Lead Contract Specialist

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

$85K — $102K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field.
  • One year of specialized experience in contract preparation and management.
  • Ability to lead and mentor a team of contracting professionals.
  • Familiarity with federal regulations regarding procurement and contracting.
  • Must obtain and maintain a Contracting Officer's Warrant within 180 days of employment.

Responsibilities

  • Assist in planning and scheduling work for the Contracting Branch.
  • Establish and manage priorities and deadlines for contracting actions.
  • Review and provide oversight on the work of contracting staff.
  • Utilize judgment to develop negotiation strategies and settlement agreements.
  • Prepare contract status reports for management review.
  • Conduct pre-award and post-award contract functions.
  • Lead training initiatives for Contract Specialists and Interns.

Benefits

  • Access to a comprehensive federal benefits package.
  • Opportunity for transportation subsidies for mass transit users.
  • On-site facilities including daycare, fitness center, and dining options.
  • Potential for recruitment/relocation incentives at management discretion.
  • Eligibility for Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances.
Full Job Description
Summary

About the Position: Serves as Lead Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer, responsible for the management, coordination, direction, review, and execution of contracting actions in support of a large civil works program.

Duties

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  • Assist the Branch Chief in planning, scheduling, and assigning the work of the Contracting Branch.
  • Establish priorities and deadlines of the Contracting Branch.
  • Review the work of others.
  • Utilize experienced judgment and initiative in interpreting, applying, and deviating from established procedures or techniques for the purpose of establishing negotiation strategies or positions and for reaching settlement agreements.
  • Prepare workload forecasts, contract status reports, and metrics for submission to the District Contracting Chief.
  • Perform contract pre-award and post-award functions.
  • Lead a group of Contract Specialists, Interns, and Procurement Specialists actively engaged in soliciting, awarding, administering, terminating, and closing out firm fixed price and cost type contracts awarded to various contractors.
  • Responsible for the instruction and training of others in the performance of their duties.


Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • This is an Army Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Workforce position. Selectee must meet position requirements for Contracting Professional certification within 36 months as of entrance on duty.
  • This position requires you to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter.
  • This position requires the delegation of procurement authority. The selected candidate must successfully obtain and maintain an active Contracting Officer's Warrant within 180 days of entering on duty.


Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

  • 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans
  • Current Department of Army Civilian Employees
  • Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)
  • Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
  • Executive Order (E.O.) 12721
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
  • Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
  • Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI)
  • Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer
  • Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Interchange Agreement Eligible
  • People with Disabilities, Schedule A
  • Postal Service/Peace Corps and Other Unique Authorities
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
  • Reinstatement
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998


In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Lead Contract Specialist:

Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees.

OR

Exemption: You are exempt from the education requirements above if (A) you are a current civilian employee in DoD who occupied GS-1102 positions or contracting positions with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold in an Executive Department on or before September 30, 2000;

OR

(B) you are a current military member who occupied a similar occupational specialty to the GS (or equivalent)-1102 on or before September 30, 2000.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes performing various types of contract preparation to include acquisition planning, solicitation, negotiation, cost and price analysis, evaluation and award, and/or administration; ensuring an organization's strategic plan and/or mission is communicated to a team; and reviewing and reporting on contracting work of team members for quality and/or regulatory compliance. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (NH-02/GS-11).

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience aloneno substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Lambert International Airport and Amtrak are within close proximity. Transportation subsidies are available for mass transit users. Parking fees range from $2-6 per day. There is a 1% city earnings tax charged to all who live or work in the St. Louis City limits. Our building offers on-site daycare, a fitness center, banking, and dining facilities.

  • This is a pay banded position. The NH-03 band encompasses grades GS-12 and GS-13 under the General Schedule (GS) system.
  • A recruitment/relocation incentive may be utilized at management discretion.
  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • This position may require a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
  • Direct deposit of pay is required.
  • This position requires you to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
  • This is a Contracting Career Field (14) position.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information.
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.


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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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