Contract Specialist Intern

Job Description: Contract Specialist Paid Internship

Summary: As a Contract Specialist Intern, you will gain valuable hands-on experience in supporting the federal acquisition process for government contracts. We will assist you in achieving a practical understanding of federal procurement policies, processes, and procedures. You will have the opportunity to work with experienced contract specialists to help in various stages of the contracting lifecycle.  Successful completion of the intern program may result in extensive career opportunities within our company or the federal contracting workforce, a $700B a year effort.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in Proposal and Contract Development: Support the development of contract documentation, including statements of work (SOW), requests for proposals (RFP), requests for quotes (RFQ), and other contractual documents.
• Market Research: Conduct research to identify potential vendors, market trends, and pricing information to inform the contracting process.
• Contract Administration: Support contract administration activities, including monitoring contractor performance, reviewing deliverables, and processing contract modifications as needed.
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), agency-specific policies, and other relevant guidelines throughout the contracting process.
• Documentation and Reporting: Maintain accurate and organized contract files and assist in preparing reports and documentation for internal and external stakeholders. Conduct validation and verification of contract documents,

Required Capabilities:

• Strong Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze complex information, identify critical issues, and make informed recommendations.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail in reviewing contracts, proposals, and other documentation to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Communication Skills: Effective written and verbal communication skills to articulate ideas, negotiate with vendors, and interact professionally with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Teamwork: Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively in a team environment and build positive working relationships with colleagues and external partners.
• Time Management: Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• Adaptability: Willingness to learn and adapt to changing priorities, procedures, and regulations in a dynamic government contracting environment.
• Ethical Conduct: Commitment to upholding high ethical standards, integrity, and confidentiality in all aspects of contract management and procurement activities.

Education and Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a bachelor's or master's degree program with 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 upon course completion.
• Knowledge of federal acquisition regulations (FAR) and procurement principles is preferred but not required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Duration and Location:

• This internship is a 14-month commitment.
• The internship consists of three separate stages:
  • Cornerstone - an initial 5-week period (June – August) consisting of a classroom introduction to government contracting principles and providing the needed skills to participate in Keystone.
  • Keystone - an opportunity for interns to further develop rudimentary contracting skills by working remotely for up to 20 hours per week, and graduates can work for up to 40 hours per week (if electing 40 hours per week, work will be onsite in the Winter Park office). Keystone will apply the skills covered in the Cornerstone and prepare for the Capstone.
  • Capstone – a 12-week period (~June – September) consisting of advanced contract techniques that will result in the candidate having the necessary skills and knowledge to provide entry-level contract specialist support to Government agencies.
  • Upon successful completion, candidates can continue as full-time employees providing direct contract support.
• The position is based in Winter Park, Florida. For the Cornerstone and Capstone periods, candidates must be within commuting distance of Winter Park or have housing available within the area.