The United States Space Force (USSF) at Los Angeles AFB, El Segundo, CA is searching for a Chief for the Supervisory Contracting Officer to support SSC/PK (NH-1102-04, GS-14/15 equivalent).


Description:
As a Lead Contracting Specialist at SSC, you will lead a team of skilled contracting professionals in the procurement of highly specialized research and development capabilities for our nation's most vital space programs. This is an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to high-impact, multi-million dollar contracts and directly support the U.S. Space Force mission while developing and mentoring the next generation of contracting leaders.

Key Responsibilities:
- Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of contracting professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment.
- Strategic Acquisition: Develop and execute innovative acquisition strategies for complex, high-value programs, ensuring alignment with mission objectives and regulatory requirements.
- Complex Contract Management: Oversee the solicitation, analysis, evaluation, and negotiation of contractor proposals for complex, large-scale, long-term contracts. Manage all phases of the contract lifecycle, from solicitation to closeout, ensuring compliance and mitigating risks.
- Trusted Advisor: Serve as a trusted business advisor and subject matter expert to major program managers and senior leaders on a wide range of procurement-related topics, including future procurement requirements, documentation preparation, and issue resolution.
What We're Looking For:
We seek a proven leader with a passion for space and a commitment to excellence in acquisition. The ideal candidate will possess:
- Significant experience in federal contracting, ideally within the DoD and/or space systems acquisition.
- A track record of successfully leading complex acquisitions and mentoring junior contracting professionals.
- Deep knowledge of the FAR, DFARS, and other relevant regulations.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
- A commitment to ethical conduct and professional excellence.


Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate is a proactive and strategic Contracting Specialist with a demonstrated ability to lead complex defense acquisitions, particularly at the systems level. This individual possesses a strong foundation in federal contracting principles, a proven track record of successful negotiations, and the ability to effectively advise senior leadership on acquisition strategies. They will be responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of contracts, ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations, and achieving optimal value for the government.

- Experience: Years of progressively responsible defense contracting experience is required. Systems-level contracting experience is highly desirable.
- Leadership Potential: Demonstrated potential to lead contract teams and manage complex projects.
- Education: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution is required.
- Warrant Authority: DAF Unlimited Highly Preferred, Transferrable Unlimited Warrant Required.
- Government Contracting Expertise: Thorough knowledge of federal contracting principles, policies, and procedures, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and agency-specific regulations (e.g., DFARS). Knowledge of business practices and market conditions applicable to defense contracting.
- Cost/Price Analysis: Proven skill in applying contract price/cost analysis techniques to a variety of pre-award and post-award procurement actions.
- Communication: Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential. Ability to effectively communicate complex contractual matters to program managers, technical experts, and senior leaders.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S Citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret / SCI security clearance.
• May be required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
• Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed "unscheduled telework".
• May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
• May be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft in the performance of TDY assignments.
• This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications, whichever comes first.
• PCS /relocation funding is authorized.
• Financial Disclosure Statement: Yes Employee must within 30-days of assuming this position and by 31 October annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, “Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.
• This position is part of the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP).
• Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): Approximately 15 days per year.
• This is a drug testing designated position. The incumbent is subject to pre-employment drug testing as a condition of employment, and participation in random drug testing.
• The employee must meet the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements applicable to the duties of the position.
• Serves as an unlimited warranted contracting officer.
• The employee must meet the continuing acquisition education requirements IAW DoDI 5000.66 paragraph E2.2.8.
• In accordance with the Ethics in Government Act, 1978, employee is required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• Key Emergency Essential Position Coding: N - Position Not E-E, NCE, Key, or Mission Essential.

Qualifications

DOD QUALIFICATION STANDARD FOR GS-1102 CONTRACTING POSITIONS

This is an individual, single agency qualification standard for Department of Defense positions. This standard implements requirements contained in Title 10, United States Code, Sections 1723 through 1733, as amended by Section 861(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92) and implemented on a policy exception basis by Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment memorandum, Exception to 24 Semester Hours Requirement for Contracting Positions, effective and dated August 2, 2020.

Basic Education Requirements for GS-5 through GS-15 (or equivalent) positions:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees.

NOTE: The education requirements listed above apply only to individuals entering DoD GS-1102 positions on or after October 1, 2000. Current civilian personnel in DoD who occupied GS-1102 positions or contracting positions with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold in an Executive

Department on or before September 30, 2000 are exempt from meeting this requirement. Current military members who occupied a similar occupational specialty to the GS (or equivalent)-1102 or before September 30, 2000 are also exempt from meeting this requirement.

GS-12 thru GS-15

(no educational equivalent)

One year equivalent to at least next lower grade level

Basic Qualification Requirements for Contracting Officer Positions: In addition to meeting, the basic educational requirement as well as the requirements in the table above, applicants must have:

Have at least two years of experience in contracting positions; and

Have completed all contracting courses required for a contracting officer for positions at the level and grade at which the person is serving. Certification at this level is sufficient to meet this standard.

In addition:

Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting the basic education requirements above, one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression is qualifying for positions at grades GS-7 (or equivalent) and above. Specialized experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.

Basic Requirements for Critical Acquisition Positions: The Secretary of Defense shall designate the acquisition positions in the Department of Defense that are critical acquisition positions, applicants must:

Be eligible for GS-14, or equivalent; and

Hold a bachelor's degree; and

Have completed all mandatory training requirements for Level II or III certification as prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to higher level contracting positions; and

Possess four years of acquisition experience. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower grade level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position.

Basic Qualification Requirements for Senior Contracting Officials: A Senior Contracting Official is a position such as a director of contracting, or a principal deputy to a director of contracting, serving in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Office of the Secretary of a Military Department, the Headquarters (HQ) of a Military Department, the HQ of a Defense Agency, a subordinate command HQ, or a major systems or logistics contracting activity in the Department of Defense. Before a person may be assigned to a critical acquisition position as a senior contracting official, the person must have at least four years' experience in contracting.

Waivers: With the exception of Specialized Experience, the component acquisition career management authority may waive any or all of the requirements listed in this qualifications standard with respect to any employee of the Department of Defense if the board certifies that the individual possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated job performance and qualifying experience.

How you will be evaluated

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

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies as related to the series and grade of the position being filled. Final qualifications determinations will be assessed based on OPM's General Schedule Qualifications Standards found here:

Interviews: You will be contacted by e-mail and/or telephone if your application is identified as qualifying for a position being filled. An interview may be conducted. If interviewed, you will be asked to address the same knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies used to initially qualify your application for the position.

Resume:You must submit a resume that may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume exceeds two pages or is illegible/unreadable. Do NOT include photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume. If the resume you submit contains such information you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume must provide:

1. Personal information - your full name, email and mailing addresses, phone number
2. Education information - the name of the school and the dates you attended
3. Work experience - paid and unpaid work with the following information:
   • Job title
   • Detailed duties and accomplishments
   • Employer's name and address
   • Supervisor's name and phone number
   • Starting and ending dates (If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes.)
   • Hours per week
   • Salary, if applicable
4. Other qualifications - skills, certifications/licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and job-related training courses

College Transcripts (if applicable): Please see the Education section of this announcement for detailed information about transcripts.

Next steps