Program Manager / Senior Contract Specialist

Role Description

Parra Consulting Group (PCG) is seeking a Program Manager / Senior Contract Specialist to lead a team of Contract Specialists delivering full-lifecycle acquisition support to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Office of Acquisition Services (OAS), Office of Safety, Security and Asset Management (OSSAM). This is a Key Personnel role serving as PCG's single point of accountability for contract performance, workforce management, and deliverables.

• Serve as PCG's single point of accountability for contract performance, workforce management, deliverables, and issue resolution across the OSSAM, NIOSH/WTCHP, and Additional Support workstreams.
• Direct and prioritize the work of assigned Contract Specialists; manage staffing assignments, workload distribution, and cross-training to eliminate single points of failure.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Government Contracting Officer (CO) and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), maintaining a single point of contact during core hours and remaining reachable for urgent matters outside core hours.
• Conduct peer review of all work products prior to submission to the CO/COR, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and regulatory compliance (FAR, HHSAR, CDC local policy).
• Oversee the full acquisition lifecycle for assigned requirements — pre-award market research and solicitation development through post-award administration, modifications, option exercises, and closeout.
• Prepare and submit required deliverables on schedule, including weekly status reports, bi-weekly Teams update meetings, monthly progress reports, and Monthly Contractor Activity/Expense Reports.
• Manage quality assurance, including checklist-based contract file review and written corrective action plans for any valid customer complaint within 48 hours.
• Serve as PCG's CPARS point of contact, proactively engaging with the COR on performance assessment inputs throughout the period of performance.
• Maintain staffing continuity, including a bench of pre-vetted, certified acquisition professionals available for rapid deployment to meet the QASP standard of less than a two-week staffing gap.
• Track and implement evolving acquisition regulations, including the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFAR/FAR 2.0), and ensure all contract files and solicitations remain current.
• Coordinate directly with OAS leadership, the CO, and the COR to resolve issues and maintain continuous compliance with contract requirements.
• Obtain Contracting Officer written consent prior to any replacement of Key Personnel, in accordance with HHSAR 352.237-75.
• Perform other related acquisition management duties as required in support of mission operations, continuity, and contract requirements, as directed by the Government CO/COR.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 7+ years of experience in program management, contracting, or acquisition planning (or a combination thereof).
• FAC-C certification, current or previous (minimum 5 years), or civilian equivalent; ICE (Integrated Contracts Expert) experience preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years in a supervisory or program management role overseeing acquisition or contracting staff.
• DAWIA Contracting Professional certification (or equivalent) strongly preferred; CFCM/CPCM (NCMA) credentials a plus.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the federal acquisition lifecycle and applicable regulations, including FAR Parts 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, and 16, and HHSAR.
• Direct experience with federal contract writing and reporting systems (e.g., ICE, PIEE/WAWF/IPP, CPARS, JAM, EDA, Beta.sam.gov, GSA eBuy) or analogous systems (e.g., CMS, PD2/SPS, SeaPort NxG).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to lead client meetings, brief leadership, and manage CO/COR relationships.
• Proven ability to lead a team in a high-operational-tempo environment while managing multiple, unevenly distributed priorities.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• 100% employer-paid medical/dental/vision coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Unlimited PTO plan to ensure professional growth and work-life balance.