Contracts Manager; States​/Grants

About Nava

About Nava
:
Nava is a consultancy and public benefit corporation working to make government services simple and effective. Since 2015, federal, state, and local agencies have trusted Nava to help solve highly scrutinized technology modernization challenges. As a client services company, we guide agencies constrained by legacy systems to a future with sharp user experiences built on secure, reliable, fault-tolerant cloud infrastructure.

We bill for our time, offering our expertise and problem-solving approach to help our government partners enhance their digital products and services. People are at the heart of our work, from members of the public who rely on benefit programs to government agency staff. Through human-centered design and modern engineering best practices, we help our government partners understand user needs and deliver on their missions more effectively.

This focus gives everyone at Nava the opportunity to do work that is meaningful, impactful, and deeply connected to public good.

Nava is at the forefront of reimagining how our government serves its people, and we re looking for an experienced, strong-performing Contracts Manager to help drive this mission forward.

The Contracts Manager is responsible for managing all aspects of the states and grants business portfolios  contract/grant administration function. This experienced contracts/grants professional will build effective relationships with internal and external clients and partners; create a strong client and business partner experience; and support efficient contract/grant and compliance operations in a delivery-first professional services company. This role will partner across delivery, growth, finance, and operational teams to ensure Nava meets its obligations under both state contracts and grant-funded program requirements.

We are seeking a strong performer with a proven record of delivering high-quality work in complex, fast-paced environments. This person is a key member of contracts management and will report to the Director of Contracts.

• Prepare and customize a variety of legal agreements, including non-disclosure agreements, teaming agreements, consulting agreements, contracts, subcontracts, grants and other contractual documents that support our business
• Actively participate in contract and grant negotiations with business partners
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer and partner contract communications
• Coordinate negotiations and review with partners, clients, and internal/external legal counsel, as required
• Review and identify compliance requirements for Nava s contracts and grants, and ensure compliance
• Assess company contract/grant needs and propose solutions that can be articulated in business strategies and legal documents
• Communicate effectively and frequently to keep the delivery, growth, finance, and operational teams informed of status, progress, risks, and blockers
• Maintain an accurate, up-to-date, and well-organized archive of Nava s state contracts, grant award documentation, and legal agreements
• Understand strategic, operational, and financial constraints and opportunities, ensuring that contractual agreements serve Nava s interests
• Help Nava understand the contractual space that we have to operate within - where we have flexibility and where we are constrained to ensure that we are both operating effectively and aligned with our contractual agreements
• Take accountability for using your position as the Contracts Manager to build strong relationships and a strong reputation for Nava with partners, funders, and government clients

• At least five years  experience in contract management and/or contract compliance, with a minimum of two years  experience managing a portfolio of state contracts
• Direct experience with some or all of the following state clients:
  Maryland, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania
• Direct experience managing NASPO contract vehicles and other state cooperative purchasing agreements
• Experience interpreting and operationalizing compliance requirements tied to grant-funded or state-funded engagements, including reporting, documentation, and audit readiness
• Ability to independently implement strategies and services in a fast-paced, dynamic, and growing environment while maintaining alignment across organizational boundaries with minimal oversight
• Experience with complex and difficult contract management situations
• Ability to develop documents and maintain communications using a variety of suites/applications, including G Suite, MS Office, Slack, etc.
• Highly organized, resourceful, reliable, and detail-oriented
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and autonomously within a distributed team while soliciting feedback when necessary
• Ability to understand business context and think strategically, make recommendations, and identify trade-offs and short term vs. long term risks and…