Associate General Counsel - Government Contracts - (Herndon, VA)

Summary

Position Description & Qualifications

The Associate General Counsel - Government Contracts serves as a senior legal advisor responsible for providing strategic legal counsel across U.S. and international government contracts.

This role advises on the full lifecycle of government contracts within a highly regulated government contracting environment. The position functions as a primary legal subject matter expert on government procurement, contract administration, regulatory compliance, claims, disputes, and business operations involving government customers. The role partners closely with executive leadership, contracts, compliance, HR, procurement, and program teams to ensure compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements.

In this role, you will:

Government Contracts Legal Advisory

• Provide legal counsel across the full government contracting lifecycle, including capture, proposal, award, performance, and closeout
• Interpret and apply FAR, DFARS, agency supplements, and procurement regulations
• Advise on contract structure, risk allocation, pricing considerations, and compliance obligations across U.S. and international procurements
• Counsel on prime/subcontractor relationships, teaming agreements, joint ventures, and regulatory compliance requirements
• Support proposal development through RFP review, risk analysis, and compliance strategy

Contract Drafting & Negotiation

• Lead drafting, review, and negotiation of government contracts, subcontracts, NDAs, and related agreements
• Negotiate and advise on key provisions including limitation of liability, indemnification, intellectual property rights, termination, and disputes
• Support negotiation of contract modifications, claims, and equitable adjustments
• Ensure appropriate flow-down of regulatory and contractual requirements

Government Contract Compliance Advisory

• Advise on compliance with government contract requirements and regulatory obligations
• Support compliance with applicable FAR, DFARS, agency regulations, and trade compliance requirements
• Partner with contracts and procurement teams to integrate contractual requirements into agreements
• Advise on program operations involving government-furnished information and contractual obligations
• Support audits, agency requests, and compliance reviews

Claims, Disputes & Regulatory Matters

• Advise on contract disputes, REAs, and claims under the Contract Disputes Act
• Support bid protests and litigation strategy (e.g., GAO, COFC)
• Coordinate with outside counsel on litigation, investigations, and regulatory inquiries

Internal Investigations & Compliance Support

• Provide legal oversight for contractual compliance matters and internal investigations
• Advise on investigative steps, remediation, preservation, and reporting obligations
• Coordinate with contracting officers and internal stakeholders
• Track issues, root causes, and corrective actions to strengthen compliance practices

Regulatory & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a primary contact for government agencies and regulatory authorities
• Oversee responses to agency inquiries and compliance matters
• Prepare executive-level communications, board updates, and risk summaries
• Advise leadership on risk-based decisions and compliance remediation strategies
• Collaborate with compliance, audit, and enterprise risk teams

Training & Program Enablement

• Design and deliver compliance training tailored to government contracting environments
• Translate legal requirements into operational guidance, SOPs, FAQs, and playbooks
• Coach business leaders on compliance obligations and risk mitigation
• Promote a culture of ethical business conduct and proactive risk management

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance
• U.S. Citizenship required
• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing
• Minimum 8 years of experience advising U.S. government contractors on applicable procurement law, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)
• Strong working knowledge of government procurement regulations and trade compliance laws, including ITAR and EAR
• Experience negotiating complex contracts, subcontracts, and commercial agreements
• Proven experience advising on compliance programs, audits, investigations, and regulatory matters
• Strong executive communication skills with the ability to deliver clear, business-oriented advice
• Ability to operate independently and influence cross-functional stakeholders
• Ability to travel up to 10%

Additional Desired Experience and Skills

• Experience serving as in-house counsel for a government contractor
• Experience supporting government contract claims, disputes, and bid protests
• Familiarity with HR systems, enterprise business systems, AI technologies, and vendor management
• Prior in-house company legal experience
• Active or prior security clearance (or eligibility)

Core Competencies

• Government contracts law and compliance
• Contract drafting and negotiation
• Regulatory compliance and risk management
• Claims, disputes, and litigation support
• Trade compliance
• Regulatory interpretation and enforcement trends
• Executive advisory and stakeholder influence
• Policy development and operationalization
• Audit support and risk remediation
• Training and organizational enablement

Company Overview

Serco Inc. (Serco) is the Americas division of Serco Group, plc. In North America, Serco's 9,000+ employees strive to make an impact every day across 100+ sites in the areas of Defense, Citizen Services, and Transportation. We help our clients deliver vital services more efficiently while increasing the satisfaction of their end customers. Serco serves every branch of the U.S. military, numerous U.S. Federal civilian agencies, the Intelligence Community, the Canadian government, state, provincial and local governments, and commercial clients. While your place may look a little different depending on your role, we know you will find yours here. Wherever you work and whatever you do, we invite you to discover your place in our world. Serco is a place you can count on and where you can make an impact because every contribution matters.

To review Serco benefits please visit: . If you require an accommodation with the application process please email: or call the HR Service Desk at , option 1. Please note, due to EEOC/OFCCP compliance, Serco is unable to accept resumes by email.

Candidates may be asked to present proof of identity during the selection process. If requested, this will require presentation of a government-issued I.D. (with photo) with name and address that match the information entered on the application. Serco will not take possession of or retain/store the information provided as proof of identity. For more information on how Serco uses your information, please see our Applicant Privacy Policy and Notice.

Serco does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies without being a contracted approved vendor. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Serco and will not be obligated to pay a placement or contract fee. If you are interested in becoming an approved vendor at Serco, please email .

Serco is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

Pay Transparency

Our Total Rewards package includes competitive pay, performance-based incentives, and benefits that promote well-being and work-life balance-so you can thrive both professionally and personally. Eligible employees also gain access to a wide range of benefits from comprehensive health coverage and health savings accounts to retirement plans, life and disability insurance, and time-off programs that support work-life balance. Program availability may vary based on factors such as contract type, location, hire date, and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Salary range: The range for this position can be found at the top of this posting. This range is provided as a general guideline and represents a good faith estimate across all experience levels. Actual base salary will be determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the scope of the role, relevant experience, job-related knowledge, education and training, key skills, and geographic market considerations. For roles available in multiple states, the range may vary to reflect differences in local labor markets. In addition to base salary, eligible positions may include other forms of compensation such as annual bonuses or long-term incentive opportunities. Benefits - Comprehensible benefits for full-time employees (part-time employees receive a limited package tailored to their role):

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Robust vacation and sick leave benefits . click apply for full job details

Job Description

Position Description & Qualifications

The Associate General Counsel - Government Contracts serves as a senior legal advisor responsible for providing strategic legal counsel across U.S. and international government contracts.

This role advises on the full lifecycle of government contracts within a highly regulated government contracting environment. The position functions as a primary legal subject matter expert on government procurement, contract administration, regulatory compliance, claims, disputes, and business operations involving government customers. The role partners closely with executive leadership, contracts, compliance, HR, procurement, and program teams to ensure compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements.

In this role, you will:

Government Contracts Legal Advisory

• Provide legal counsel across the full government contracting lifecycle, including capture, proposal, award, performance, and closeout
• Interpret and apply FAR, DFARS, agency supplements, and procurement regulations
• Advise on contract structure, risk allocation, pricing considerations, and compliance obligations across U.S. and international procurements
• Counsel on prime/subcontractor relationships, teaming agreements, joint ventures, and regulatory compliance requirements
• Support proposal development through RFP review, risk analysis, and compliance strategy

Contract Drafting & Negotiation

• Lead drafting, review, and negotiation of government contracts, subcontracts, NDAs, and related agreements
• Negotiate and advise on key provisions including limitation of liability, indemnification, intellectual property rights, termination, and disputes
• Support negotiation of contract modifications, claims, and equitable adjustments
• Ensure appropriate flow-down of regulatory and contractual requirements

Government Contract Compliance Advisory

• Advise on compliance with government contract requirements and regulatory obligations
• Support compliance with applicable FAR, DFARS, agency regulations, and trade compliance requirements
• Partner with contracts and procurement teams to integrate contractual requirements into agreements
• Advise on program operations involving government-furnished information and contractual obligations
• Support audits, agency requests, and compliance reviews

Claims, Disputes & Regulatory Matters

• Advise on contract disputes, REAs, and claims under the Contract Disputes Act
• Support bid protests and litigation strategy (e.g., GAO, COFC)
• Coordinate with outside counsel on litigation, investigations, and regulatory inquiries

Internal Investigations & Compliance Support

• Provide legal oversight for contractual compliance matters and internal investigations
• Advise on investigative steps, remediation, preservation, and reporting obligations
• Coordinate with contracting officers and internal stakeholders
• Track issues, root causes, and corrective actions to strengthen compliance practices

Regulatory & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a primary contact for government agencies and regulatory authorities
• Oversee responses to agency inquiries and compliance matters
• Prepare executive-level communications, board updates, and risk summaries
• Advise leadership on risk-based decisions and compliance remediation strategies
• Collaborate with compliance, audit, and enterprise risk teams

Training & Program Enablement

• Design and deliver compliance training tailored to government contracting environments
• Translate legal requirements into operational guidance, SOPs, FAQs, and playbooks
• Coach business leaders on compliance obligations and risk mitigation
• Promote a culture of ethical business conduct and proactive risk management

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance
• U.S. Citizenship required
• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing
• Minimum 8 years of experience advising U.S. government contractors on applicable procurement law, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)
• Strong working knowledge of government procurement regulations and trade compliance laws, including ITAR and EAR
• Experience negotiating complex contracts, subcontracts, and commercial agreements
• Proven experience advising on compliance programs, audits, investigations, and regulatory matters
• Strong executive communication skills with the ability to deliver clear, business-oriented advice
• Ability to operate independently and influence cross-functional stakeholders
• Ability to travel up to 10%

Additional Desired Experience and Skills

• Experience serving as in-house counsel for a government contractor
• Experience supporting government contract claims, disputes, and bid protests
• Familiarity with HR systems, enterprise business systems, AI technologies, and vendor management
• Prior in-house company legal experience
• Active or prior security clearance (or eligibility)

Core Competencies

• Government contracts law and compliance
• Contract drafting and negotiation
• Regulatory compliance and risk management
• Claims, disputes, and litigation support
• Trade compliance
• Regulatory interpretation and enforcement trends
• Executive advisory and stakeholder influence
• Policy development and operationalization
• Audit support and risk remediation
• Training and organizational enablement

Company Overview

Serco Inc. (Serco) is the Americas division of Serco Group, plc. In North America, Serco's 9,000+ employees strive to make an impact every day across 100+ sites in the areas of Defense, Citizen Services, and Transportation. We help our clients deliver vital services more efficiently while increasing the satisfaction of their end customers. Serco serves every branch of the U.S. military, numerous U.S. Federal civilian agencies, the Intelligence Community, the Canadian government, state, provincial and local governments, and commercial clients. While your place may look a little different depending on your role, we know you will find yours here. Wherever you work and whatever you do, we invite you to discover your place in our world. Serco is a place you can count on and where you can make an impact because every contribution matters.

To review Serco benefits please visit: . If you require an accommodation with the application process please email: or call the HR Service Desk at , option 1. Please note, due to EEOC/OFCCP compliance, Serco is unable to accept resumes by email.

Candidates may be asked to present proof of identity during the selection process. If requested, this will require presentation of a government-issued I.D. (with photo) with name and address that match the information entered on the application. Serco will not take possession of or retain/store the information provided as proof of identity. For more information on how Serco uses your information, please see our Applicant Privacy Policy and Notice.

Serco does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies without being a contracted approved vendor. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Serco and will not be obligated to pay a placement or contract fee. If you are interested in becoming an approved vendor at Serco, please email .

Serco is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

Pay Transparency

Our Total Rewards package includes competitive pay, performance-based incentives, and benefits that promote well-being and work-life balance-so you can thrive both professionally and personally. Eligible employees also gain access to a wide range of benefits from comprehensive health coverage and health savings accounts to retirement plans, life and disability insurance, and time-off programs that support work-life balance. Program availability may vary based on factors such as contract type, location, hire date, and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Salary range: The range for this position can be found at the top of this posting. This range is provided as a general guideline and represents a good faith estimate across all experience levels. Actual base salary will be determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the scope of the role, relevant experience, job-related knowledge, education and training, key skills, and geographic market considerations. For roles available in multiple states, the range may vary to reflect differences in local labor markets. In addition to base salary, eligible positions may include other forms of compensation such as annual bonuses or long-term incentive opportunities. Benefits - Comprehensible benefits for full-time employees (part-time employees receive a limited package tailored to their role):

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Robust vacation and sick leave benefits . click apply for full job details