Contracting Specialists/Contracting Officers

Air Force Civilian Service; Layton (UT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

Air Force Civilian Service is seeking full-time Contracting Specialists/Contracting Officers to support the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for CMWS under AFNWC at Hill AFB near Layton, Utah.

Positions cover NIK (ICBM Contracting) with potential assignments in NIKS or NIKM; applicants should submit a 2-page resume and detail degrees, education, and certifications on the resume as instructed.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• At least 4 years of existing contracting experience.
• Some positions require Top-Secret clearance with SAP/SCI access.
• Drug testing designated position may apply; pre-employment testing.
• Ability to travel occasionally; occasional overtime or irregular shifts.

Responsibilities

• Manage and execute contracts as Contract Specialist/Officer including pre- and post-award activities.
• Formulate acquisition strategies and solicitations for R&D, production, testing and sustainment.
• Advise program leadership on risk, contract approaches and incentives.
• Analyze cost/pricing data and participate in high-stakes negotiations with defense partners.
• Ensure alignment with DoD doctrine and program objectives; provide senior-level recommendations.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior government and industry stakeholders.
• Apply effective management techniques to oversee acquisition programs.

Skills

Contracting

Negotiation

Policy knowledge

Stakeholder communication

Job description

Come be a part of something big! Smart Minds, Cool Jobs, and Awesome Rewards! Fueled by innovation, talent and ambition, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center is seeking civilian professionals prepared to deploy war-winning capabilities on behalf of the United States Air Force.

OPEN: 25 SEPTEMBER 2026 CLOSES: 16 OCTOBER 2026

Air Force Civilian Service is currently seeking full-time Contracting Specialists/Contracting Officers interested in supporting the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager (DRPM) for Critical Major Weapons System (CMWS) programs for Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Systems Directorate at Hill Air Force Base near Layton, Utah.

This announcement intends to fill multiple contracting positions within NIK (ICBM Contracting), to include positions in NIKS (Sentinel Weapon Systems and/or Payload and Mission Capabilities Branch) and NIKM (Minuteman III Support and/or Enterprise Integration). If contacted, applicants will have an opportunity to identify their Contracting Division preference.

These Positions (multiple MPCNs) Are NH-1102-03. The Salary Range For These Positions Will Be Determined By Value Of Position (includes Locality Pay)

• No warrant or limited warrant: $89,508 - $117,081 (Value of Position 75)
• Unlimited warrant: $89,508 - $138,370 (Value of Position 83)
• Value of Position: If your current basic salary is within the band, but above the stated Value of Position, your basic salary will not be reduced if you are selected for the position.
• Recruitment, Relocation, Retention, and Student Loan Incentives may be authorized
• IMPORTANT**
• AFNWC requires the 2-page resume format for our job announcements. Please access this link to learn more about what to include in your resume: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
• If you submit a resume that is more than 2 pages, you may receive an error message. Please submit no more than a 2-page resume to be considered.
• Provide all academic degrees, professional military education and any other professional certifications on your 2-page resume.
• Recruitment and/or relocation bonuses might be offered upon review of qualifications, and other significant factors.
• Candidates may be asked to provide three professional references upon request.

These individuals support the Air Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) for ICBMs responsible for maintaining the land-based leg of the nation’s nuclear triad which fulfills critical national strategic deterrence objectives. Contracts support integrated weapons system management of the Minuteman III (LGM-30) and Sentinel (LGM-35) ICBMs. This dynamic and complex portfolio includes 29 ACAT/SCAT classified and unclassified acquisition programs with annual obligations over $4 billion. These ACAT rated programs affect strategic national objectives; research, development, production, operational test and evaluation of extensive specialized equipment or systems, state-of-the-art systems, and/or programs and equipment that are not well defined or span successive program stages. These individuals will serve as mission focused business leaders who direct, review, and provide oversight associated with a wide variety of complex acquisitions.

Candidates should possess proficient business acumen and knowledge of principles, laws, regulations, legal requirements, policies, and experience with a broad range of federal contracting methods and types, sufficient to independently perform pre-award and post-award actions. Excellent communication, tact, diplomacy, networking and listening skills are needed to interact and collaborate successfully with internal and external stakeholders to include leaders at the General Officer and Senior Executive Service levels.

RANGE OF DUTIES:

• Manages and executes contracts, as a Contract Specialist/Contracting Officer, that include a variety of contracting approaches and relationships associated with pre-award planning, establishment of suitable contractual and/or alternative business arrangements, and post-award management to include evaluation of cost, schedule, and performance.
• Formulates acquisition strategies and developing solicitations for research, development, production, testing, and sustainment of state-of-the-art systems.
• Serves as a primary business advisor to program leadership, offering guidance on risk mitigation, unique contract approaches, and incentivization strategies.
• Analyzes complex cost and pricing data and leading high-stakes negotiations with defense industry partners.
• Ensures organizational objectives and contract execution align with DAF/DoW doctrine and fulfill program objectives. Provides authoritative recommendations to higher management in contracting matters to enable effective integration of total effort in keeping with program objectives.
• Researches and determines or recommends appropriate action or interpretation of contract issues which impact the organization and/or installation.
• Establishes and maintains an integrated team relationship dealing directly with the most senior levels of government and industry.
• Ensures effective management techniques are developed and utilized to maintain oversight and control of acquisition programs.

DESIRED SKILLS:

• Candidates should possess proficient business acumen and expert knowledge of principles, laws, regulations, legal requirements, policies, and experience with a broad range of federal contracting methods and types,
• Demonstrated ability and professional stature to lead significant changes in business practices, influence policy decisions at the highest levels of the acquisition community; Ability to foster collaboration and create a climate of trust within the organization and analyze, plan, and adjust work operations to meet program requirements and objectives within available resources.
• Experience in recognizing and analyzing issues, conducting research, summarizing results, providing alternatives, and making appropriate decisions or recommendations toward goal accomplishment.
• Exceptional skill in a marked degree of verbal and written communications, and ability to interact with and be an active participant in high-level conferences, briefings, studies, and meetings involving General Officers, Senior Executives, and industry CEOs and CFOs.
• Independently perform pre-award and post-award actions.

HIGHLY DESIRED:

• Systems Experience

REQUIREMENTS:

• U.S. Citizenship
• At least 4 years of existing contracting experience
• Some position(s) will require employees to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance with special sensitivity, Special Access Program (SAP), and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access eligibility.
• Some position(s) are drug testing designated position. The incumbent is subject to pre-employment drug testing as a condition of employment, and participation in random drug testing.
• Incumbent will be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually
• Position requires occasional travel
• Employee may be required to work overtime or an irregular work shift.