Associate General Counsel and Director of Contracts (TS/SCI) {W}

ARKA Group L.P. (“ARKA”) is an advanced technologies company serving the U.S. military, intelligence community, and commercial space industry delivering next-generation solutions to support the national security space enterprise. Built on more than six decades of excellence, ARKA brings modern approaches and a culture of innovation to the challenges of today.

Join the ARKA team to learn how Beyond Begins Here. Discover your next career opportunity now!

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Associate General Counsel and Director of Contracts with an active TS/SCI U.S. Security Clearance with SSBI. This position will report to the Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer ("CLO") and will serve as a critical member of the legal team. This role will help to anticipate and mitigate legal, regulatory and business risks and will serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the business unit leaders and a wide range of business, technical and operating personnel.

In addition, this position you will be responsible for leading the overall ARKA Contracts organization across a diverse portfolio of multiple companies geographically dispersed across the United States and the United Kingdom in the Aerospace and Defense industry.

We offer generous relocation benefits for eligible candidates.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) providing guidance and leadership to internal clients on the implications of FARS, DFARS, and other agency regulations, and other regulatory compliance matters
• Provide legal advice to the ARKA companies regarding policies and procedures that will assure legal compliance and support internal controls, including maintenance of records in compliance with legal and business requirements
• Prepare and effectively deliver oral and written presentations, reports and training to different types of audiences from first line employees to senior executives
• Assist the CLO with mergers and acquisition activity, including contract negotiations
• Create and revise enterprise-wide policies and procedures in coordination with the CLO and business leaders
• Lead a team of contracts professionals across the ARKA companies with responsibilities to include resource planning and allocation, talent acquisition and development, and budgeting and financial oversight   
• Provide consistent mentoring, coaching and professional guidance to the Contracts teams and effectively monitor and evaluate team and individual staff performance
• Provide leadership and oversight over the review, drafting and related negotiations involving a myriad of complex agreements, including Firm Fixed Price/Incentive Fee (FFP/FPIF), Cost Plus Award Fee/Cost Plus Incentive Fee (CPAF/CPIF), Cost Plus Fixed Fee/Time and Materials (CPFF/T&M), hybrid contracts, other transaction authority agreements and commercial agreements
• Partner with and provide leadership guidance to internal clients within the businesses, including Business Development, Program Management, Engineering and Finance to ensure the needs of the business and customers are met in the most effective and efficient manner.  
• Ensure compliance on all appropriate prime contract flow downs
• Responsible for other legal areas as assigned
• Oversee and resolve disputes
• Available to visit multiple work sites across the ARKA companies on a regular basis
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Juris Doctor (JD) Degree from an accredited law school
• Member of at least one state bar
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills
• Experience managing complex corporate, commercial, and regulatory legal matters
• Knowledge of and experience in interpreting and implementing regulations related to U.S. Government contracts and other U.S. and U.K. compliance matters
• Self-directed with ability to exercise exceptional judgement, sound decision making and strategic thinking
• Operates with high standards of excellence and integrity
• Cultivates strong and effective working relationships at all levels
• Strong ability to objectively facilitate and navigate difficult and challenging situations or conversations; can effectively resolve conflict amicably and professionally
• Upholds and operates with a collaborative and team-oriented mindset
• 8 - 10 years of experience with U.S. Government contracts in a law firm and in industry, preferably in the Defense and Aerospace industry
• Minimum of 5 years of people leadership experience
• Ability to work collaboratively across functions and businesses to ensure optimum outcomes
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Security Clearance with SSBI and will need to obta