Supervisory Contract Specialist

US Executive Director, Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Supervisory Contract Specialist to lead complex procurement programs and advise on strategy. You will apply FAR/VAAR/GSAM guidance, manage market research, source selections, and contract administration while mentoring staff.

The role emphasizes high-value acquisitions, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder collaboration to achieve best-value outcomes for VA missions.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of contracting or related experience; at least 1 year specialized in work at the next lower grade.
• A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours in accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics or related fields.
• Exceptions exist for GS-1102 positions and waiver processes may apply for advancement to higher grades.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee complex federal acquisition programs and high-value procurements per FAR/VAAR/GSAM/MSMAS rules.
• Develop and implement acquisition strategies, conduct market research and manage source selections.
• Negotiate contract terms, award and administer contracts, ensure regulatory compliance.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop acquisition staff, set priorities, and evaluate performance.
• Advise senior leadership on procurement strategies, risk management and compliance.
• Build relationships with stakeholders and implement process improvements for efficiency.

Skills

FAR/VAAR/GSAM contracting

MAS contracting

Cost & price analysis

Contract negotiation

Leadership / supervision

Stakeholder relationship management

Education

Bachelor's degree with relevant coursework (accounting, finance, contracting)

Job description

This position serves as a Supervisory Contract Specialist in support of contracting requirements for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its customers for Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction (OALC), Office of Procurement (OOP), Enterprise Procurement Office (EPO), Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Acquisition Service Directorate 5. These acquisitions include complex contracts or programs that are critical in carrying out the mission of VA and other Government agencies. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/23/2026.

Individual Occupational Requirements:

1. Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher level contracting positions, including at least 4-years experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 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.
2. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.
3. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. This also applies to positions at the same grade in the same agency or other agencies if the specialized experience requirements are met. However, they will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade, unless granted a waiver under Paragraph D.

Waiver: When filling a specific vacant position, the senior procurement executive of the selecting agency, at his or her discretion, may waive any or all of the requirements of Paragraphs A and B above if the senior procurement executive certifies that the 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. With respect to each waiver granted under this Paragraph D, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action.

GS-14 Specialized Experience

• Leading and overseeing complex federal acquisition programs and high-value procurements in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR), General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM), and Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracting requirements.
• Developing and implementing acquisition strategies, conducting market research, managing source selections, and performing cost and price analyses for complex and mission-critical acquisitions.
• Negotiating contract terms and conditions, awarding and administering contracts, and ensuring compliance with applicable acquisition laws, regulations, and policies.
• Supervising, mentoring, and developing acquisition professionals, including establishing priorities, managing workload distribution, evaluating performance, and fostering a high-performing work environment.
• Providing expert acquisition guidance and recommendations to senior leadership on procurement strategies, regulatory compliance, risk management, and complex contracting matters.
• Building effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders and implementing process improvements that enhance acquisition efficiency, achieve best-value outcomes, and support organizational mission objectives.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below: For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)

• Demonstrates expert knowledge of Federal acquisition regulations and contracting principles, providing strategic leadership, acquisition oversight, and innovative procurement solutions that support mission success, regulatory compliance, and best-value outcomes.

Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.