Senior Acquisition Consultant

Guidehouse•Dc, DC

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Acquisition Consultant acts as a strategic advisor and team lead within the Department of State’s IT Acquisitions Office, overseeing approximately 20 enterprise software and hardware licensing agreements. This role manages the full federal acquisition lifecycle, supporting Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) from requirements gathering through post-award management. The consultant leads a cross-functional team of 9 (analysts, SMEs, and program support staff) to develop comprehensive acquisition packages and ensures compliance with federal regulations and internal standards. The Senior Acquisition Consultant ensures acquisition packages meet FAR, State policy, Small Business requirements, and internal quality standards, while also supporting strategic planning, operational governance, financial tracking, and stakeholder communications across the Division.

Requirements

An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED "SECRET" Federal or DoD security clearance
Bachelor's degree
FIVE (5) years or more of experience leading or supporting multi-disciplinary teams or in management consulting
Ability to work onsite in Washington, DC 2-3 days per week

Nice To Haves

Prior experience with the Department of State
Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent project/program management certification
Experience leading or supporting multi-disciplinary teams or in management consulting
Project/program management experience within large, diverse organizations
Strong risk identification, issue escalation, and problem-solving skills
Excellent attention to detail, organizational, and prioritization skills
Familiarity with core acquisition documentation
In-depth knowledge of federal procurement processes and acquisition package requirements

Responsibilities

Support the development of acquisition package including Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Quotes (RFQs), Statements of Work (SOWs), Acquisition Plans (AP), Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs), Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JEFO/J&A), bid sheets, and supporting materials for federal IT enterprise agreements.
Ensure compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Department of State Acquisition Manual (DOSAM), NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP)/ General Services Administration (GSA) policies, small business requirements, and internal quality standards.
Maintain a master acquisitions schedule that tracks expiring agreements, periods of performance, renewal windows, package timelines, and milestones across the enterprise portfolio.
Develop acquisition strategies in collaboration with CORs across contract vehicles, including SEWP and GSA, and contract types, including Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), Time-and-Materials (T&M), Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), and Delivery Orders (DOs).
Lead discussions with information technology software and hardware original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), resellers, and subject-matter experts regarding pricing, terms and conditions, catalog discounts, BPA structures, and acquisition strategies.
Facilitate weekly or bimonthly meetings with CORs, Global Acquisitions representatives, OEMs, and resellers to manage portfolio activities and brief leadership on risks, decisions, and next steps.
Coordinate with Chief Information Officer (CIO) offices, Legal, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), Finance, and customer bureaus to align requirements and streamline procurement activities.
Prepare executive communications, talking points, whitepapers, and presentations for Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) and Division leadership.
Lead the design and implementation of innovative processes, operating models, and strategic initiatives that address complex procurement challenges and advance mission objectives.
Oversee and support the analysts in managing office funding budgets, submitting funding requests, tracking and analyzing sales and operational reports, and coordinating reporting to other offices.
Oversee team operations, including coaching, workload management, and quality assurance.
Support program leadership with weekly reports, burn-rate analyses, dashboards, deliverable trackers, and executive briefings.
Collaborate with vehicle managers and Guidehouse leadership on daily operations, resource planning, progress reporting, and project financials.
Mentor junior consultants and contribute to business development and integrated solution delivery.

Benefits

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Basic Life & Supplemental Life
Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Student Loan PayDown
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
Skills Development & Certifications
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
Mobility Stipend