Sr Acquisition Specialist (R&D)

Culmen International, LLC; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

401k with 4% match

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Training & Education

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Culmen International, LLC is hiring a Senior Acquisition Specialist (R&D) to support NGA's Research Directorate in St. Louis, MO. Onsite role focusing on budget development, acquisition planning, and pre-award support for RDT&E and O&M funding.

The role requires TS clearance, CI-Poly willingness, and extensive experience in R&D procurement and market research. The successful candidate will coordinate with Technical Offices, Pods, and contracting offices.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance required.
• 15+ years of relevant experience.
• Willing to sit for CI-Poly.
• FAR/DFAR familiarity is essential.

Responsibilities

• Forecast, track, and update commitments, obligations, and expenditure data for RDT&E and O&M funding.
• Prepare Acquisition documentation: Special Notices, RFIs, RFPs, BAA solicitations, market research, IGCEs, SOWs, SOOs, PWSs.
• Perform source selection/scientific review evaluation for R&D.
• Provide program review support including annual Pod reviews and quarterly program reviews.
• Prepare Program Build and CBJB/IPBS descriptions and update budget-tracking spreadsheets.
• Knowledge of two-year funding policies to assist planning and budgeting.
• Generate ad hoc financial reports for presentations and meetings.
• Coordinate R&D acquisition activities: BAAs, SBIR/STTR, UARCs/FFRDCs, OT, and grants with universities.
• Prepare documentation supporting acquisitions and source selection processes.
• Support briefing materials for Scientific Review Official submissions.
• Liaise with OCS, OGC, and FM Policy as needed.
• Produce documentation for new acquisitions and follow-on contracts.
• Include PADs and Market Research in program documentation entries.

Skills

Active Top Secret Clearance

Willing to CI-Poly

15+ years experience

Education

BA/BS, MA/MS or PhD in business, management, systems management, public administration, or technical degree

Job description

About the Role

Culmen International is hiring a Senior Acquisition Specialist (R&D) to provide support for the Research Directorate at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and will be onsite in St. Louis, MO.

NGA Research requires SETA support that is separate from NGA Financial Management (FM), for R&D program planning, budget building, acquisition support, and financial execution of Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) funding. This support will aid the PPE team, Technical Offices, and Pods in the programmatic and financial aspects of new and existing programs, projects, and acquisitions.

TALENT PIPELINE - Qualified applicants will be contacted as soon as funding for this position is secured. - Attentive start date is December 2026.

What You’ll Do in Your New Role

Two key areas of support are Acquisition and Pre-Award Support.

Specifically:

• Assist Technical Office Directors and Pods in forecasting, tracking, and updating the commitments, obligations, and expenditure data of RDT&E and O&M funding for prior fiscal year and current fiscal year office budget reviews.
• Must be familiar with FAR and DFAR.
• Must be experienced in development of Acquisition documentation (Special Notices, RFIs, RFPs, BAA solicitations, market research, IGCEs, SOWs, SOOs, PWSs).
• Must be experienced in source selection/scientific review evaluation process for R&D.
• Provide program review support including support to annual Pod reviews and quarterly program reviews.
• Assist in the preparation of the Program Build and CBJB/IPBS descriptions. This includes updating the spreadsheets that track financial changes, as well compiling and reviewing program manager (PM) input for coherence and adherence to the guidance, and inputting all required documentation and numbers into budget software tools.
• Employ knowledge of RDT&E budget activity codes and policies concerning two year funding to assist Research in planning, programming, and budgeting activities.
• Generate custom ad hoc financial reports to provide data for presentations, meetings, briefings, suspenses, and any other requirements needing financial data.
• Assist in coordinating and administratively managing R&D acquisition activities to include activities associated with various R&D solicitations and vehicles included, but not limited to BAAs, SBIR programs, STTR programs, contracts with UARCs/FFRDCs, Other Transactions (OTs), and administration of Grants and Cooperative Agreements with Universities.
• Prepare associated documentation to include Special Notices, Request for Information, and Requests for Proposals, and support Source Selection and the Scientific Review processes by ensuring all documents are available to appropriate personnel, including preparation, drafting, and coordination of documents related tothe above.
• Perform affordability analysis, compare actual costs to estimated costs, and make recommendations for budgetary adjustments.
• Assist in preparing all required briefing materials for the Scientific Review Official briefings to give a clear and accurate representation of proposals selected for funding, along with an outline of projected program budget allocation per performer.
• Assist the Technical Offices and Pods with developing requirements and documentation, coordinating activities with NGA or other agency contracting organizations, monitoring contracting actions and status, assisting Contracting Officer’s Representatives (CORs), and/or Technical Monitors (TMs) with program planning and acquisition support.
• Liaise with the Office of Contract Services (OCS), Office of General Counsel (OGC), and FM Policy as needed/requested by the Government.
• Assist with the production of documentation to support new acquisitions and follow-on contracts.
• Such information and documentation include but is not limited to: Program Decision Memoranda Program Approval Documentation (PADs) specific to Research activities Program Documentation Entry (into Research program tools) Market Research

Required Qualifications

• Active Top Secret Clearance
• BA/BS, MA/MS or PhD in business, management, systems management, public administration, or technical degree.
• Greater than or equal to 15 years of work experience.
• Willing to sit for CI-Poly

Desired Qualifications

• Masters or PhD degree
• NGA experience

About the Company

Culmen International is committed to enhancing international safety and security, strengthening homeland defense, advancing humanitarian missions, and optimizing government operations. With experience in over 150 countries, Culmen supports our clients in accomplishing critical missions in challenging environments.

• Exceptional Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance plans (including same or opposite sex domestic partners)
• 401k – Vested immediately and 4% match
• Life insurance and disability paid by the company
• Supplemental Insurance Available
• Opportunities for Training and Continuing Education
• 12 Paid Holidays

To learn more about Culmen International, please visit www.culmen.com

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.