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Contract Specialist- Direct Hire Authority

Location: Multiple Locations
Requires Relocation: No
Start Date: 20/11/2025
End Date: 22/12/2025
Offering Type: Permanent
Hiring Paths: The public
Service Type: Competitive
Travel Percentage: Occasional travel
Full Time On-site

Air Force Materiel Command

About Air Force Materiel Command

The mission of the United States Air Force is: To fly, fight, and win … Airpower anytime, anywhere. To achieve that mission, the Air Force has a vision of Global Vigilance, Global Reach and Global Power. That vision orbits around three core competencies: Developing Airmen, Technology-to-Warfighting and Integrating Operations. Core competencies and distinctive capabilities are based on a shared commitment to three core values — integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. Click here to view the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide: 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans AF DCIPS Interchange AF Internal Employee DoD Transfer (Excluding Air Force) EO 12721 Certain Former Overseas Employees EO 13473 Appointment of Certain Military Spouses Former Federal Employees (Reinstatement) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Employee Military Spouse Preference Non-Appropriated Fund Non-DoD Transfer People with Disabilities, Schedule A PPP DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible PPP Mil Res (MR) and Nat Guard (NG) Pref Eligible Technician Receiving Disability Retirement Veterans Employment Opportunities Act

Summary

Job summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the senior Contracting Specialist and principal technical authority, with an Unlimited Contracting Officer warrant, for variety of complex acquisitions.

Major duties

Procuring Contracting Officers for the F-35 program are responsible for pre-award and post-award functions involving highly complex and specialized procurements of significant importance to U.S. and international customers. Individuals in this position will serve as an unlimited warranted Contracting Officer. Specific duties may include: - Planning and reviewing work to be accomplished by subordinates (Contract Specialists), setting and adjusting short/long-term priorities, and preparing schedules for completion of work. - Assigning work to subordinates (Contract Specialists) based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees. - Preparing and conducting all major project contract negotiations. - Giving advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters. - Serving as the business advisor in the organization with unlimited warrant authority. - Signing contract actions associated with a wide variety of complex acquisitions. - Researching and determining or recommending appropriate action or interpretation of contract issues which impact the organization, installation, command or agency.

Qualification

Experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, DoD Instruction (DoDI) 5000.66, Defense Acquisition Workforce Education, Training, Experience, and Career Development. Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement. Applicants must meet the basic requirements and Specialized experience as stated in this announcement. BASIC EDUCATION QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate. NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF OFFICIAL COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS. OR A current member of the Armed Forces (not retired or separated) OR a current DOD employee that meets the following requirements: 1) served as a contracting officer with authority to award or administer in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) on or before 30 September 2000; 2) served in an 1102 position or as a Service member in a similar occupational specialty on or before September 30, 2000; OR, (3) is an enlisted member of the Contingency Contracting Force (CCF). This exemption only applies to CCF members in their current or future CCF positions. The baccalaureate degree exemption does not apply to current CCF members seeking new hire employment within DoD as an 1102. or (4) is described in subsection (e)(1)(B) of 10 USC 1724. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have, or within 120 days of the closing date will have, at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower broadband NH-03, equivalent to next lower grade (GS-13) in Federal service or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience in one or more of the following: (1) soliciting, evaluating, negotiating, and awarding contracts; (2) administering contracts by assuring compliance with the terms and conditions; (3) terminating contracts by analyzing, negotiating, and settling claims and proposals; (4) analyzing and evaluating cost/price proposals and accounting systems; (5) planning, establishing, or reviewing contracts, programs, policies, or procedures; (6) formulating and administering policies and procedures to insure achievement of socioeconomic goals; (7) developing acquisition strategies and directing or managing procurements; and/or (8) providing functional staff advisory services within the contracting occupation. Duties are performed with considerable latitude in dealing with problems arising during the pre-award or post-award phases of the procurement action; independently plans and carries out the work, selecting the approaches and techniques to be used; recommends or develops new guides or procedures when problems reveal that guidelines are lacking or inadequate; independently determines actions to be taken on assigned contracts; uses judgment in interpreting guidelines, in adapting procurement procedures to specific situations, and in recommending solutions to problems encountered. Note: Your resume must show qualifying experience. NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF OFFICIAL COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Expert knowledge of Federal, DoD, USAF, state government, and local-specific contracting laws, guidelines and business practices, executive orders, statutes, regulations, principles, policies and procedures, methods, techniques and the different contract types and methods of payment applicable to a variety of complex and/or diversified acquisitions. 2. Expert knowledge of contract administration, principles, policies, regulations, and procedures. 3. Mastery knowledge of contract price, cost analysis/cost accounting techniques, and contractor motivation and industry trends to craft business deals. 4. Masterly level skill in identifying, developing and executing novel acquisition approaches with speed and innovation while leading a senior level acquisition team comprised of NH-04/GS-14 and up equivalent supporting functionals, junior contracting officers, senior corporate level leadership, senior foreign officials, and other outside agency support. 5. Expert knowledge of negotiation techniques, acquisition planning, business practices and market conditions applicable to acquisition requirements. 6. Knowledge of computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, and Contract Writing Systems (e.g., CON-IT, Conwrite and ACPS). 7. Skilled at communicating, both orally and in writing, clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy; and ability to establish effective working relationships with others. 8. Ability to recognize and analyze problems, conduct research, summarize results, provide alternatives, and make appropriate recommendations PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience; transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Evaluations

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. BASIS OF RATING: Your application will be rated under the Cut Point procedures based on the extent to which the quality, depth, and complexity of your experience and education relate to the qualification requirements. Additional points are not added for Veteran's Preference; however, Veteran's Preference is considered where applicable. Best Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements. Fully Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements. Basically Qualified Group: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements. Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further. APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.