Director of Contracts

Forterra • Arlington, TX

2d • Remote

About The Position

The Forterra Contracts team seeks a Director of Contracts to own the full spectrum of the company's government contracting activity. This includes shaping deal structure during capture, negotiating and executing awards, administering performance and compliance, advising growth and business development and proposal teams on contract vehicles and acquisition strategy, and managing the subcontract and teaming portfolio that supports program delivery. The Contracts team partners closely with Legal, Finance, Program Management, and Engineering, as well as with government customers and industry partners, to move Forterra's technology into operational settings. Forterra is a fast-growing company at the early stages of growth. Consistent with this fast growth, members of our Contracts team must be resourceful, creative, and eager to take ownership of complex matters. This role requires fluency across the full range of acquisition instruments, including FAR-based contracts, Other Transactions, commercial agreements, IDIQs and task orders, and grants and cooperative agreements, along with the judgment to select the instrument that will field capability fastest. You will also assist building the systems, templates, and processes that allow the contracts function to scale with the business. Experience across every one of these areas is not expected, but a willingness to learn and adapt is.

Requirements

• 8+ years of federal contracting or acquisition experience, in government, industry, or a combination of both
• Demonstrated command of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and DFARS, including contract types, competitive procedures, and cost and price analysis
• Working knowledge of government data rights and intellectual property under DFARS 252.227, and the ability to negotiate them
• Experience leading negotiations independently and administering awards through performance and closeout
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a US security clearance
• Ability to work remotely with up to 30% travel

Nice To Haves

• Government-side acquisition experience, particularly with a contracting or agreements officer warrant
• Hands-on experience with Other Transactions (10 U.S.C. 4021 and 4022) and Commercial Solutions Openings, and a track record of using non-traditional authorities to accelerate fielding
• Experience at a defense innovation organization such as DIU, AFWERX, ONR, DARPA, or a service innovation unit
• DAWIA certification in Contracting or Program Management
• A graduate degree in contract management, acquisition, business, or law
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Experience working with non-traditional defense contractors and commercial technology companies, including getting new entrants through ATO, FCL, and other barriers to entry
• Experience building or scaling a contracts function at a high-growth company

Responsibilities

• Own Forterra's contracts function as a leader on a small, dynamic team. You will set the strategy, standards, and processes for how the company contracts with its customers and partners.
• Take responsibility for significant, material agreements that directly determine the company's revenue, runway, and ability to field capability.
• Drive customer growth by structuring and executing new government awards and expanding existing ones.
• Use your expertise in federal acquisition to help the Business Development, Proposal, and Engineering teams select the right contract vehicle and instrument, position for follow-on scope, and avoid the structural mistakes that stall programs.
• Advise on acquisition strategy beginning at the earliest stages of capture.
• Manage relationships with contracting officers, agreements officers, and procurement offices across the government. High-trust professional relationships with government contracting and procurement offices are critical to Forterra's continued success, and you will be called upon to develop and foster these relationships throughout your tenure.
• Lead day-to-day management of the entire acquisition lifecycle. Review and shape proposals and pricing volumes, lead negotiations on terms, data rights, and intellectual property, administer awards through performance, resolve issues and requests for equitable adjustment, identify risks and mitigations, and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and contract terms.
• Build and manage the subcontracts and teaming portfolio, including NDAs, teaming agreements, subcontracts, and flow downs.
• Represent the contracts function with vendors, primes, partners, engineers, executives, and customers.

Benefits

• Equity in Forterra is included in most of our full-time, high-demand roles and is therefore considered part of Forterra’s overall compensation package.
• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Three plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan, with Forterra covering 80% of the plan premium for you and your dependents.
• Basic Life/AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance plans 100% covered by Forterra, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a winter break in December.
• Competitive paid time off (PTO) offering 20 days accrued per year.
• A minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave for birth/adoption.
• A $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators with all the Celsius your little heart desires.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after-tax deferral with company match up to 4%.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director