Acquisition Specialist, Junior

Parra Consulting Group; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Parra Consulting Group (PCG) seeks a Junior Acquisition Specialist to support the U.S. DOI Interior Business Center, Acquisition Services Directorate. You will assist with preaward and award acquisition support, planning, documentation, and administration across the IBC-AQD portfolio.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, U.S. citizenship, and ability to obtain a Moderate Risk Public Trust. Proficiency in MS Office is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 4 years directly relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• Moderate Risk Public Trust determination.
• U.S. citizenship required to support this federal contract.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparation and review of acquisition planning documents (draft SOWs/PWSs/SOOs) and independent government estimates (IGEs).
• Support RFI/RFP development, distribution, and tracking of vendor responses.
• Assist with source selection administrative support, including proposal log-in, distribution, and evaluation documentation.
• Support contract file documentation and maintenance per FAR recordkeeping requirements.
• Track contract modifications, invoice review, and closeout documentation under senior guidance.
• Support audit-readiness activities, including file compliance checks and corrective action tracking.
• Attend and document acquisition planning and status meetings as assigned.

Skills

Familiarity with federal acquisition

FAR fundamentals

Written communication

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

0-2 years acquisition experience or 4 years experience in lieu of degree

Tools

MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Job description

Parra Consulting Group (PCG) is seeking Junior Acquisition Specialists to support the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Interior Business Center (IBC), Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD) Mission Support Services contract. This position provides preaward and award acquisition support, and assists senior staff with acquisition planning, documentation, and administration across the IBC-AQD portfolio.

This successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Assist in the preparation and review of acquisition planning documents, including draft SOWs/PWSs/SOOs and independent government estimates (IGEs).
• Support RFI/RFP development, distribution, and tracking of vendor responses.
• Assist with source selection administrative support, including proposal log-in, distribution, and evaluation documentation.
• Support contract file documentation and maintenance in accordance with agency and FAR recordkeeping requirements.
• Assist in tracking contract modifications, invoice review, and closeout documentation under senior specialist guidance.
• Support audit-readiness activities, including file compliance checks and corrective action tracking.
• Attend and document acquisition planning and status meetings as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus 0-2 years of relevant acquisition, contracts, or program support experience, or 4 years of directly relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Moderate Risk Public Trust determination.
• S. citizenship required to support this federal contract.

Required Experience

• Familiarity with the federal acquisition lifecycle (preaward through closeout).
• Working knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) fundamentals.
• Strong written communication and document formatting skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior internship, apprenticeship, or entry-level role in federal contracting or acquisition support.
• Exposure to civilian agency acquisition systems and recordkeeping practices.
• FAC-C or coursework toward acquisition certification.

Why Join PCG

Parra Consulting Group offers a collaborative, mission-focused environment where your expertise directly supports federal customers.

• competitive compensation
• 100% employer-paid medical/dental/vision coverage
• life and disability insurance
• a PTO plan to ensure professional growth and work-life balance