LEAD CONTRACT SPECIALIST Job in Alexandria, VA

Vacancy No. 25JUNWHSDDAAAD414004 Department Washington Headquarters Services
Salary $142,488.00 to $195,200.00 Grade 4 to 4
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 7/1/2025 Close Date 7/7/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Alexandria, VA


Summary

The purpose of the position is to provide end-to-end support services for all matters relating to acquisition and procurement and provides operational contracting support services for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and the Office of the Deputy Chief Management Officer (ODCMO) to include the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA), WHS, and independent Federal advisory commissions, Boards and Task Forces.

Duties

Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following:- As a Team Lead on the Acquisition Directorate (AD), the incumbent is responsible for efficiently executing cradle to grave management of a wide range of acquisition instruments for a broad range of products and services to include: specialized equipment, supplies, advisory and assistance services, security and force protection services, facility operation and maintenance, information technology, professional studies, research, construction, architect and engineering services and renovation and repair; as well as the award and management of grants and cooperative agreements; and support to Federal Advisory Commissions, Boards and Task Forces.
- Supports a demanding customer base in a complex, highly-charged, dynamic and high visibility environment; and is responsible for the management and direction of a complex, politically sensitive acquisition program. Serves as a senior advisor to AD Senior Leadership; provides authoritative guidance and executive level coordination in order to provide mission essential support to senior leaders and other critical customers in the OSD, ODCMO, PFPA, and WHS.
- Serves as an expert in all aspects of cradle to grave management of a wide range of acquisition instruments for a broad range of products and services to include: specialized equipment; supplies; routine services; advisory and assistance services; security and force protection services; facility operation and maintenance; information technology; professional studies and research; construction, architect, and engineering services; management of grants and cooperative agreements; and support to Federal Advisory Commissions, Boards and Task Forces. Resolves program and contracting issues associated with acquisition of extremely complex products and services; analyzes various possible alternative courses of action.
- Initiates action to resolve major organizational issues; promulgates innovative solutions and methodologies. Develops optimal acquisition strategies to meet customer's needs and oversees proper execution of assigned programs from program initiation through contract close-out.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
  • Required to participate in the direct deposit program
  • Individuals tentatively selected for drug testing designated positions will be required to submit to urinalysis for illegal drugs prior to appointment and are subjected to random drug testing.
  • Incumbent is required to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
  • The incumbent must adhere to DoD Standards of Conduct
  • This position is designated as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the civilian drug-testing program.
  • This position may require occasional travel away from your normal duty station for official business on military or commercial aircraft.
  • This position requires incumbent to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and annually thereafter.
  • The incumbent may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime.
  • This position may be eligible for 100% Remote Telework based on the organization requirements. Salary will be adjusted after the selection is made and will be based on the selectee's residence and work location.
  • This is a Critical Acquisition Position. In accordance with the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvements Act (DAWIA). This position requires a Business Financial Management, Practitioner Acquisition Certification.
  • The employee must obtain and maintain professional Tier requirements within the core certification standards of the Defense Acquisition Credential Program; DAWIA Level Certification and all additional and all additional applicable requirements.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements for the 1102 series:

  1. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field;

    or

  2. At least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.

    Time in Grade:

    For entry at the NH-4 level, status applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-13 or higher grade in the Federal Service.

    Specialized Experience:

    For the NH-4, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable in difficulty and responsibility to GS-13 if outside the Federal service.

    Specialized experience is defined as (1) understanding of federal, state, and local contracting laws, as well as procurement regulations like the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or other applicable guidelines; (2) negotiating contract terms and conditions with vendors, suppliers, and internal stakeholders; (3) leading and overseeing contract lifecycles, from drafting and reviewing contracts to ensuring timely execution and closeout.

    In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements, qualified applicants must also possess the quality of experience as it relates to how closely or to what extent an applicant's background, recency of experience, education, and training are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the announced position. Candidates must clearly demonstrate the possession of competencies necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate level to be qualified for the position. Applicants must describe how their experience meets the competencies within the body of the resume. No separate statements addressing competencies are required.
    Competencies: Advanced Cost and/or Price Analysis, Contract Award, Oral Communication, Preparation and Negotiation, Preparation and Negotiation, Source Selection, Team Building, and Writing

    Qualification and time-in-grade requirements must be met at the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There is no substitution of education for the qualifying experience at the NH-4 grade level.

Additional information

  • A one year probationary or trial period may be required.
  • Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination
  • This position is subject to completion of 1 year probationary period for assignment to a supervisory position.
  • Individuals tentatively selected for drug testing designated positions will be required to submit to urinalysis for illegal drugs prior to appointment or placement.
  • Management has the prerogative to select at either grade level.
  • Recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives MAY be authorized.
  • This is a covered position and the person selected for this position must complete an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment pursuant to 5 CFR 2634.903(b) (DoD 5500.7).
  • Critical Acquisition Position: (Typically only used for the Director of Contract Services position) This is a Critical Acquisition Position (CAP). Selectee must be a member of the DoD Acquisition corps, or eligible for Acquisition corps membership at the time of the appointment in accordance with the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) and DoD 5000.52M or have been granted a waiver. Selectee must execute, as a condition of appointment, a written agreement to remain in Federal service in the position for at least three years. In signing such agreement, the employee does not forfeit any employment rights, nor does such an agreement alter any other terms or conditions of employment.
  • For more information on veterans' preference click here.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (to verify your registration status click here).
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position.
  • The Department of Defense (DoD) policy on employment of annuitants issued March 18, 2004 will be used in determining eligibility of annuitants.
  • This position is subject to the limitations imposed by the DOD Priority Placement Program.
  • Priority Placement Program (PPP) Military Spouse Preference (MSP) eligible candidates will receive priority consideration at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level.
  • PPP Application Based Preference Eligibles (Military Reserve and National Guard technicians, Military Reserve and National Guard technicians receiving disability retirement, and Retained Grade employees) will receive priority consideration at the full performance level only.
  • For grades below the full performance level, only MSP/PPP eligible candidates who currently occupy a formal training program position will be entitled to exercise their priority preference.
  • For more information regarding qualifications requirements please click here.
  • You may submit a cover letter which will be forwarded to the selecting official with your resume. Your cover letter will not be used to verify your qualifications or eligibility
  • All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact 317-212-0454 for assistance.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the applicant questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

The Assessment Questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and collects information on your education, training and experience related to the following critical competencies:

  • Advanced Cost and/or Price Analysis
  • Contract Award
  • Oral Communication
  • Preparation and Negotiation
  • Preparation and Negotiation
  • Source Selection
  • Team Building
  • Writing


You can preview the Questionnaire here:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12753562Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

Required Documents

FOR THIS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED AS THEY APPLY STATED BELOW AND MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT. NOT ALL DOCUMENTS WILL APPLY TO EVERYONE.

  1. Transcripts (if applicable) If you are substituting education for specialized experience you must submit all of your transcripts. The absence of this information will result in an ineligible rating. (WHS serviced employees will be verified via eOPF or you may include them in your application package. However, it is the employee's responsibility to ensure that his/her eOPF contains the required transcript and is up-to-date).
  2. SF-50 - (if applicable) Notification of Personnel Action for current or former federal employees- All applicants must provide your most recent SF50 or the SF50 reflecting Career/Career-Conditional tenure and the highest grade held on a permanent basis.
  3. Most recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade held. It is recommended you provide a SF-50 within the last 52 weeks before the closing date of this JOA for current federal employees.
  4. Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable): Candidates claiming Veterans Preference must submit a DD-214 (Member Copy 4), or, if you are CURRENTLY serving on active duty, a statement of service from your unit which states the date you entered on active duty, the date you are separating, and the campaign medals you have received. For those supplying the statement of service, preference will be verified by a DD-214 (Member Copy 4) upon separation from the military. Veterans with a service-connected disability must also submit a VA letter dated 1991 or later. DoD Components with CES positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates, as defined by Section 2108 of the Title 5 U.S.C. in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 3005, "CES Employment and Placement."
  5. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
  6. Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
  7. Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
  8. Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
Your complete Application Package (containing the above required documents) must be received no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time on 07/07/2025.

WARNING: Failure to submit a complete application package including any required documentation by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/07/2025, or at the time of application for announcements with an extended closing date, may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status and More Information. The Details page will display the status of your application. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded is received, legible and accurate.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents below.

  1. Your Resume
  • Your resume MUST include the following information for each job listed: Job title; duties (be as detailed as possible); month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008); and full- time or part-time status (include hours worked per week). Read more about what should I include in my federal resume here.
  • DO NOT include the following information: Classified or government sensitive information; Social Security Number; Photos of yourself; Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.; or encrypted and digitally signed documents. Read more about what should I leave out of my resume here.
2. A complete Assessment Questionnaire
3. Other required supporting documents: (SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS)

Click 'Apply Online' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
  1. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents.
  2. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application.
  3. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, clicking Application Status, then More Information for this position. Return to an incomplete application by logging into your USAJOBS account and clicking Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login) all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

Do not email or send hard copy resumes/applications to the Contact Information or Agency Information listed in this vacancy announcement. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement.

It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that all information in their resume and documents are legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers/documents submitted by an applicant.

???????Washington Headquarters Services provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please view the "Alternate Application" method listed in the "Other Information" section of this announcement. Your requests for reasonable accommodation will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Please visit the following link for more information http://http://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/admin_inst/

Agency contact information

Washington HQ Services
Address
WHS Acquisition Directorate
Human Resources Directorate
4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

Stay informed of changes to your application status by signing up for automatic email alerts at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Applicant/Application/ListApplications?

Washington Headquarters Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Washington Headquarters Services uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.dhs.gov/E-Verify


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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