Contract Specialist (Direct Hire)

US National Aeronautics and Space Administration Headquarters; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

US National Aeronautics and Space Administration Headquarters seeks a Senior Contract Specialist to support NASA programs through procurement planning, negotiation, and contract administration. The role requires advanced certification (FAC-C/DAWIA) or equivalent training and substantial specialized experience in contracting.

The position emphasizes advising leadership on complex contracting issues, leading negotiation efforts, and mentoring junior staff, with the aim of ensuring compliant and

Qualifications

• Mandatory qualifications include specialized experience in procurement and contracting.
• Certification or training in FAC-C, DAWIA, or equivalent is required.
• Clear narrative demonstrating how you meet the required specialized experience must be included.

Responsibilities

• Perform procurement planning, negotiation, and contract administration for NASA programs.
• Advise leadership and contracting officers on contracting issues and policy interpretations.
• Lead and mentor junior contract specialists on acquisitions and pre/post award issues.

Job description

The NASA Office of Procurement seeks Senior Contract Specialists to perform procurement planning, negotiation, and contract administration in support of NASA programs. The Office of Procurement is structured to provide support to our mission partners regardless of location. This announcement may fill any of NASA Office of Procurement positions.

You must meet all three requirements listed below; unless you are covered by an exception:

1. The mandatory Basic Requirement shown in the Education section below;
2. Specialized experience and/or directly related education, as shown below, which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of this position; and
3. Certification/Training requirements.

To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level:

• Working with complex contracts with far reaching organizational impacts, pre/post-award actions to procure or administer contracts for a variety of supplies and services;
• Utilizing negotiation techniques sufficient to negotiate prices, terms and conditions, contract modifications, and settlements with representatives of industry and/or other government agencies;
• Advising senior leadership and junior contracting officers on matters pertaining to unprecedented contracting issues, contracting procedures and policy interpretations;
• Leading and/or mentoring junior contract specialists regarding acquisitions and pre/post award issues.

Certification/Training for GS-14

You must meet one of the following requirements to be considered for this position:

A. Certification:

Possess a valid level III Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting (FAC-C) or FAC-C (Professional) or level III Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification or DAWIA Professional.

OR

B. Training:

Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for level III Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting (FAC-C) NASA-FAC-C-Curriculum-Table.pdf, and at least 4 years of experience in contracting or related positions. At least one 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.

To be hired for this position, you must possess a valid level III Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting (FAC-C) or FAC-C (Professional) or level III Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification or DAWIA Professional or must have already completed all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for level III FAC-C and/or FAC-C Professional. If you are currently certified, you may be asked to provide evidence of continuous learning to verify your existing certification. If you are not currently certified, you must apply for certification within 30 days after your start date in this position.

List your FAC-C or DAWIA certification level and date of certification. If you are not currently certified, but have completed the mandatory procurement training, list the training that you have completed to date.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

Waiver:

For this position, applicants that possess the specialized experience outlined above but do not currently meet the education or training requirements may be eligible to receive the required FAC-C certification. The education or training requirements above may be waived if the NASA Senior Procurement Executive certifies that an 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. If you are hired for this position, you will have up to two years from your start date to obtain FAC-C Level III and/or FAC-C Professional certification, as applicable, under a waiver of the education requirement or up to eighteen months from your start date to meet the training requirement and receive FAC-C Level III certification and/or FAC-C Professional certification, as applicable. If you do not meet the education and training requirements before the period expires, you will be demoted or removed from this position.

The ideal candidate has experience recommending, developing, and implementing policies and procedures to procure supplies, services, for construction or research and development projects using formal advertising or negotiation procedures to evaluate contract price proposals and policies.