Director Corporate Contracts

At Arete, we are on the forefront of utilizing innovative solutions, with great minds from all backgrounds, to help solve the nation's most complex security challenges. We strive for an inclusive, collaborative team environment that approaches differences as opportunities for innovation and excellence. As an employee-owned company, we foster an atmosphere that propels diverse career opportunities and professional growth.

Discover your future with us.

As the Director, Corporate Contracts, you will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Contracts function across the organization, including proposal development, contract negotiations, compliance, and export control. This leader will ensure adherence to FAR, DFARS, DCAA/DCMA standards, and other agency requirements. The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of government contracting, strong leadership, and a strategic mindset to guide the contracts team in supporting business objectives. This position can be located in our VA, CO, AZ or CA offices. This is an exempt, full-time, supervisory position, and reports to the Chief Financial Officer.

• Develop and enforce cost estimating, contracting, and procurement policies and procedures in compliance with federal regulations (FAR, DFARS, etc.).
• Implement and maintain DCAA-auditable cost estimating processes.
• Oversee all Contracts staff proposal activity, including pricing, terms and conditions, and executive proposal review proposal reviews.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Contracts team; provide expert guidance on negotiations and resolution of contract-related matters.
• Draft and negotiate various contract documents including teaming, licensing, and proprietary agreements.
• Maintain contract and proposal documentation, ensuring accessibility of critical data to program and executive teams.
• Act as Corporate Export Compliance Officer; implement training and manage the Export Compliance Manual and policies.
• Provide executive-level risk analysis and contract briefings.
• Collaborate with Finance, Procurement, Business Sectors, HR, and external stakeholders to resolve issues and drive contractual alignment.
• Support continuous improvement in procurement and subcontracting practices, ensuring regulatory readiness and operational efficiency.

Key Competencies

• Strategic leadership and team-building abilities.
• Strong internal and external stakeholder engagement.
• Effective risk management and compliance focus.
• Skilled in interpreting complex regulations and applying practical solutions.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethics, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Work Environment & Travel

• Standard office environment.
• Occasional travel required to support business needs and customer engagements.

We have an impressive range of benefits, programs, and perks that we offer:

Generous PTO and Leave Times

• Flextime Scheduling
• Bereavement
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Parental Leave

Financial Benefits

• 401K Retirement Plan Contribution
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan
• Continuing Education Funds

Health, Medical, and Wellness Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• Vision Reimbursement

Experiences and Background We Look For:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Law, Public Administration, or related field; advanced degree or JD preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in DoD/government contract management, including leadership roles.
• Strong working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, ITAR, and government procurement regulations.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating complex DoD contracts and managing diverse contract types (CPFF, T&M, FFP, IDIQ).
• Strong negotiation, communication, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and cost estimating tools (ProPricer experience highly desirable).
• Demonstrated success leading a contract team in a high-tech, government contracting environment.
• Willingness to routinely work onsite a minimum of three workdays per week.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance and program access.

The salary range for this role is $165,000 to $220,000; however, Arete considers several factors when extending an offer of employment, including but not limited to: the position and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills.

Other Considerations

Arete is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination, and we believe every person has the right to be treated with fairness, dignity, and equal consideration.

Arete is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

U.S. citizenship is required to meet position eligibility.

Successful passage of a criminal background screen is required to meet position eligibility.

Selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Arete will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Successful passage of a Department of Transportation (DOT) drug test is required to meet position eligibility.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website because of your