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.
Position summary
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.
What you'll do
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
Required skills
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 benefits
Ability to build and form strong relationships with both the internal team, our partners and our clients
Ability to organize and prioritize work assignments to meet deadlines
Demonstrated history as a strong performer—consistently exceeding expectations through proactive problem-solving, accountability, and delivery excellence
An adaptive, empathetic, collaborative, curious, and positive mindset
Desired skills
Prior experience as a state government procurement officer or grants officer
Prior experience as a contractor-side contracts manager supporting state clients and grants work
Prior experience with federal government contractingLegal training or experience
Working with remote teams
Other requirements
All roles at Nava require the following:
Legal authorization to work in the United States
Ability to meet any other requirements for government contracts for which candidates are hired
Work authorization that doesn’t require visa sponsorship, now or in the future
May be subject to a government background check or security clearance, depending on the contract
Perks working with Nava
Health coverage — comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans to support your overall health needs
Insurance coverage — Nava provides disability, life, and accidental death insurance at no cost
Time off — vacation, holidays (including Juneteenth), and floating holidays to rest and recharge
Company holidays — enjoy 12 paid federal holidays each year on top of your regular PTO
Annual bonus — when Nava meets its goals, eligible employees receive a performance-based annual bonus
Parental leave — paid time off for new parents, plus weekly meals delivered to your home
Wellness program — full platform offering physical, mental, & emotional health resources & support tools
Virtual care — see doctors online with no copay through UnitedHealthcare’s virtual visit program
Sabbatical leave — earn extended unpaid leave after continuous service for personal growth or rest
401(k) match — Nava matches 4% of your salary to support your retirement savings plan
Flexible work — remote-first environment with flexibility built around your schedule and responsibilities
Home office setup — company laptop & setup assistance provided via Staples for remote work needs
Utility support — monthly reimbursement to help offset eligible home office utility expenses
Learning opportunities — internal training programs and resources to help grow your professional skills
Development opportunities — LinkedIn Learning access & an annual allowance for courses, tuition, & certs
Referral bonus — get rewarded when you refer great people who join the Nava team
Commuter benefits — pre-tax commuter programs to support in-office travel when applicable
Supportive culture — A collaborative and remote-friendly team environment where people genuinely care
Location
We have fully remote options if you reside in one of the following states:
Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
*If you are not living in one of the states listed above, unfortunately, you will not be considered for a position at this time.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our newsletter to find out about career opportunities, new partnerships, and news from the broader civic tech community.
Please contact the recruiting team at [email protected] if you would like to request reasonable accommodation during the application or interviewing process.
We participate in E-Verify. Upon hire, we will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. This role requires you to work from the contiguous United States.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Nava is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, gender and/or gender identity or expression, color, creed, religion, religious creed, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, reproductive health autonomy, pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, genetic information, domestic violence victim status, marital status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Nava prohibits any such discrimination or harassment. This policy applies to all employees, applicants, contractors, and temporary workers of Nava.
