Business Architect/Acquisition SME

Federal Advisory Partners; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Federal Advisory Partners seeks a Business Architect / Acquisition SME to serve as the program's functional authority on federal acquisition processes and contract writing. You will translate VA requirements into Appian-based designs, workflow configurations, and process models for a FAR/DFAR‑compliant contract writing system used by 6,000+ VA users.

Lead workshops with VA OAL staff, translate requirements into configurations, and ensure seamless integration with low-code platforms while

Qualifications

• 10+ years of federal acquisition experience including roles such as 1102 CO/COR or senior advisor.
• Deep expertise in FAR/DFARS compliance, contract writing requirements, clause selection, and source selection.
• Experience translating requirements into functional specs for contract management or automation systems.
• Experience leading enterprise contract management system implementations at large federal agencies.
• Understand end-to-end federal acquisition lifecycle from requirements to closeout.
• Familiarity with VAAR and VA-specific contracting practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead acquisition process analysis and map current VA workflows to target Appian processes.
• Define functional requirements for contract writing, requirements management, clause automation, vendor management, and source selection configurations.
• Design clause determination logic, contract templates, and approval routing within Appian.
• Facilitate workshops with VA contracting officers and policy staff to validate designs.
• Review and approve specifications to ensure FAR/DFAR compliance.
• Collaborate with Appian team to translate requirements into configurations and data definitions.
• Develop acceptance criteria for testing and assist Test Engineer to validate workflows.
• Support UAT and advise on compliance gaps or deficiencies.
• Contribute to change management and training content for acquisition staff.
• Provide advisory support on policy updates and regulatory changes affecting system configuration.
• Maintain a requirements traceability matrix for VA acquisition needs.

Skills

Federal acquisition experience

FAR/DFARS compliance

Contract writing knowledge

Acquisition lifecycle understanding

Appian/low-code familiarity

VA contracting practices familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Public Administration/ Acquisition Management

Tools

Appian

ServiceNow

Job description

Business Architect / Acquisition SME

The Business Architect / Acquisition SME serves as the program's functional authority on federal acquisition processes and contract writing, translating VA business requirements into application designs, workflow configurations, and process models that define how the Appian-based contract writing system will operate. This role bridges business process expertise and technical implementation, ensuring the modernized acquisition platform reflects best practices, statutory compliance, and operational realities of VA contracting activities at scale.

The Business Architect works directly with VA OAL stakeholders to document as‑is processes, design to‑be workflows, and configure clause libraries, contract templates, and approval routing logic within the Appian environment. Delivery of a fully FAR/DFAR‑compliant contract writing solution to 6,000+ VA users depends heavily on the quality and accuracy of the business architecture this role establishes.

Requirements

• 10+ years of federal acquisition experience, including direct experience as a 1102 Contracting Officer, Contracting Officer Representative, or senior acquisition advisor in a cabinet‑level agency.
• Deep expertise in FAR/DFARS compliance, contract writing requirements, clause selection, and source selection processes.
• Demonstrated experience translating acquisition business requirements into functional specifications for contract management or acquisition automation systems.Experience supporting or leading enterprise contract management system implementations at large federal agencies.
• Strong understanding of the end‑to‑end federal acquisition lifecycle from requirements development through contract closeout.
• Familiarity with federal clause libraries, standard forms (SF‑26, SF‑33, SF‑1449), and automated clause determination logic.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Acquisition Management, or related field required.
• FAC‑C certification (Level II or III) or DAWIA contracting certification strongly preferred.

Additional Qualifications

• Prior VA acquisition experience, including familiarity with VA Acquisition Regulations (VAAR) and VA‑specific contracting practices.
• Experience with Appian, ServiceNow, or comparable low‑code platforms in an acquisition workflow context.
• Prior involvement in VA eCMS, eCAMS, or contract writing system modernization efforts.
• Experience designing requirements management workflows, source selection evaluation processes, or vendor management capabilities in automated systems.
• Familiarity with the VA's Category Management strategy and its implications for acquisition system design.

Responsibilities

• Lead acquisition process analysis activities, documenting current‑state VA contracting workflows and mapping them to modernized target‑state processes in Appian.
• Define functional requirements for contract writing, requirements management, clause automation, vendor management, and source selection application configurations.
• Design and validate clause determination logic, contract template structures, and approval routing workflows within the Appian contract writing platform.
• Facilitate requirements workshops with VA OAL 1102 contracting officers and acquisition policy staff to validate process designs.
• Review and approve functional design specifications to ensure all contract writing capabilities are fully FAR/DFAR compliant.
• Partner with the Appian development team to translate functional requirements into application configurations, process models, and data definitions.
• Develop functional acceptance criteria for testing, supporting the Test Engineer in validating that implemented workflows meet acquisition requirements.
• Support user acceptance testing (UAT) by reviewing test results and advising on compliance gaps or functional deficiencies.
• Contribute to change management and training content development, ensuring acquisition staff understand new process workflows.
• Provide expert advisory support on acquisition policy updates, executive orders, and regulatory changes that impact system configuration.
• Maintain a functional requirements traceability matrix ensuring all VA acquisition requirements are addressed in the implemented solution.