Associate Director, Contracts - Government

We're seeking an experienced, passionate, and collaborative Associate Director, Contracts - Government to join our team. As Ginkgo continues to grow, we are building out our team to work collaboratively with the U.S. Government to support the development of materials, biosecurity, energy & sustainability, and pharma solutions in support of national security, the bio-economy and supply chains. As Associate Director, Contracts - Government, you will report to the Senior Director, Contracts - Government, and support the negotiations and administration of Ginkgo's U.S. Government contracts and subcontracts and help guide our team as we deliver capabilities and products to our Government partners and rapidly expand our Government portfolio of projects. You will also play an important role in the development of Ginkgo's cost/price proposal submissions in response to Government solicitations. Your role sits at the nexus of Ginkgo's mission and strategy, and you will be uniquely positioned to create impact both for our U.S. Government partners and for Ginkgo at large. Success in this role comes with the ability to effectively leverage the full breadth of the Ginkgo platform by coordinating and working well with all of our incredible constituent teams, including legal, finance, business development, alliance management, government affairs, creative, and technical teams.

Ginkgo recognizes that creativity and innovation are critical elements to all aspects of our operations. We're seeking a creative strategic thinker who leverages their vast knowledge of the U.S. Government regulations and the acquisition process to help us achieve our mission of making biology easier to engineer.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a lead contracts manager and negotiator for U.S. Government R&D and commercial contracts and subcontracts, including but not limited to procurement contracts, assistance instruments, other transactions, and all forms of subcontract agreements;
• Provides cradle-to-grave contract administration for prime contracts and subcontract arrangements, from negotiation and award execution, through award modifications to contract closeout; and coordinates all appropriate internal reviews and approvals of all award documents;
• Analyzes contractual requirements, special provisions, terms and conditions to ensure compliance with appropriate laws, regulations, and company policies and procedures
• Provides subject matter expertise in, but not limited to, the interpretation and application of FAR/DFARS, grant and agreement regulations, flow down clauses, other agency-supplemental acquisition regulations, data rights, intellectual property rights (Bayh-Dole Act), and other regulations;
• Supports the proposal team in proposal preparation (RFP review, analysis, interpretation and contractual advice on terms and conditions) and developing the cost and price proposals and pricing strategies for Ginkgo's prime and subcontractor proposal submissions to the Government, including preparation of all cost/price documents required for a compliant proposal and cost/price documents required during negotiations;
• Drive creative, critical thinking and action throughout the full acquisition lifecycle, and helps establish new internal acquisition policies and procedures to facilitate streamlining the contract negotiation and administration process and efficient development of cost/price proposals for the Government;
• Oversees conformance to the U.S. Government award, and maintains continual reviews to ensure that all terms and conditions are met and that the contract is in accordance with legal requirements, customer specifications, and government regulations; maintains internal files so they are complete, accurate and auditable; prepares and disseminates information throughout the company regarding contract status, compliance, modification, deviation, negotiation, and termination;
• Provides expertise in identifying creative solutions to potential contractual problems or conflicts, analyzing impact/ramifications; recommends and implements mitigation strategies
• Supports the Legal team through the development and implementation of approaches to protect Ginkgo's intellectual property
• Assist Ginkgo's legal team in negotiating other agreements with Ginkgo's partners, non-disclosure agreements, teaming agreements, and material transfer agreements

Minimum Requirements

• 8 years and a Master's degree; or 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or equivalent experience
• In-depth knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS), 32 CFR Part 34 Department of Defense (DoD) Grants and Agreements Regulations, 10 U.S.C. § 4022, and other federal acquisition policies, processes, procedures, and contracting laws
• Experience negotiating and administering complex Government contracts and subcontracts under numerous award instruments such as contracts (CPFF, FFP, T&M, etc.), cooperative agreements, grants, and other transactions (such as DOD's OT authority 10 U.S.C. § 4022)
• Excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal, and negotiation skills
• Enthusiasm about advancing Ginkgo's mission to make biology easier to engineer
• Ability to work independently, effectively handle multiple tasks and willingness to work in a fast-paced startup environment
• Demonstrated leadership qualities and ability to learn and adapt quickly; and start, oversee, and follow-through with major assignments and responsibilities.

Desired Experience and Capabilities

• Experience with Government R&D contracting and supporting the solicitation, acquisition, and award negotiations process for U.S. Government R&D funding agencies such as the "ARPA" agencies, DOE, and DoD Service laboratories
• Experience with requirements for estimating, purchasing, property, and accounting systems for a large business contractor and compliance with DOD regulations
• Experience developing cost/price proposals for Government projects
• Proven ability to hold Secret or Top Secret/SCI clearance
• NCMA Certification

Total compensation for this role is market driven, with a starting salary of $136K+, as well as company stock awards. Base pay is ultimately determined based on a candidate's skills, expertise, and experience. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental & vision coverage, health spending accounts, voluntary benefits, leave of absence policies, Employee Assistance Program, 401(k) program with employer contribution, 8 paid holidays in addition to a full-week winter shutdown and unlimited Paid Time Off policy.