Supervisory Contract Specialist - SME (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees )

Summary This position is located within the Office of Acquisition, Office of the Associate Administrator for Administration, Maritime Administration (MARAD). This position is established to supervise a variety of functions relative to the procurement of supplies and services in support of the Maritime Administration’s operating offices. Exercises unlimited signatory authority for the acquisition of supplies and services to support operating offices. Learn more about this agency Duties As a Supervisory Contract Specialist, the employee assists in the planning, prioritizing, and assigning work; collaborating with peers and subordinates to assure effective advisory services; and otherwise ensuring continuous progress toward stated goals. Assists in planning, developing, and establishing the contractual strategy for the overall acquisition program. Participates in acquisition planning conferences with personnel from other organizational components of the Department of Transportation (DOT), MARAD and other federal government agencies. Interfaces directly with contractors and program offices regarding contract performance. Prepares required advance acquisition planning and solicitation documents, as well as other required justifications. Represents MARAD in the role of team leader during contract negotiations and discussions with contractors. Coordinates with program, legal, and audit personnel. Personally, negotiates contracts as required. Exercises responsibility for contracts negotiated by the Procuring Contacting Officer (PCO). Determines the need for and conducts post-award conferences with contractors to avoid misunderstanding and to clarify issues on contractual requirements. Attends progress reviews to evaluate contractor’s performance and status of projects. Ensures compliance with prime/subcontracting provisions under the assigned Ship Manager contracts and coordinates past performance information and Quality Assurance evaluations with divisional personnel. Exercises full administrative and technical supervision over a team of staff, including assigning and reviewing work, conducting performance evaluations, approving leave, and overseeing professional development and recruitment to ensure departmental goals are met. The ideal candidate for this position is a motivated, self-reliant and skilled professional that will supervise the acquisition programs in an effective, efficient, and ethical manner; leveraging and developing a highly skilled workforce; adopting technology to enhance the efficiency of business processes; developing and executing sound acquisition strategies; and emerging and using reliable data and metrics to make strategic business decisions. Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration. You must meet specialized experience to qualify. Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. DRUG TESTING: Tentatively selected candidates are required to undergo urinalysis in accordance with DOT 3910.1D entitled "Drug and Alcohol-Free Departmental Workplace", which includes testing for marijuana. Marijuana is legal in some states, however it’s still illegal at the federal level. Therefore, if selected for the position you will be required to submit to a pre-employment/pre-appointment drug test, you will also be subject to Random Drug Testing. SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed). PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). Qualifications To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the education and specialized experience requirements.To qualify for the Grade 14, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13, it must include: Experience leading acquisition management activities such as negotiating, writing, issuing, reviewing, evaluating, and administrating pre and post awards. 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: Technical: Mastery of procurement regulations and contracting principles including the latest procedures and techniques, e.g. sophisticated pricing arrangements, cost accounting, and life cycle costing sufficient to plan, develop, implement, maintain, and administer all contractual aspects of the NDRF/RRF support acquisition program; to develop innovative contractual language, terms and conditions; and to serve as program contractual advisor on the acceptability and applicability of contractual matters related to the assigned acquisition program. Analysis: Skill in supervising an administrative staff involved in the procurement of supplies and services in support of the Office of Strategic Support. This includes MARAD’s Ready Reserve Force (RRF) Program and other field activities inclusive of Fleet Sites and manages all acquisitions to meet the requirements of Field Support Offices. These include highly sophisticated technologically advanced special-purpose items that are required by MARAD programs. The services provided impact (1) headquarters operations, several MARAD-wide programs, and MARAD's entire field establishment and (2) MARAD's accomplishment of its primary mission or programs of national significance. Communication: Ability to work with subordinates in achieving specific tasks, producing work products and services, and meeting program goals. For all types of consideration, 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.For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link:  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education Basic Requirements for GS-13 and Above Contract Specialists Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 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. AND 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. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. This also applies to positions at the same grade in the same agency or other agencies if the specialized experience requirements are met. However, they will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade, unless granted a waiver under Paragraph D. Waiver: When filling a specific vacant position, the senior procurement executive of the selecting agency, at his or her discretion, may waive any or all of the requirements of Paragraphs A and B above if the senior procurement executive certifies that the applicant possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated analytical and decision making capabilities, job performance, and qualifying experience. With respect to each waiver granted under this Paragraph D, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action. TRANSCRIPTS are REQUIRED as there is a stated education requirement for the series. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements.  Additional information The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, [email protected]. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. 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.