Senior Contracts Specialist

FWI (FedWriters, Inc.); Kittery (ME); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Long-term Disability Insurance

Short-term Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Plan

Holiday Pay

Paid Time Off

Job summary

FWI (FedWriters, Inc.) seeks a Senior Contract Specialist to lead complex, high-dollar acquisitions at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME. You will shape strategies, drive negotiations, and mentor staff through full lifecycle contracts, including IDIQs and task orders.

You will draft J&A and market research memos, support contracting officers, and ensure compliant contract files while collaborating with Navy personnel and cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; no substitution.
• 8+ years of government contracting experience with IDIQs and task orders.
• DAWIA Contracting or FAC-C certification preferred.
• Active U.S. government security clearance required.
• Proven ability to train or mentor staff; strong FAR/DFARS knowledge.
• Experience with automated acquisition systems and MS 365.

Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle acquisitions, including IDIQs, BPAs, BOAs, and task orders.
• Advise on strategy, competition, sources, risks, contract types, milestones; draft memos.
• Develop pre-negotiation objectives; support Navy contracting officers.
• Manage SSP, SSEB, COI/NDA; review for compliance before CO.
• Perform advanced price analysis; build calculators for invoices review.
• Peer-review contract actions for FAR/DFARS and local policy.
• Train Navy and contractor staff with job aids and coaching.

Skills

FAR/DFARS knowledge

Contract negotiations

Mentoring/leadership

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

ePS or SPS/PD2

FPDS-NG

PIEE

GSA eBuy

Microsoft 365

Job description

Overview

Join our team as a Senior Contract Specialist and support Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s Contracting and Logistics Department by leading complex, high-dollar acquisitions from planning through closeout. You will shape acquisition strategies, drive negotiations and source selections, and mentor fellow specialists, ensure high-quality, compliant contract files that sustain Virginia- and Los Angeles-class submarine maintenance.

Overview

Join our team as a Senior Contract Specialist and support Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s Contracting and Logistics Department by leading complex, high-dollar acquisitions from planning through closeout. You will shape acquisition strategies, drive negotiations and source selections, and mentor fellow specialists, ensure high-quality, compliant contract files that sustain Virginia- and Los Angeles-class submarine maintenance.

FWI is expanding rapidly and has been recognized as a 2024, 2025 and 2026 Top Workplace, offering excellent growth opportunities in a collaborative environment.

• Position is contingent upon contract award**

Work Schedule and Location:

On-Site: This full-time on-site position will work Monday through Friday. Shifts fall between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM ET, with a 30-minute lunch and a maximum of 8 hours/day. Work is performed onsite at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex acquisitions across the full lifecycle, including IDIQs, BPAs, BOAs, and task/delivery orders
• Advise on acquisition strategy: approach, competition, sources, risks, contract type, and milestones. Draft J&As and market research memos.
• Develop pre-negotiation objectives and support Navy contracting officers in discussions with offerors
• Manage formal source selection documentation (SSP, SSEB support, COI/NDA forms, draft SSDM)
• Perform advanced Excel price analysis, and build calculators that help ACOs and CORs review invoices
• Peer-review teammates’ contract actions for FAR/DFARS and local policy compliance before they reach the contracting officer
• Train and mentor Navy and contractor staff with job aids, briefings, and hands-on coaching

Required

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree. No experience substitution is allowed.
• 8+ years of government contracting experience, including commercial and non-commercial supplies and services, IDIQs, and task/delivery orders
• DAWIA Contracting certification (Contracting Professional or legacy Level III), or FAC-C (Professional, FAC-C-DoD, or legacy Level III)
• Demonstrated experience training, mentoring, or knowledge-sharing
• Expert FAR/DFARS knowledge sufficient to plan, lead, review, or audit the most complex procurements
• Skill with automated acquisition systems, and proficiency in Microsoft 365
• Active U.S. government security clearance
• U.S. citizenship, plus the ability to pass shipyard access vetting

Desired

• Business degree
• More than 8 years of experience
• ePS or SPS/PD2, FPDS-NG, PIEE, and GSA eBuy expertise
• Track record leading negotiations and formal source selections
• Navy/NAVSEA/shipyard or cost-type contract experience

Why Join Our Team

Benefits

At FWI, we place the highest importance on creating an exceptional employee experience. You'll have opportunities to achieve your career aspirations through internal promotions, professional development, and other recognition and rewards programs. Join our team and take advantage of the many benefits we offer, including:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• Holiday Pay
• Paid Time Off

FWI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.

Pay Range

Negotiable