Clarification from the agency

Open to current and former Federal employees with competitive or excepted status; and all U.S. Citizens. Former members of the Peace Corps may be considered for ODNI employment only if five full years have elapsed since separation from the Peace Corps.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Conduct independent research and analysis of federal acquisition statutes, regulations (e.g., FAR and supplements), and Intelligence Community policies to develop, revise, and implement procurement guidance.

Lead the drafting, coordination, and issuance of acquisition policy memoranda, implementing instructions, white papers, and briefing materials for senior leadership decision-making.

Serve as a principal reviewer of acquisition strategies, acquisition plans, source selection documentation, and statements of work to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policy; provide authoritative recommendations.

Apply expert-level cradle-to-grave contracting knowledge to advise on acquisition planning, solicitation development, evaluation strategies, award documentation, contract administration, and closeout activities.

Perform complex cost and price analysis and develop negotiation strategies; provide expert advice regarding contract type selection (e.g., firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, IDIQ).

Evaluate and provide policy guidance on the use of innovative acquisition approaches, including Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs), CRADAs, and other non-traditional contracting methods.

Lead coordination efforts with contracting officers, contracting officer representatives, program officials, legal counsel, and senior stakeholders to resolve acquisition policy issues and ensure consistent interpretation and implementation of guidance.

Analyze procurement trends, audit findings, and enterprise-level performance data to identify systemic compliance risks and develop strategic process improvements that enhance efficiency, transparency, and acquisition integrity across the IC.

Serve directly as a COTR or in similar capacities in OT and FAR based acquisitions.

Lead efficient organizational operations and institute effective contracting principles, techniques, and procedures by comprehension of Agency strategic vision.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen residing in the United States
• Appointment is subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance based on an SBI with eligibility for sensitive compartmented information (SCI)
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• A two-year trial period is required for all new permanent appointments to the ODNI.

Qualifications

FREE RESPONSE ESSAY QUESTIONS

All applicants must answer the following four short, free response essay questions. The responses cannot exceed 200 words per question. By submitting your responses to the following questions, you certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]).

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Mandatory Requirements:

Extensive knowledge of federal acquisition statutes, regulations, and policies, including the FAR and applicable agency/IC supplements.

Extensive knowledge of the full acquisition lifecycle ("cradle-to-grave") from acquisition planning through contract closeout.

Demonstrated skill in independently evaluating complex acquisition strategies and documentation for regulatory compliance, risk, and sound business judgment.

Demonstrated ability to perform and oversee complex cost and price analysis and develop negotiation positions.

Extensive knowledge of contract types, including firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, and IDIQ contracts, and their appropriate application.

Demonstrated experience applying innovative acquisition authorities and methods, including OT and other non-traditional approaches.

Demonstrated skill in interpreting procurement laws and regulations to develop defensible policy positions and implementation guidance.

Demonstrated ability to identify systemic acquisition risks and design compliant, enterprise-level solutions.

Demonstrated written communication skills sufficient to develop policy memoranda, decision papers, and executive briefings.

Demonstrated ability to analyze procurement data and performance metrics to inform leadership decisions and strategic planning.

Demonstrated strong organizational and project management skills to lead multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.

Demonstrated ability to build and sustain professional networks and exert influence across organizational boundaries in the IC and DoW.

Demonstrated skill in communicating complex acquisition concepts to senior officials and non-acquisition stakeholders.

Demonstrated sound judgment and commitment to preserving the integrity of the federal acquisition process.

Demonstrated ability to operate independently on highly complex assignments and advise senior leadership on novel or sensitive issues.

Extensive knowledge of common acquisition business and industrial practices.

Desired Requirements:

Experience: One (1) year of specialized acquisition experience at the next lower grade level (GS-12 for GS-13; GS-13 for GS-14) or equivalent experience. Specialized experience must demonstrate independent application and interpretation of federal acquisition laws and regulations; leading or conducting reviews of acquisition strategies and contract documentation; performing complex cost and price analysis; developing negotiation positions; and advising on pre-award and post-award contract administration across multiple contract types.

Education: Bachelor's degree or higher in any field that includes or has been supplemented by, at least 24 semester hours of coursework in Business Administration, Accounting, Contract Administration, Finance, Law, Purchasing, Economics, Industrial Management, Marketing, Quantitative Methods, Organization and Management, Science and Engineering, or a closely related field of study OR the possession of a Certified Professional Contracts Manager Certificate.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you are among the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

A complete application package must include:

a. RESUME: Resumes must be no longer than two (2) pages in length. Resumes longer than two (2) pages will be removed from consideration. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the vacancy announcement, particularly the MDRs, and construct their resume to highlight their most significant experience and qualifications relevant to this job opportunity. You must ensure the resume contains all of the required information and you organize it so we can associate the following information for each experience/position: job title; name of employer; beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format), and hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. Additionally, include a detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills and responsibilities, to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable), and series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position).

b. ESSAY QUESTION RESPONSES: The responses cannot exceed 200 words per question (please see questions in the Requirements section above). By submitting your responses to these questions, you certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]).

c. COVER LETTER: Applicants must submit a professional narrative as a supplement to the resume to elaborate on their qualifications and previous work performed.

d. CURRENT SF-50: Federal Government employees must provide your official most recent SF-50 (i.e., dated within the last 52 weeks from the closing date of this vacancy announcement). An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, is used to verify current federal status, position, title, grade, and organization of record. If your SF-50(s) does not provide the information needed to make a final determination for qualification, you will be found ineligible for the position.

e. POSITION NUMBER: Reference the announcement number in the subject line on each document submitted.

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Next steps