (Dawson as Subcontractor)

• Review and negotiate teaming agreements (TAs), non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and other pre-award arrangements where Dawson pursues federal work as a subcontractor or team member to a prime contractor.
• Review subcontract agreements where Dawson performs as a subcontractor to a federal prime contractor; analyze contractual terms, flowdown completeness, performance requirements, and risk exposure to Dawson.
• Support negotiation of subcontract terms, modifications, and changes with the prime contractor; identify contractual implications and recommend positioning.
• Manage the ongoing administration of subcontracts where Dawson is the sub, including prime-direction-passed-down changes, dispute resolution, contract interpretation issues, and coordination with the prime on performance and payment matters.

Government Contracting Officer Engagement

• Serve as the contractual point of contact with government contracting officers, contract specialists, and government representatives on contract-specific matters – modifications, REAs, contract interpretation, contractual notices, and similar.
• Coordinate with project/program managers to ensure contractual and operational positions are aligned.
• Build and maintain government counterpart relationships through technical accuracy, responsiveness, and professionalism on contractual matters.

Closeout and Reporting

• Manage contract closeout activity, including final invoice review, release of claims, and contract file disposition.
• Provide contract status, modification visibility, and option-exercise reporting to program reviews, the Director of Contracts, and executive leadership.

Business Development Support

• Support business development across Dawson's entities on services recompetes, task order pursuits, and teaming arrangements with input on contract strategy and risk.
• Build relationships across Dawson's business lines and external partners to support capture and recompete activity.

Cross-Functional Coordination and Process Development

• Coordinate with project/program managers, capture leads, finance, HR, and business development on the contractual dimensions of contract execution and capture.
• Coordinate with the Subcontracts Department on prime-sub interface issues where Dawson-as-prime and Dawson-as-sub work intersect.
• Contribute to the development, review, and annual update of Dawson's Contracts Management handbook and related process documentation.
• Assist in refining and developing Contracts Department processes, workflows, and templates to improve efficiency, consistency, and risk management across the function.
• Support the delivery of training and capability-building programs for Dawson on contracts and federal acquisition topics.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, legal studies, or a related field; equivalent professional experience considered.
• Five or more years of progressive experience administering federal professional services, environmental, O&M, or cyber/IT contracts, for the federal government or with a federal services prime, mid-tier, or major subcontractor.
• Expert-level working knowledge of the FAR/DFARS and agency supplements relevant to services acquisition.
• Direct experience administering cost-reimbursable and fixed-price service contracts.
• Direct experience with contract modifications, option exercises, and preparation or defending of equitable adjustments.
• Experience with teaming agreements, NDAs, and subcontract agreements where the contractor performs as a sub to a federal prime.
• Demonstrated experience identifying contractual risk and proposing mitigation strategies.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to interpret complex contractual language and provide clear guidance to non-contractual audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as a federal Contracting Officer.
• Experience across multiple federal services lines – professional services, environmental, O&M, cyber/IT – or demonstrated ability to operate across business-line variations in services acquisition.
• Familiarity with task order vehicles such as OASIS+, GSA MAS, agency-specific IDIQs, GWACs, or BPAs, and the fair-opportunity process under those vehicles.
• Familiarity with non-traditional acquisition vehicles such as Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements, Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs), Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs), and SBIR/STTR procurements, including the contractual mechanics that differ from FAR-based contracts.
• Familiarity with CMMC requirements and cyber compliance frameworks on DoD cyber/IT contracts.
• NCMA certification (CFCM, CCCM, or CPCM) or DAWIA Contracting certification.
• Familiarity with PIEE, WAWF/iRAPT, GSA eBuy, SAM.gov, FPDS, and federal payment systems.
• Experience with mentor-protégé arrangements, JV structures, or 8(a)/SDVOSB/WOSB/HUBZone teaming dynamics.
• Established relationships across the federal services acquisition community.

Key Competencies

• Genuinely enjoys being the trusted contracts subject matter expert who makes Program Managers and program teams more effective, rather than seeking primary lead authority on negotiations.
• Independent judgment and sound contract interpretation within established authority.
• Effective communication with government contracting officers on contract-specific matters.
• Working understanding of services contract dynamics – labor categories, indirect rate exposure, ceiling management, and option timing.
• Identifies contract and program risk early and recommends mitigations.
• Direct, professional communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Curiosity and willingness to question assumptions when facts warrant.
• Adaptability across service business lines and contract structures.
• Ownership of assigned contractual outcomes.

Reporting and Structure Reports to the Director of Contracts. No direct reports. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job