Supervisory Contract Specialist

U.S. Coast Guard•Alexandria, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This GS-1102-14 position is with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, C5I, in Alexandria, Virginia. The position manages a branch of Contracting Officers and Contract Specialists responsible for the cradle-to-grave contracting and procurement of Coast Guard enterprise IT and cybersecurity requirements. The work includes developing acquisition strategies and planning and executing contractual actions across pre-award and post-award phases, primarily for services and supplies. The supervisor plans and manages branch operations, sets priorities, assigns and monitors work, evaluates employee performance, provides guidance and training, and recommends personnel actions. The role advises senior management on contracting and organizational matters, oversees complex and high-value procurements, and serves as a Contracting Officer with signatory authority up to an unlimited warrant. It may also serve as lead Contracting Officer or Senior Contract Specialist, mentor staff, build cross-functional partnerships, advise senior officials and external organizations, represent the organization in meetings, and participate in or chair source selection evaluation boards. The position involves compliance review of complex or unusual contracting activities, awareness of potential political implications, and keeping current with the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul and related guidance. It also includes procurement planning with stakeholders; coordinating complex, high-value contractual actions; and administering specialized procurements and system acquisitions, including modifications, options, and contractor issues. Applicants must meet federal contracting education and experience requirements, including one year of specialized experience at the GS-13 level, and hold Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Professional (FAC-C) or DAWIA Level III equivalent. Supervisory Contract Specialists must sit for a warrant board for limited and unlimited warrant authority unless waived by the Head of Contracting Activity.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Registration with or exemption from the Selective Service, as applicable.
Completion of mandatory agency training for progression to GS-13 or higher contracting positions, including at least four years of experience in contracting or related positions.
At least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-13 level.
A bachelor's degree from a four-year course of study 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.
Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Professional (FAC-C) or DAWIA Level III equivalent.
Specialized experience in contracting methods, types and principles, and applicable laws, regulations, and procedures for pre-award and post-award actions.
Knowledge of negotiation techniques and experience leading or conducting negotiations for supplies and services, including post-award negotiations involving contract changes or modifications.
Experience with cost and price analysis techniques.
Ability to conduct collaborative procurement planning and coordinate complex contractual actions involving multiple contracts and schedules.
Ability to perform Contracting Officer and contract administration work for significant, highly specialized procurements and system acquisitions.
Ability to maintain qualifications for Contracting Officer authority at the unlimited warrant level.
Must sit for a warrant board for limited and unlimited warrant authority unless waived by the Head of Contracting Activity.
Successfully complete mandatory training and any additional training required for success in the position.
Meet all qualification requirements by the announcement closing date; education cannot substitute for experience at the GS-14 grade level.
Selected applicants must successfully pass a background investigation; federal employees must receive salary payments by direct deposit.
A one-year probationary period may be required.

Responsibilities

Supervise contracting staff and oversee pre-award and post-award contracting activities for a variety of acquisitions, primarily services and supplies.
Plan, direct, coordinate, and manage branch operations, including workload priorities, goals, long-range planning, policies, and procedures.
Assign and monitor subordinate work based on organizational priorities, assignment difficulty, and employee capabilities; set short-term priorities and track completion schedules.
Evaluate employee performance; provide leadership, counseling, guidance, training, and development; and recommend or initiate personnel actions.
Advise senior management on organizational planning, staff development, management issues, and contracting matters; prepare reports and respond to data calls.
Oversee complex, high-dollar solicitations and contractual actions, and serve as a Contracting Officer with signatory authority up to an unlimited warrant.
Lead or support cradle-to-grave procurement activities by analyzing workloads, assigning or reassigning actions, communicating assignments and milestones, and mentoring staff.
Build collaborative cross-boundary and cross-functional partnerships and promote knowledge sharing, innovation, and professional development.
Serve as a senior business advisor, consultant, and liaison to management officials, policymakers, nongovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders on contracting initiatives.
Communicate high-visibility issues, concerns, and potential impacts to senior and executive leadership; represent the organization at meetings and conferences and maintain working relationships with stakeholders and industry representatives.
Chair or participate on formal source selection evaluation boards for competitively negotiated procurements.
Conduct compliance reviews and evaluations of complex, unusual, or unprecedented contract activities, considering potential political implications.
Use automated systems to research sources, collect and document contractor performance information, prepare solicitation instructions, and direct technical, cost, and business management evaluation teams.
Conduct proactive procurement planning with program and stakeholder partners; develop, execute, and oversee procurement objectives and coordinate complex, high-value contractual actions.
Perform Contracting Officer and contract administration duties for specialized procurements and system acquisitions, including modifications, options, and investigation and resolution of contractor issues, concerns, and delays.
Maintain the knowledge, skills, abilities, and qualifications needed to obtain and retain unlimited-warrant Contracting Officer authority.
Maintain current knowledge of the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul and associated supplemental regulations, policies, procedures, and guidance.