Duties

As a Supervisory Contract Specialist, you will: Manage a wide-array of acquisition program activities for the development of regulations, policy, reports, analyses, and standards while coordinating input from other organizations in response to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Inspector General (OIG), or the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Oversee and direct the work of the office. Lead a collaborative team(s) that develops the supportive regulations and policies to implement provisions of acquisition regulations, statutes, or policy memoranda to ensure long-term compliance with all appropriate acquisition initiatives. Assure reasonable equity among subordinate units/teams of performance standards and rating techniques. Make decisions on work problems presented by subordinates. Coordinate the day-to-day operations of internal regulatory and policy development given new statutory, regulatory, or external policy directions and trends. Analyze workload implications of acquisition policy changes and propose milestones and deadlines on implementation and finalization of regulations and policies with DOT. Develop, coordinate, communicate, and manage key milestones for Department-wide regulations and policy development to support mission attainment. Serve as principal advisor to the DOT Senior Procurement Executive on assigned policy areas. Plan, design, lead, and coordinate analyses and assessments of DOT programs with the objective of enhancing liaison and cooperation with multiple stakeholders. Lead special cross-cutting projects and teams to accomplish strategic goals and objectives of the Department related to the acquisition community. Provide advice to senior leaders, collaborate across the Department, to meet DOT's acquisition regulatory and policy goals and objectives. The ideal candidate for this position will have expert knowledge and experience in Federal contracting, experience conducting detailed cost analyses; experience conducting advanced acquisition planning; and the ability to supervise subordinate staff in an acquisition related environment. The candidate will have analytical skills necessary to develop and utilize performance data to support the effective and efficient utilization of resources; have strong oral and written communication skills necessary to effectively advocate operational and acquisition policy issues to a wide range of audiences; and experience leading contract professionals in award of a full range of acquisition instruments.

Requirements

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. 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.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the mandatory education and specialized experience requirements. To qualify for the Grade 15, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-14, it must include: Experience in the implementation of the principles of contract formation, contracting statutes/regulations, and policies including awarding and administering acquisition activities including contracts, cost reimbursement contracts, simplified acquisitions, Federal Supply Schedule orders and inter/intra-agency agreements; AND Experience with best value source selection techniques and cost/price analysis. Examples of how this experience is attained can be from utilizing several areas of the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul (RFO) and other contracting regulations, especially RFO Part 15, "Contracting by Negotiation" and RFO Part 16, “Types of Contracts.” AND Experience in contributing to team objectives, coordinating tasks or people, and presenting findings or communicating updates to internal or external stakeholders. 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: Contracting/Procurement - Knowledge of various types of contracts, techniques, or requirements (for example, Federal Acquisitions Regulations) for contracting or procurement, and contract negotiation and administration. Technical Credibility - Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise. Leadership - Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations. Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. 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=e4 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Basic Requirements for GS-13 and Above A. 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. B. 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. C. 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. 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.

Other Information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. 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