Public Notice - Contract Specialist (Direct Hire)

Summary

Contracting and Procurement's (C&P) mission is to build TSA's capabilities to protect the Nation's transportation systems effectively and efficiently by providing excellent contracting and procurement services. This incumbent is responsible for providing solutions to equip the frontline. To ensure the frontline is best equipped with the tools and support required to secure transportation for America.

Duties

*This Public Notice will be posted on a quarterly basis. This Public Notice - Contract Specialist (Direct Hire) position is located in the Mission Support, Contracting and Procurement Division, Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to: Provide overall strategic planning for major acquisitions and ensures program/projects meet business needs for timeliness, functionality, and overall program efficiency and effectiveness. Provide recommendations to senior leadership on short term and long-range acquisition program activities, including problems encountered from compliance reviews and proposes solutions that may include training to reduce knowledge gaps for other contracting staff and improve overall COR performance. Direct the full range of contract administration actions required for the acquisition program, including issuing contract modifications, negotiating contract changes, exercising contract options, investigating and resolving contractor delays, conducting contractor performance appraisals, subcontractor surveillance, disposition of claims, and similar matters. Serve as the principal technical expert and point of contact for Contracting Officers on implementing broad contracting and acquisitions policies, directives, and procedures. Provide guidance and policy interpretations regarding contract administration issues. Provide guidance to less-experienced specialists, professional, managers, or administrative support staff, leading large project/program teams. Define and develop internal policies and procedures and recommend solutions to complex contracting issues. Review internal processes and acquisitions program activities to ensure transparency and accountability and leads teams that conduct ongoing assessments and evaluations of contract administration program activities to ensure compliance with broad contracting and acquisition policies, procedures, and requirements as well as overall strategic goals and objectives.

Qualifications

To qualify for the SV-J Pay Band (equivalent to GS-14), you must have four years of progressively more responsible experience in contracting or related positions. Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-I (GS-13) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all the following: Experience directing the full range of contract administration actions required for the acquisition program, including issuing contract modifications, negotiating contract changes, investigating and resolving contractor delays, conducting contractor performance appraisals, subcontractor surveillance, and disposition of claims; AND Experience interpreting complex policies and develop new approaches in solving difficult contracting issues; AND Experience planning for major acquisitions and ensure program/projects meet business needs for timeliness, functionality, and overall program efficiency and effectiveness; AND Experience mentoring/coaching others in contract execution and contract administration. Exceptions to Qualification Requirements (Applicable to Internal or Status Applicants Only): As of January 1, 2000, all GS-1102 employees who had continuously encumbered GS-1102 positions are considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades GS-5 through GS-12 or equivalent will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12 or SV-H. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade GS-12 or SV-H. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position. Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Resumes must include the following: Narrative description of duties with start and end dates (including the month and year) for work experience. State the number of hours worked per week in a position (i.e. full-time or part-time). If part-time, state the total number of hours worked per week. If full-time, state 40-hours. Performance level (i.e. band or grade) You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Education

In addition to the minimum qualifications described above, you must meet the following requirement(s) to be considered qualified for the position: You must meet all requirements listed below (A, B, C and D), unless you are covered by an exception, or an individual training waiver is necessary: A. Experience: Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 equivalent (or higher) level contracting positions, including at least 4-years' experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position. (see section D for specifics) AND B. Education: A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree that included or was supplemented by 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; AND C. Training Requirements: Applicants seeking to meet the training requirements for GS-13 and above in accordance with the OPM 1102 Hiring Qualifications are required to provide the following required verification documents: FAC-C (Professional) certification or equivalent; AND D. Specialized Experience is defined as experience which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. For positions requiring positive education requirements, or if you are using education to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or an itemized list of college courses from an accredited college or university, which includes equivalent information from the transcript (course title, semester/quarter hours, and grade/degree earned) in your resume. The information must be provided with the application by the closing date of the announcement. If selected, the applicant must supp