Junior Contract Specialist

Junior Contract Specialist

Black Fox is a certified ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 22301:2019 firm with an array of experience in managing and delivering professional services to public, private, education institutions, and nonprofit organizations across the globe. Black Fox has exemplified excellence by receiving the 2021 University of Connecticut's School Of Business Veteran Impact Award, the 2022 Department Of Labor's HIREVet Medallion Gold Award, and the 2023 Small Business Administration Veteran Owned Small Business Of The Year Award. Since its inception, Black Fox has been a recognized leader in the development and implementation of information management and solutions. We depend on a diverse team of talented staff to design, develop, and deploy information solutions for our clients. Scope of Work: The Junior Contract Specialist provides essential acquisition and administrative support to the Black Fox. Working under the guidance of Senior Contract Specialists and the Program Manager, this individual contributes to pre-award documentation, invoice processing, administrative operations, and data analytics that keep contracting engine running at full capacity. This position offers exceptional professional development, including mentorship by seasoned acquisition professionals, hands-on experience across the full procurement lifecycle, and access to training stipends to pursue FAC-C and DAWIA certifications.

Responsibilities:

• Assist Senior Contract Specialists with market research and data gathering from FPDS-NG, USAspending, and SAM.gov.
• Support the preparation of pre-award documentation, including drafting sections of Statements Of Work, compiling acquisition histories, and assembling solicitation packages.
• Conduct file reviews to ensure FAR 4.8 compliance.
• Process and review contractor invoices against Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) structures.
• Track obligation and expenditure data; assist with funding reconciliation and de-obligation actions.
• Support the preparation of the Monthly Burn Rate Report.
• Manage complex SES-level scheduling and calendar coordination.
• Coordinate domestic and international travel arrangements.
• Execute meeting logistics, including agenda preparation, materials distribution, and action-item tracking.
• Route approval packages efficiently and track personnel actions.
• Maintain real-time dashboards that track Procurement Action Lead Time (PALT), workload distribution, and productivity metrics.
• Develop high-impact presentations and briefings for OHCA leadership.
• Support the Program Manager in preparing the Monthly Status Report.
• Complete all HHS mandatory training requirements on schedule.
• Adhere to CUI handling protocols and NIST SP 800-171 standards.
• Participate in cross-training activities to provide backup coverage during planned leave or sudden absences.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Public Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• Associate's degree with additional relevant experience may be considered.
• Or equivalent work experience.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of federal contract support or administrative experience.
• Experience in a 1102-series role, federal internship, or acquisition-support contractor environment preferred.
• Prior experience supporting HHS, NIH, CDC, or other health-mission agencies is highly valued.
• Familiarity with PRISM, EAS, or other HHS-specific systems is a plus.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Foundational knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
• Familiarity with pre-award and post-award processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Familiarity with FPDS-NG, SAM.gov, or other federal procurement databases is a plus.
• CON 100 (Shaping Smart Business Arrangements) or equivalent coursework preferred.
• Willingness to pursue FAC-C certification with company-sponsored training.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a telework environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Personal Attributes:

• Able to be trusted with sensitive information, including CUI and acquisition-sensitive data.
• Experienced at working both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Advanced interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to conduct research into acquisition issues and topics as assigned.
• Can conform to shifting priorities, demands, and timelines through analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Must be able to learn, understand, and apply new things quickly.
• Highly self-motivated and directed with a desire to grow in the federal acquisition profession.
• Proven analytical and creative problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.

Clearance:

• Must be able to obtain and maintain an HHS Tier 2 Public Trust.

Salary: