Principal Contracts Strategist – Pre-Award

Onebrief

. Partner with the Head of Contracts to shape contract strategy and support transparent, seamless contract awards .

Posted 10/16/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesLead💰 $170,000 - $220,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates deep expertise in federal government contracting, including acquisition processes and regulations, while effectively managing complex contract negotiations and lifecycle management. Proven ability to build scalable contracting frameworks and improve operational efficiency through automation.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Federal Government Contracting ExpertiseContract Strategy DevelopmentNegotiation and Risk MitigationAcquisition Process DesignCross-Functional Collaboration

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Contract AnalysisLifecycle ManagementAcquisition ApproachesContract NegotiationContract AdministrationProcess AutomationDecision ModelsContracting FrameworksOTAsHybrid Vehicles

Soft Skills

Analytical SkillsProblem-Solving SkillsAttention to DetailInterpersonal SkillsTime Management Skills

Certifications & Qualifications

U.S. Government Security Clearance

Industry Keywords

Federal RegulationsContracting Officer ExperienceHigh-Growth EnvironmentInternational Contract StrategyCustomer Mission Outcomes

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Partner with the Head of Contracts to shape contract strategy and support transparent, seamless contract awards
Own complex contract analysis, negotiation, risk mitigation, and lifecycle management
Align acquisition approaches with business goals and customer mission outcomes
Build and maintain scalable pre-award workflows, contracting frameworks, playbooks, and decision models
Improve processes through automation and operational efficiency
Coordinate across contract administration, partnerships, legal, finance, sales, and customer relations
Align priorities, identify dependencies, resolve blockers, and mitigate risks
Advance critical contract negotiations and awards
Strengthen pre-award workflows and clarify ownership, handoffs, progress, and dependencies
Develop and implement contracting frameworks, playbooks, and decision models
Build cross-functional partnerships and implement process or automation improvements

Requirements

What you’ll need

Deep expertise in federal government contracting, including acquisition processes and regulations
Experience supporting software or technology-enabled products
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
At least 10 years of related experience as a contracts professional supporting contract strategy and administration
Experience designing and executing flexible acquisition approaches, including OTAs, hybrid vehicles, and novel contract structures
Experience scaling contracting functions in a high-growth environment
Strong business judgment, analytical and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail
Excellent written, verbal, negotiation, interpersonal, and time management skills
Ability to lead through influence and operate independently with integrity and adaptability
Willingness to travel as needed
Ability to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance
U.S. citizenship required
Preferred: prior experience as a federal government contracting officer, ideally with at least 8 years in that capacity
Preferred: experience scaling contract strategy and execution internationally

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity
Remote-first organization with flexible work hours
Unlimited PTO
Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
401(k) plan with company match
8 weeks of parental leave at 100% regardless of state
Annual company summit trips
$1,000 per year home office improvement budget