Contract Specialist

Office of the Secretary of Defense; Washington (District of Columbia); Remote; USD 102,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

Office of the Secretary of Defense in Washington, DC is posting a Direct Hire opportunity in the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) within the Department of Defense. The role focuses on contracting and acquisition strategies for complex programs, including OTAs and prototype-to-production efforts, with oversight across multi-stakeholder defense ecosystems.

Applicants may be considered for multiple vacancies; DHA authority applies and eligibility is under Public hiring path.

Qualifications

• Education must be evidenced by transcripts or degrees.
• Graduate education requirements described in the posting.
• Pass/fail courses and accreditation requirements noted.

Responsibilities

• Plans, develops, and executes comprehensive contracting and acquisition strategies for complex, high-priority programs and systems.
• Leads non-traditional procurement pathways, negotiating, awarding, and administering OTAs and prototype-to-production instruments.
• Oversees cradle-to-grave acquisition oversight for enterprise-wide AI and data programs.

Job description

• Hiring Agency: Office of the Secretary of Defense
• Department: Department of Defense
• Location: Washington, District of Columbia
• Hiring Path: Public
• Number of Openings: 3
• Security Clearance: Sensitive Compartmented Information

This position is in the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering (OUSW(R&E), specifically in the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO).

Key Responsibilities

This is a Direct Hire Public Notice, under this recruitment, applications will be accepted for each location and/or installation identified in this Public Notice and selections are made for vacancies as they occur. There may or may not be actual/projected vacancies at the time you submit your application. This Public Notice is to gather applications which may or may not result in a referral or selection.

This position is being filled under Direct Hire Authority (DHA) in accordance with Section II.B.4.b and Pub. L. 111-383. DHA for AcqDemo Business and Technical Management Professional Career Path (NH) Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

Incumbents typical work assignments may include the following: Plans, develops, and executes comprehensive contracting and acquisition strategies for complex, high-priority programs and systems across a high-tempo operational environment.

Serves under or works toward maintaining an Agreements Officer warrant to lead non-traditional procurement pathways, specifically negotiating, awarding, and administering Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) and prototype-to-production instruments. Conducts rigorous compliance and adequacy reviews of complex requirements packages, statements of objectives, and procurement documentation, mitigating operational and acquisition risks.

As the Contracting Officer Representative(COR), leads portfolio management and cradle-to-grave acquisition oversight for enterprise-wide AI and data programs. Directly oversees contractor performance, cost, schedule, and technical milestones, focusing on systems integration, architectural scalability, and interoperability across multi-stakeholder defense ecosystems.

Evaluates, refines, and endorses program acquisition strategies, procurement baselines, and charter documentation to ensure strict adherence to Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO), Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), and federal regulatory standards.

Requirements & Education

ARE YOU QUALIFYING BASED ON EDUCATION or A COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE? You must provide sufficient documentation of your education in your resume. You MUST provide a copy of official or unofficial transcripts or degrees in your application package. It may also be acceptable to document your applicable course listing in your resume (course number, credits earned, etc.). Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency.

If selected, an official/sealed transcript will be required prior to appointment. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis.

If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S.

education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $102415 – $158322/yr.

Is this position remote or telework eligible?

This position is eligible for telework.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-04.

How many openings are available?

There are 3 openings for this position.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.

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Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-29 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov