Acquisition Subject Matter Expert

RavenTek; Washington (District of Columbia); Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

RavenTek seeks an Acquisition Subject Matter Expert (SME) to provide expert FAR interpretation, regulatory analysis, and policy development across the federal acquisition lifecycle. The role leverages senior contracting experience to guide agency governance and compliance while translating statutory requirements into clear policies and procedures.

Remote work is supported, with duties including training, policy development, and interaction with senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of federal acquisition experience focused on FAR interpretation.
• Experience exercising Contracting Officer-level judgment when evaluating complex acquisition and regulatory matters.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior authority on FAR interpretation and provide guidance on complex regulatory matters.
• Lead development, revision, and implementation of acquisition policies, SOPs, and governance frameworks.
• Translate FAR updates and regulatory memoranda into actionable agency policies and procedures.
• Develop formal policy memoranda, interpretive guidance, and rulemaking documentation.
• Review agency acquisition supplements for regulatory gaps and conflicts with FAR.
• Provide training, workshops, and guidance on FAR application and policy changes.
• Enter actual time worked and submit timesheets; submit Monthly Status Reports.
• Monitor RavenTek email regularly and respond as required.

Skills

FAR interpretation

Regulatory analysis

Policy development

Technical writing

Advisory skills

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

DAWIA Level III/FCM equivalent preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Adobe

AI Large Language Models

Job description

Job Title: Acquisition Subject Matter Expert

Department: Operations – Services

Reports To: RavenTek Program Manager

Location: Remote

Schedule: Monday – Friday

Hours: Full-time, 40-hours/week

FLSA Status: Hourly, Nonexempt

Clearance: Public Trust

Position Summary

The Acquisition & Procurement Subject Matter Expert (SME) serves as a senior Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) authority and trusted advisor responsible for providing expert interpretation, regulatory guidance, and policy development support throughout the federal acquisition lifecycle. This position focuses on FAR interpretation, regulatory analysis, and acquisition policy development, requiring extensive experience applying FAR provisions to complex and ambiguous acquisition scenarios. The SME leverages former Contracting Officer and Procurement Analyst experience to inform agency policies, ensure regulatory alignment, strengthen acquisition governance, and translate statutory and regulatory requirements into actionable policies, procedures, and guidance. The performance of this position is key to RavenTek's performance on the contract, and therefore RavenTek's mission to support the customer.

Requirements

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior authority on Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) interpretation, providing expert analysis and guidance on complex, ambiguous, or high-risk regulatory matters.
• Apply Contracting Officer and Procurement Analyst experience and judgment to interpret FAR provisions and advise on their appropriate application across agency acquisition activities.
• Advise senior leadership on regulatory intent, compliance risks, and defensible interpretations of FAR requirements.
• Analyze acquisition approaches, policies, and procedures for alignment with the FAR, statutory requirements, and applicable agency supplements, including the Education Acquisition Regulation (EDAR).
• Lead the development, revision, and implementation of acquisition policies, directives, procedures, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), acquisition playbooks, and governance frameworks.
• Translate FAR updates, Executive Orders, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memoranda into actionable agency policies, internal controls, and standardized procedures.
• Develop formal policy memoranda, interpretive guidance, decision papers, and rulemaking documentation, including Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) and Final Rules.
• Review agency acquisition supplements to identify regulatory gaps, inconsistencies, redundancies, or conflicts with the FAR, statutes, and federal acquisition policy.
• Recommend and draft revisions to agency acquisition supplements and support the maintenance and modernization of agency-specific acquisition regulations.
• Establish and support acquisition governance frameworks, internal controls, compliance reviews, audit readiness activities, and oversight processes.
• Identify systemic acquisition risks and recommend enterprise-level corrective actions to strengthen regulatory compliance and acquisition governance.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, contracting officers, legal counsel, and program offices on FAR interpretation and acquisition policy implications.
• Deliver training, workshops, and guidance on FAR application, regulatory updates, and acquisition policy changes, while mentoring acquisition personnel on FAR-based decision-making.
• Conduct advanced research and analysis on emerging acquisition policy trends, FAR updates, and regulatory changes and develop white papers, briefs, and strategic recommendations for leadership.
• Support responses to audits, protests, and oversight inquiries by providing well-reasoned FAR interpretation and regulatory analysis.
• Enter actual time worked, once complete, at the end of the day, or no later than 10:00 a.m. the following workday, and submit timesheets at the end of each pay period.
• Submit Monthly Status Reports on a regular basis, as required.
• Monitor RavenTek email on a regular basis, at least 3 times per week, and respond accordingly.
• Complete required compliance training as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Critical Skills

• Expert-level mastery of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and its application throughout the federal acquisition lifecycle.
• Demonstrated ability to translate FAR requirements into actionable acquisition policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Extensive knowledge of agency acquisition supplements, including the Education Acquisition Regulation (EDAR).
• Strong analytical, regulatory research, technical writing, and advisory skills.
• Ability to communicate complex acquisition requirements effectively to senior leadership, Contracting Officers, legal counsel, program offices, and acquisition personnel.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe, and AI Large Language Models.

Education & Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of federal acquisition experience focused on FAR interpretation and acquisition policy.
• Experience exercising Contracting Officer-level judgment when evaluating complex acquisition and regulatory matters.

Certifications, Licenses

• Active or prior DAWIA Level III, FAC-C Professional, or Level III equivalent preferred.
• NCMA Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM) or equivalent preferred.
• Active or prior Contracting Officer Warrant preferred.

Special Requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain Public Trust level clearance.

Work Environment

Employee will primarily work remotely in a professional home office environment with standard computer and communications equipment. Typical indoor and computer related noise level, and typical office, paper, and equipment related dust. Exposure to video display terminals occurs on a regular basis.

Physical Demands

To successfully perform the essential functions of the job, the employee needs to be able to sit at a workstation for extended periods; use hand(s) to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear; see to read printed materials and computer screens; mobility to work in a typical office setting. Ability to work on desktop or laptop computer for extended periods of time reading, reviewing/analyzing information, and may be required to provide recommendations, summaries and/or reports in written format. Must be able to effectively communicate with others verbally and in writing. Employee must be able to lift and/or move moderate amounts of weight, typically up to 20 pounds. Regular and predictable attendance is essential.

ADA: RavenTek will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

EEO/AA: RavenTek does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, height, weight, or marital status in employment or the provision of services and is an equal access/equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position and will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential job functions are subject to modification. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.