About BlueForge Alliance (BFA)

BlueForge Alliance is an agile program integrator positioned to meet the intense and urgent demand to build capacity for the defense industrial base. We are a unifying organization converging technology, manufacturing, economics, and state and federal government to provide a forward-facing, federated umbrella with national visibility.

As a non-profit, neutral convener, BlueForge Alliance aligns strategy with execution to coordinate regional stakeholders, assess and propose high-value efforts, and rapidly establish and deploy U.S. Department of Defense investments. By streamlining competing priorities and viewpoints, we aim to increase manufacturing capacity and technology adoption, boost the number of available suppliers and diversify investment into the defense industrial base.

Position Description

As a Contracts Manager on the Contracts and Compliance team at BlueForge Alliance, you play a critical role in supporting our strategic goals and objectives by overseeing the preparation, negotiation, and management of business contracts. Your expertise in contract management and administration will ensure that our contracts effectively meet our organization's needs and align with industry best practices. In addition to the following details, by being a BlueForger, you will be expected to uphold and exemplify our values of Belonging, Selfless Service, Integrity, Leadership, Respect, and Excellence. We uphold these values upon a backbone of humility driven by a culture of safety, vulnerability, and purpose. In this role you will be:

• Establishing and maintaining contracts with vendors, suppliers, and/or subcontractors to meet BlueForge Alliance's operational and project requirements.
• Cultivating and managing strong relationships with vendors, suppliers, and/or subcontractors, serving as the main point of contact for all contract-related matters.
• Reviewing contracts to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
• Collaborating with stakeholders to negotiate favorable contract terms, pricing, and delivery schedules that align with BlueForge Alliance's goals.
• Coordinating contract administration activities, including tracking contract performance, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations, and managing contract modifications or extensions.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including legal, finance, and project management, to ensure seamless contract execution and adherence to established processes.
• Continually re-assessing and mitigating contract risks, identifying potential issues, and implementing proactive measures to address them.
• Providing guidance and support to internal teams on contract-related matters, including interpreting contractual provisions and resolving disputes.
• Communicating and presenting information to stakeholders regarding all contract-related matters.
• Keeping abreast of industry trends, best practices, and regulatory changes related to contract management, and making recommendations for process improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, or a related field and 3+ years of experience related to contract management, administration, and/or negotiation; or equivalent. 
• Strong understanding of contract principles, terms, and conditions.
• Familiarity with government contracts and regulations (e.g., FAR, DFAR) preferred.
  • Note - While a legal background and knowledge of FAR and DFAR regulations are not required, they would be considered advantageous for this position.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented mindset with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple contracts simultaneously.

Salary & Benefits

Expected Salary Range $70,000 – 110,000 depending on role and qualifications.

BFA has a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Health, dental, and vision plans
• 401k matching program
• Generous PTO package
• And more

Other Details

BlueForge Alliance provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

 To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

All positions are security sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations, in accordance with ADA, may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.