Business Manager Jobs in Arlington, VA

Overview

The Senior Business Operations Manager plays a critical, integrative role within the Contracting Office, serving as a connective tissue between contracting, subcontract management, finance, program operations, and executive leadership. This position is responsible for supporting the full lifecycle of U.S. Government contracts, subcontracts, and commercial service agreements while simultaneously driving business process improvement, data integrity, and operational alignment across the organization.

The core function of this role is to provide senior-level analysis, coordination, and execution support across complex contractual and operational environments. The Senior Business Operations Manager proactively identifies risks, inefficiencies, and misalignments across contracting and program execution, and develops practical, scalable solutions that enhance compliance, contractual and financial discipline, and customer satisfaction. This role requires a well-rounded professional who is comfortable operating across disciplines, translating contractual requirements into operational reality, and supporting leadership decision-making through rigorous analysis and clear communication.

Must be: US CITIZEN

IN PERSON - ARLINGTON, VA - not eligible for remote work

General

This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt position reporting to the Chief of Contracting and working closely with Program Management, Business Development, Finance, Data, and Executive Leadership. While organizationally housed within the Contracting Office, the day-to-day responsibilities of this role span business operations, customer relations, data management, and process optimization. The ideal candidate is someone who:

• Thrives in cross-functional environments and enjoys solving complex, multi-disciplinary problems
• Understands how contracting decisions impact operations, customer delivery, and finance
• Brings both analytical rigor and practical judgment to dynamic, fast-paced mission environments

Contracting & Commercial Agreement Support

• Support the full lifecycle management of U.S. Government contracts, including analysis of solicitations, awards, modifications, options, and closeout activities.
• Provide analytical and coordination support for commercial service agreements, teaming agreements, and other non-FAR-based instruments.
• Interpret and translate contractual terms, conditions, and compliance requirements into actionable guidance for program and operational teams.
• Assist in developing standardized templates, tools, and internal guidance for contract and agreement management.
• Monitor contract performance and support the preparation of documentation required for modifications, equitable adjustments, and related actions.
• Serve as a point of coordination between contracting leadership and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment between contractual obligations and operational execution.

Subcontract Management

• Support the planning, negotiation, execution, and administration of subcontracts across multiple programs and contract types.
• Assist in establishing and maintaining subcontractor onboarding, compliance, and performance monitoring processes.
• Coordinate with program teams to track subcontractor deliverables, milestones, and performance metrics.
• Support issue identification and resolution related to subcontractor performance, compliance, or payment concerns.
• Maintain accurate and audit-ready subcontract files, documentation, and reporting artifacts.

Business Operations & Process Improvement

• Conduct end-to-end analyses of contracting, subcontracting, and related business processes to identify inefficiencies, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Design and implement process improvements that enhance scalability, compliance, data integrity, and cross-functional coordination.
• Support the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs), workflows, and governance mechanisms across the contracting and operations lifecycle.
• Serve as a change agent, helping teams adopt improved tools, processes, and reporting structures.

Financial & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Work closely with Finance to support alignment between contracts, subcontracts, invoicing, funding structures, and revenue recognition.
• Assist in tracking funding, burn rates, and contractual ceilings to support proactive financial management.
• Support audit readiness efforts by ensuring documentation, processes, and controls are aligned across contracting and finance functions.
• Facilitate communication between contracting, finance, and program teams to resolve issues related to billing, modifications, or funding execution.

Data Management, Reporting & Analysis

• Develop and maintain contract- and program-related data sets, dashboards, and reports to support leadership decision-making.
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to contract execution, subcontract performance, and operational outcomes.
• Prepare clear, concise briefings and written products for senior leadership, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure data accuracy, consistency, and usability across systems and reporting tools.

Business Development & Portfolio Growth Support

• Provide analytical and operational support to strategic business development efforts, with a primary focus on retaining, recapturing, and expanding existing U.S. Government contract portfolios.
• Develop a deep understanding of current contract operations, performance history, customer priorities, and contractual constraints to inform competitive positioning and proposal strategy.
• Support proposal development activities, including drafting, editing, and reviewing technical, management, and operational content to ensure alignment with specific RFX requirements and evaluation criteria.
• Assist in translating current-state operations and lessons learned into compelling proposal narratives that demonstrate performance credibility, scalability, and risk mitigation.
• Contribute innovative ideas to strengthen competitive positioning, refine win themes, and address known or anticipated challenges associated with recompetes and follow-on opportunities.
• Coordinate closely with Contracting, Program Management, Finance, and Business Development teams to ensure proposals reflect executable approaches, compliant pricing structures, and realistic staffing and delivery models.
• Support post-submission activities, including clarification responses, discussions, and transition planning, as applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, contract management, public administration, finance, supply chain management, or a related field.
• 6+ years of progressively responsible experience in contract management, business operations, or related analytical roles.
• Demonstrated experience supporting U.S. Government contracts and familiarity with commercial agreements.
• Strong working knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and agency supplemental regulations; experience translating regulatory requirements into operational practice.
• Proven ability to work across finance, operations, and contracting functions in a highly collaborative environment.
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex information into actionable insights for senior leadership.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience with dashboards, reporting tools, or contract management systems preferred.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and exercise sound judgment in ambiguous situations.
• Ability to

Work Environment

• Professional office environment

Occasional travel may be required to support customers, partners, or program activities.