CONTRACT SPECIALIST
What you'd do
This position is part of the War Media Activity. The incumbent will serve as a Senior Contract Specialist and Lead Negotiator, performing a full range of pre-award and post-award duties with delegated contracting officer authority for acquisition planning, preparation of price/cost analyses for designated actions, formulating negotiation strategies, developing negotiation objectives, and negotiating all types of contracts for operations and equipment requirements.
Major duties
This position is being filled under the memorandum from the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)) "Expansion of Direct Hire Authority for Certain Personnel of the Department of Defense," dated August 12, 2024. As a CONTRACT SPECIALIST at the GS-1102-13 some of your typical work assignments may include: Serves as Senior Contract Specialist and Lead Negotiator. Responsible for pre-award and post-award functions involving highly specialized procurement of significant importance to the agency. Develops acquisition objectives and milestones to obtain the contracted services within the time-frame demanded for the particular project. Ensures appropriate funding and required waivers, certificates, approvals, and compliance have been obtained for purchase requests. Prepares negotiations objectives, participates actively in negotiation procedures, chairs and/or participates in negotiation conferences with senior government officials and industry corporate officers.
What you need to qualify
In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 1102, series as listed below: Basic Requirements for GS-13 and Above A. Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher-level contracting positions, including at least 4-years experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position. AND B. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. C. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. This also applies to positions at the same grade in the same agency or other agencies if the specialized experience requirements are met. However, they will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade, unless granted a waiver under Paragraph D. D. Waiver: When filling a specific vacant position, the senior procurement executive of the selecting agency, at his or her discretion, may waive any or all of the requirements of Paragraphs A and B above if the senior procurement executive certifies that the applicant possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated analytical and decision-making capabilities, job performance, and qualifying experience. With respect to each waiver granted under this Paragraph D, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action. You may qualify at the GS-13, if you fulfill the following qualifications: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service as listed below: Providing guidance to technical personnel involved in the development of the Performance Work Statement, Statement of Work, Statement of Objectives or data requirements. Ensuring that the bid schedule is properly structured, preparing the solicitation, determining sources to be solicited. Performing contract management and administration, including negotiation and execution of supplemental agreements. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Before you apply
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