Supervisory Contract Specialist (Branch Chief)

Executive Director, Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction • Moreno Valley, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisory Contract Specialist serves as a Branch Chief for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, performing professional procurement work for supplies and services under the Federal Acquisition Regulations, VA Acquisition Regulations, public laws, and agency policy. The position supervises employees at GS-07 through GS-13 and directs a team providing pre-award and post-award contracting support. It has managerial authority to plan, schedule, and administer programs supporting the execution of technology and related functions under general direction and guidelines.

The position assigns work and delegates authority; evaluates employee performance; provides advice, counsel, and guidance; interviews candidates and recommends or approves appointments, promotions, and reassignments; resolves complaints and grievances; takes disciplinary and adverse personnel actions; and identifies employee training and development needs.

The incumbent procures difficult products and services using varied contract types, identifies sources, and handles contract actions involving scarce materials or advanced design services specific to projects, programs, or subsystems. The role advises Resources Planning and Project Managers on annual procurement plans and researches trends and patterns to improve program-management methods and procedures.

The regular schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Compressed or flexible scheduling is available. Ad hoc telework may be authorized, but this is not a remote position. Virtual work may be authorized for eligible current VA employees under the conditions described in the posting. The work is primarily sedentary and performed in offices or conference rooms, with possible travel to Government or contractor facilities and other contract-related sites.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Completion of mandatory agency training for progression to GS-13 or higher contracting positions.
• At least four years of experience in contracting or related positions.
• At least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower level, demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position.
• A four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in specified fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. No educational substitution is available at this grade level.
• For current or former Federal employees subject to time-in-grade requirements, 52 weeks at GS-13 for this GS-14 position.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-13, including relevant experience such as preparing price negotiation memoranda; conducting public bid openings and evaluating bids; determining best-value offerors and contractor responsibility; serving as Source Selection Authority and establishing a Technical Evaluation Board; identifying and arranging employee training; and managing complex pre-award and post-award contracting functions under Federal and VA acquisition rules and policies.
• Submit a transcript to confirm that basic education requirements are met.
• Complete the required application steps, including the online assessment.
• Meet applicable background/security investigation and onboarding requirements.
• Meet the seasonal influenza vaccination program requirement for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable, and potentially a one-year supervisory probationary period.
• For males born after December 31, 1959, Selective Service registration is required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise employees at the GS-07 through GS-13 levels.
• Direct assigned teams and staff providing pre-award and post-award contract support.
• Plan, schedule, and administer programs supporting procurement and related functions.
• Assign work and delegate authority to subordinates as needed.
• Evaluate employee performance and provide advice, counsel, and guidance.
• Interview candidates and recommend or approve appointments, promotions, and staff reassignments.
• Hear and resolve employee complaints and grievances in accordance with personnel procedures.
• Take disciplinary and adverse personnel actions.
• Identify and arrange training and development for subordinates.
• Procure difficult products and services using a variety of contract types.
• Locate sources for products and services, including scarce materials and advanced design services.
• Advise Resources Planning and Project Managers on annual procurement plans.
• Research trends and patterns and implement improved program-management methods and procedures.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package.
• Annual leave accrual may be credited for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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