Government Contracts Lead

Shift5•Arlington, VA

3d•Remote

About The Position

Shift5 is seeking a mission-aligned Government Contracts Lead to support and scale its growing portfolio of U.S. Government and commercial contracts, driving operational rigor and enabling revenue execution. This role sits at the intersection of Legal, Finance, and Go-To-Market and will play a critical role in supporting Shift5’s next phase of growth. This is not a purely administrative role. It requires ownership, sound judgment, and the ability to balance risk with business velocity in a fast-paced, regulated environment.

Requirements

Experience in government contracting, defense-tech, or regulated industries.
Demonstrated ability to draft, review, and negotiate contracts independently.
Strong analytical, negotiation, and risk assessment skills.
Comfort operating in a fast-paced, startup and compliance-heavy environment.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Legal Studies, or related field, or equivalent experience.
Eligibility for a U.S. security clearance preferred.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with FAR/DFARS, FedRAMP, NIST, or ITAR strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and execute contract drafting, review, and negotiation across government and commercial agreements.
Own the full contract lifecycle from intake through execution, renewal, and record management.
Partner closely with Sales, Finance, Legal, and Compliance to structure deals and mitigate risk.
Drive measurable impact in revenue enablement and deal velocity by reducing friction in contracting processes.
Identify and act on opportunities to improve contract templates, workflows, and turnaround times.
Navigate DoD acquisition processes, FAR/DFARS requirements, and compliance frameworks.
Contribute directly to scaling Shift5’s contracting infrastructure to support growth across defense and commercial markets.