Acquisition Specialist

Introduction ARServices is seeking an experienced Acquisition Specialist to support the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Research & Development (RD) Directorate in the Fort Belvoir, VA area. This role is ideal for professionals with strong acquisition, budgeting, and program management experience in DoD R&D environments, particularly those familiar with Nuclear Technologies programs, PPBE processes, cost estimating, and supporting Program Managers in delivering counter-WMD capabilities. You will serve as an Acquisition Specialist for a Division, providing timely and accurate support for multiple Program Managers’ project milestone planning, projections, monitoring, and full-cycle Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) activities. Position Description The Acquisition Specialist will have demonstrated experience evaluating acquisition planning and execution for programs in Nuclear Technologies, providing cost estimating and life-cycle analyses, supporting PPBE documentation (including POM and budget exhibits), tracking project performance, and advising on risk, contracting strategies, and stakeholder coordination to ensure mission-aligned delivery of R&D capabilities. Location & Travel This is a full-time position based at DTRA Headquarters in Fort Belvoir, VA, with minimal travel expected. Responsibilities A qualified candidate will perform the following duties and responsibilities, but are not limited to: Evaluate the acquisition planning and execution of acquisition programs in the broad area of Nuclear Technologies. Provide cost estimating, life-cycle costing, and cost-benefit analyses in support of acquisition programs and other analyses, including support to POM and PPBE activities. Plan, coordinate, integrate, implement, and evaluate the use of acquisition options. Provide necessary input to ISS/ASR and create and manage Purchase Request Packages. Participate in Integrated Product Teams and serve as programmatic point of contact. Establish and maintain relationships with relevant internal and external stakeholders in the NT defense community. Provide support to and coordination of acquisition and PPBE documents, to include development of budget exhibits (R Forms) and Program Objectives Memorandum (POM) materials for a research and development acquisition program. Assist in setting portfolio, project, and product level strategy and priorities. Ensure portfolios are responsive and mapped to program goals and requirements. Track cost, schedule, and performance of projects to ensure they continue to meet the objectives of the program. Advise the program team on risk assessment and risk management, business and contracting strategies, and technology transfers. Assist with developing and tracking budgets and spend plans for a wide-ranging portfolio across multiple fiscal years. Assist with tracking project expenditures, supporting the development of funding award documentation, and development/maintenance of program review materials. Provide assistance with acquisition/contracting strategy for projects and programs. Assist with planning, coordinating, and executing stakeholder meetings and tracking project deliverables. Assist with contributing input for budget execution reviews as well as mid-year and end-of-year comments. Assist with managing and developing the PPBE process as well as developing budget/program briefs. Assist and coordinate with Government Program Managers about the competitive award process and liaison with Government Financial Analysts and Contracting Officers to make awards in a timely manner while adhering to Federal Acquisition Regulations, DoD Acquisition Directives, and DTRA-specific Acquisition Directives. All other duties as assigned. Security Clearance Requirement Active/current Secret Security Clearance with the ability to obtain Top Secret (TS). Required Qualifications Secret clearance with ability to obtain TS. BS or MS in a Business/Accounting/Financial Management-related field, and/or 5+ years’ experience managing projects and financials (preferably DTRA RD experience), and/or degree in a STEM field (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics) with experience managing RDT&E projects from a Program/Project Management perspective. 5+ years’ experience with a BS, or 3 years with an MS. Detail-oriented, self-starter with excellent communication and time management skills. High-level proficiency with MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Word; ability to quickly learn to use new IT systems and software. Minimum 5 years’ experience managing budget execution, spend plan, and burn rate processes. Knowledge of Government accounting policy and/or regulation including but not limited to DoD Financial Management Regulation (FMR), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and OMB Circular A-123. Excellent written and oral communication skills and experience developing and presenting complex information to senior Government officials using Microsoft Office Suite applications. Desired Qualifications Top Secret clearance. 5+ years’ resource management experience working with multiple DoD appropriations. Prior Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and/or military experience. Technology tool experience in: DAI system, Consolidated Acquisition Tool (CAT), DoD Acquisition System, Spend Plan Management and Reporting Tool (SMART), Electronic Document Access (EDA), Wide Area Workflow (WAWF), and Joint Integrated Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Analytic Platform (JICAP). ARServices is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. #J-18808-Ljbffr ARServices