Contracts Specialist

Summary The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) contracting professionals are key partners in modernizing and maintaining the nation's air traffic management system, to increase flight capacity, meet future air traffic demands, and continue FAA's mission in providing the safest and most efficient air travel system in the world. Responsibilities As a Senior Contract Specialist or Team Lead, the incumbent will apply all agency requirements including laws, regulations, the Acquisition Management System (AMS), contracting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and other directives. The incumbent will serve as a subject matter expert (SME) and provide leadership for highly complex and challenging acquisition functions under minimal direction of a manager or executive. The incumbent will also serve as the lead or SME specialist to develop new and innovative approaches, methodologies, and techniques to define and direct challenging projects, programs, and activities. Applies experience and expert knowledge applicable to acquisitions and contracting to conduct functional activities for projects/programs that often require the development of new and innovative approaches. Identifies and resolves challenging problems or issues that often cross organizational boundaries and impact on the accomplishment of strategic objectives. The incumbent will lead acquisition strategy and contract development, award and administration for the Agency within one or more acquisition specialty areas in the Acquisition Organization, such as, research and development, major systems, system operations, facilities, construction and architect-engineer services, support services, and other services. This includes complete contract management for agency wide acquisition programs, National Airspace System (NAS) support and automation, and other agency priorities. The incumbent must be aware of conditions and processes for contracts such as, major systems, design to cost, effective competition, acquisition life cycle, exploration, demonstration, full production, and full-scale development. Applying principles of program management, quality assurance, reliability, scheduling, work breakdown structures and validations, the incumbent will plan, develop, and implement acquisition strategies utilizing the flexibilities found in the AMS. As the SME, the incumbent will be responsible for drafting, reviewing, editing documents as well as leading the execution and implementation of major milestones throughout the acquisition process. This includes, but is not limited to, all the key contractual roles identified above as well as analysis of contractor Cost Accounting System (CAS) Disclosure Statements, analysis of Earned Value Management (EVM) data, analysis of compliance with terms and conditions, using tools to determine root causes for issues that arise as well as formulating the course of action to remedy issues. The negotiated contracts and awards will be made to commercial organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations and State, local or foreign government entities. Pre-Award - Use all appropriate laws, regulation, agency directives, etc., to perform all pre-award contract duties. Acquisition Planning and Strategy Lead the development and implementation of strategies to assure that supplies and services are available when needed to meet mission requirements. Post-Award - Contract Management. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications To view the complete OPM qualification standard, please refer to: Basic Requirements for Pay Bands FV-J: (1) 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; and (2) 4 years of 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 pay band or grade of the position, and must have provided the knowledge skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position; and (3) Completion of training for FAC-C certification. Training courses reflect a government-wide standard and each level of certification must be met to qualify for the next level. Applicants must document successful completion of core course work or evidence of certification. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT: To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-I, FG/GS 13 in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience may include but not limited to: Experience as a senior contract official awarding and administering complex contracts. This experience will include applying innovative and advanced contracting skills to major system and support service acquisitions, which have characteristics such as technically complex, mission essential, high visibility, and high dollar value. Employees in 1102 series positions will be considered to have met the basic requirements for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000, if specialized experience requirements are met. This applies to other positions at the same pay band/grade in the FAA or other Federal agencies. To qualify for a position at a higher pay band or grade, he/she must meet the requirements and specialized experience as stated. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the KSA listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration. Education This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page). Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration. Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered. This position has a positive education requirement. If you are not currently working for the Federal Government in the 1102 series OR have never held a position in the Federal Government in the 1102 series, you must submit a copy of your transcripts prior to the closing date of this announcement. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF CONSIDERATION. If you cannot upload your transcripts to your application, please fax a copy to View phone number on click.appcast.io to the attention of Monique Heriegel and reference the announcement number on the FAX. IF SELECTED, OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS WILL BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO EMPLOYMENT. If you do not have an official transcript (original with a raised seal) you should request it today. Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: Additional Information We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate. Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job. SF-50 is required by all FAA Employees. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA