Position SummaryThe Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is a member of the executive leadership team responsible for building and leading the infrastructure, capabilities, and business practices necessary to support the company's continued growth, operational excellence, compliance, and employee experience. The CAO provides executive oversight for Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Contracts Administration, Quality & Certifications, and Information Technology, ensuring these functions operate as an integrated business-enablement organization that supports contract delivery, business development, customer requirements, and strategic priorities.
The successful candidate will combine strong business leadership, organizational effectiveness, and operational management capabilities with a practical understanding of the federal contracting environment. The CAO must have demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide change initiatives, scaling organizations for growth, improving business effectiveness, and helping employees successfully adopt evolving processes, technologies, and ways of working while maintaining engagement, accountability, and business performance.
This position will require a hybrid work schedule supporting the Rockville office.
Key ResponsibilitiesExecutive Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness- Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team on workforce strategy, organizational design, operational risk, compliance, and administrative investments.
- Translate business strategy into scalable structures, systems, policies, processes, and workforce plans that support sustainable growth and operational maturity.
- Lead and develop Human Resources, Recruiting, Contracts, Quality, and Information Technology functions through clear performance expectations, accountability, and service excellence.
- Drive organizational effectiveness and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance employee experience, efficiency, collaboration, and business results.
- Lead enterprise change initiatives associated with growth, acquisitions, organizational evolution, technology modernization, and business transformation.
- Foster alignment across corporate functions, program operations, finance, business development, and executive leadership to ensure consistent execution of company objectives.
- Facilitate executive leadership governance processes, including planning, decision-making, accountability tracking, and cross-functional coordination.
Human Resources & Workforce Strategy- Provide executive leadership for culture, compensation, benefits, employee relations, performance management, talent development, engagement, retention, and succession planning.
- Ensure employment practices comply with federal, state, and local regulations and government contracting requirements.
- Partner with business leaders to assess organizational capabilities, workforce risks, leadership needs, and future talent requirements.
- Develop scalable talent and performance programs that reinforce accountability, employee growth, leadership effectiveness, and company values.
- Oversee total rewards program strategies that balance market competitiveness, internal equity, compliance, and financial sustainability.
- Guide complex employee relations matters and organizational changes while promoting a high-performance, ethical, and inclusive culture.
Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning- Lead recruiting strategies that support corporate growth, contract delivery, proposal efforts, and rapid staffing requirements.
- Partner with business development, capture, and operations leaders to anticipate workforce demand and support new business opportunities.
- Build scalable recruiting processes, talent pipelines, and workforce planning capabilities for technical, cleared, and difficult-to-fill positions.
- Establish metrics, accountability, and vendor management practices that improve talent acquisition outcomes, hiring quality, and retention.
Contracts Administration & Compliance- Provide executive oversight of federal contracts, subcontracts, teaming agreements, consulting agreements, and related contractual instruments.
- Ensure effective contract lifecycle management, compliance, risk mitigation, and coordination with program, finance, and business leadership.
- Advise executives and stakeholders on contractual obligations, business risk, regulatory requirements, intellectual property, conflicts of interest, and other compliance matters.
- Maintain effective internal controls, contract governance practices, and awareness of evolving regulatory requirements affecting the business.
Quality, Certifications & Continuous Improvement- Lead the company's quality management and certification strategy, including the oversight of applicable certifications and compliance frameworks.
- Ensure quality practices support operational excellence, customer satisfaction, contract performance, and business growth.
- Establish sustainable processes for audits, corrective actions, assessments, continuous improvement, and executive performance reporting.
- Promote a culture of accountability, process discipline, learning, and operational excellence across the organization.
Information Technology & Cybersecurity- Provide executive oversight of corporate technology, infrastructure, business systems, cybersecurity, service delivery, and technology investments.
- Develop technology strategies that support workforce needs, growth objectives, customer requirements, business resilience, and operational effectiveness.
- Ensure secure, reliable, scalable, and compliant technology environments that meet contractual and regulatory obligations.
- Oversee cybersecurity governance, business continuity, disaster recovery, data protection, system modernization, vendor management, and automation initiatives that improve efficiency and decision-making.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree.
- Minimum 12 years of progressive leadership experience with significant responsibility for corporate or administrative functions.
- Experience supporting a federal government contractor.
- Leadership experience across Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Contracts Administration, Compliance, Quality Management, or related corporate functions.
- Demonstrated success leading organizational transformation and change initiatives, including scaling people, processes, technology, and operating models to support growth, improve organizational effectiveness, and drive workforce adoption of new ways of working.
- Experience building and leading high-performing teams through periods of growth, operational change, and organizational evolution.
- Strong understanding of federal contractor operational and compliance requirements.
- Experience designing scalable systems, processes, and governance models without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
- Strong executive communication, influencing, negotiation, risk management, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain discretion with sensitive personnel, contractual, financial, and corporate information.
Preferred Qualifications- Advanced degree in Business, Law, Human Resources, Organizational Development, Information Technology, or related field.
- Relevant professional certification (e.g., CPCM, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, PMP, CISA, or equivalent).
- Experience supporting the Department of Defense, federal civilian, health, national security, or technology programs.
- Experience with mergers, acquisitions, organizational integrations, or other growth-oriented business transformation initiatives.
- Experience leading enterprise platform implementations or optimization efforts across HR, recruiting, contracts, quality, IT, or business operations.
- Familiarity with organizational certifications and compliance frameworks such as ISO, CMMI, CMMC, or similar standards.
BENEFITS AND PERKS- Comprehensive Health Benefits (Medical, Dental and Vision)
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Retirement Plan with 4% match and discretionary match at year end
- Paid Time Off (PTO): 15 days of PTO accrued per year; 7 holidays+ 3 Floating holidays; 2 Innovation days (paid training days)
- Short Term and Long-Term Disability
- Paid Parental Leave
- Paid Jury Duty leave
- Life and AD&D Insurance
- Critical Illness Insurance
- Training and Development
- Wellness Incentives & Discount programs
- Employee Referral Program
- Annual Charity Donation Match
- Awards and Recognition
