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Posted: February 23, 2026 (0 days ago)

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DIRECTOR, CONTRACTS MANAGEMENT OFFICE

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

Department of Defense

Fresh

Location

Salary

$135,468 - $203,700

per year

Closes

March 9, 2026

SES Pay Grade

Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900

Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This role leads a team that handles planning, negotiating, and awarding various contracts and agreements for cutting-edge technology projects at a defense research agency.

It involves overseeing procurement to support innovative government initiatives while ensuring efficiency and compliance with laws.

Ideal candidates are experienced leaders with deep knowledge of federal contracting who can drive organizational changes and align efforts with national security goals.

Key Requirements

  • In-depth knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), statutes, and DoD directives for all phases of government contracting, including other transactions, grants, and cooperative agreements
  • Ability to establish agency policy on acquisition and contracting functions
  • Demonstrated experience leading significant organizational change initiatives, including implementation steps, building coalitions, communication strategies, and achieving measurable outcomes
  • Strong leadership skills to inspire teams, foster high-performance cultures, and hold individuals accountable
  • Proven ability to manage resources efficiently, budget effectively, and pursue process and technological improvements
  • Commitment to the U.S. Constitution, rule of law, and serving the American people
  • Enterprise perspective with experience supporting DoD or government-wide strategic priorities and national security objectives

Full Job Description

The Contract Management Office (CMO) plans, negotiates, executes, and awards procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and Other Transactions for selected new-start technology projects, consortium projects, and other cooperative projects where innovative or special contractual arrangements are desired.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs) and TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs).

However, to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the ECQS and TQS within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES.

Resumes over the 2-page limit, will be disqualified.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): ECQ 1 - Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2 - Driving Efficiency: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3 - Merit and Competence: This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4 - Leading People: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture.

This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ 5 - Achieving Results: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): 1.

Demonstrated ability to manage a contracting function for research and development efforts to include in-depth knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) related statutes, and DoW implementing directives across all phases of traditional government contract procedures, other transactions, grants and cooperative agreements, and the ability to establish agency policy concerning acquisition and contracting functions.

2.

Demonstrated experience in leading significant organizational change initiatives, where change management practices were successfully applied, specifically articulating the steps to implement the changes, any challenges encountered, how coalitions were built, how various communication strategies were leveraged, and measurable outcomes were achieved.

DoD Joint Enterprise-Wide Experience Statement: In addition, DoD requires an Enterprise Perspective.

This individual must have the ability to apply a broad point of view and an awareness and understanding of individual or organizational responsibilities in relation to DoD or government-wide strategic priorities is required.

Executives must demonstrate the ability to work with internal and external partners to support national security objectives.

This perspective is typically gained through a variety of diverse work experiences. A separate narrative statement is not required. This information should be within the resume.

CRITICAL ACQUISITION POSITION (CAP).

Selectee for this position will be required to sign a written agreement to remain, for a minimum of three years, in the federal service in this critical acquisition position.

This position is designated a Critical Acquisition Position (CAP) with further designation as a Key Leadership Position (KLP).

As a KLP, the incumbent will be required to sign a Tenure Agreement which requires the incumbent to remain in this position for a minimum of 3 years.

This position requires the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Contracting Professional certification at time of assignment and requires selectee to sign a CAP service agreement to remain assigned to the position for three years.

The selectee must have 10 years of acquisition experience in an Acquisition Workforce position, at least 4 years of which was performed while assigned to a CAP.

Incumbent must be a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps upon entry into the position. Major Duties:

As a Director, Contracts Management Office, you will be responsible for the following duties: Assist and advise the Director on acquisition and assistance issues, including those issues pertaining to grants, cooperative agreements, and other forms of non-procurement, such as other transactions, and innovative acquisition strategies and methods.

Serve as the Senior Procurement Executive and approves justifications for other than full and open competition for proposed contracts over $100 million; and certify, assign, and appoint members of the Department of Defense Acquisition Corps and workforce.

Exercise, by delegation, authorities as Head of the Contracting Activity. Prescribe and publish Agency acquisition regulations, policies, and procedures; appoint all contracting officers.

Oversee the maintenance of Agency acquisition systems and make modifications/revisions as appropriate.

Manage and enhance career development of the Agency acquisition workforce and Agency members of the Department of Defense Acquisition Corps.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/23/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/24/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: DARPA-26-12890154-SES