Supervisory Contract Specialist (Branch Chief)

Executive Director, Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction • Anchorage, AK

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisory Contract Specialist serves the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in the Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction, VA Office of Procurement Operations. The position performs professional procurement work for supplies and services under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, VA Acquisition Regulation, applicable public laws, and agency policy. It supervises a team of employees performing work at the GS-7 through GS-13 levels and provides administrative and technical direction to accomplish the team’s work.

The incumbent distributes and reviews work, manages staff performance, provides guidance and training, and ensures that contract actions comply with applicable regulations, policies, directives, handbooks, and standard operating procedures. The role also participates in acquisition planning, conducts sealed-bid openings and reviews bids, determines bidder responsiveness and responsibility, administers awarded contracts, and conducts post-award conferences with contractor and government personnel.

The incumbent must hold Level II FAC-C certification or equivalent and meet eligibility requirements for Level III FAC-C certification within 12 months of assignment. The position has an 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. tour of duty, with compressed or flexible scheduling available. Ad hoc telework may be authorized; this is not a remote position. Virtual work may be authorized only for eligible current VA employees under the stated conditions. In-person reporting is required unless an RTO exception or exemption is approved. A one-year supervisory probationary period may apply. Government travel for training, meetings, or customer interactions is required. A financial disclosure report is required; relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station benefits are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Meet the GS-14 time-in-grade requirement, if applicable: 52 weeks at GS-13 for applicants subject to the requirement.
• Complete mandatory agency training for progression to GS-13 or higher contracting positions.
• At least four years of experience in contracting or related positions, including at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower level.
• A four-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree, including or supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in an eligible field combination: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. The announcement describes a limited waiver option by the senior procurement executive.
• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-13, including supervisory work assignment and performance evaluation; coordinating and integrating major assignments or program segments; assessing contractor performance for contract compliance; and performing a full range of contracting functions for goods and services using sealed bidding and competitive or noncompetitive negotiation.
• Level II FAC-C certification or equivalent, and eligibility to receive and maintain Level III FAC-C certification within 12 months of assignment.
• Complete the required application steps, including the online assessment.
• Selective Service registration for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Subject to background and security investigation and completion of online onboarding and pre-employment identification requirements.
• May be required to complete a one-year supervisory probationary period and a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Travel for training, meetings, or customer interactions is required.
• Resume must include employer and job titles, hours worked per week, start and end dates, duties, and federal grade when applicable.

Responsibilities

• Supervise employees performing work at the GS-7 through GS-13 levels, including work assignment and review and administrative and personnel management.
• Provide administrative and technical supervision necessary to accomplish the team’s work.
• Distribute workload and ensure team work assignments are carried out.
• Review employee work at various stages for compliance with Federal and VA acquisition regulations, policies, directives, information letters, handbooks, and standard operating procedures.
• Establish and communicate staff guidelines and performance expectations through the employee performance management system.
• Observe employee performance, demonstrate work, and conduct performance critiques.
• Guide the team in selecting and applying problem-solving methods and techniques, and advise on work methods.
• Train subordinates in contract-action methods and techniques, and provide or arrange necessary administrative or technical training.
• Serve as a member of acquisition planning teams.
• Conduct public bid openings, review bids, and determine the responsiveness and responsibility of the low bidder in sealed bidding.
• Serve as contract administrator on awarded contracts.
• Conduct post-award conferences with contractor and government personnel.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package for employees and their families.
• Compressed or flexible scheduling is available.
• Ad hoc telework may be authorized, subject to eligibility and agency requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior