Contracting Specialist- Maryland

Responsibilities

Contracting Specialists at NSA both administer and manage contracts. This position is specifically looking for Contracting Specialists whose principal function is supporting the management of contracts post award (Contract Manager), acting as the Primary Contracting Officer Representative (P-COR). This position does not manage people. As a Contracting Specialist/Contract Manager at NSA, responsibilities may include: - Serving as the Primary Contracting Officer Representative (P-COR) who leads and oversees execution responsibilities associated with contract performance and delivery outcomes. CORs are individuals designated and authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer (CO) to perform specific technical and/or administrative functions that are critical to the success of NSA's mission. - Monitoring contractor performance and ensuring services are delivered in accordance with contract terms. - Meeting frequently with vendors and government technical experts to discuss contract cost, schedule, and performance. - Collaborating with technical experts to establish clearly defined contract tasks; validating those tasks are within the contract scope and cost parameters. - Generating cost estimates using historical data and future projections in an effort to build accurate and reliable spend plans. - Serving as part of a Source Selection Team and often times serving as the Source Selection Evaluation Lead. - Presenting status updates on expenditures, delivery timelines, and contractor performance to senior executive leadership. - Partnering with contracting, finance, and mission experts to ensure long-term contracts are properly funded and contract modifications are approved in a timely manner. - Preparing contract supporting documents in advance for award of Contracts and Contract Modifications by the Contracting Officer (CO). - Forecasting requirements for future contracts and meeting with mission to draft pre-solicitation documents. - Reviewing contract invoices and collaborating with vendors to resolve any errors or issues prior to payment authorization. - Identifying opportunities to improve contract performance and reduce contract cost. - Utilizing Microsoft Excel on a daily basis to provide analytic support on assigned contracts. Although not required, preferred attributes for this position include a Degree in Business and a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. Additionally, if using relevant experience as part of the minimum qualifications, preferred relevant experience is in managing or overseeing contracts or procurements. Additionally, this position requires a DAWIA (Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Acct) professional certification in Contracting. A training plan will be put in place to allow the required certification to be achieved within 36 months of employment.

Job Summary

Start a career where you learn to become an acquisition professional supporting the protection of our warfighters around the world, enabling and assisting operations on land, in air, at sea, in space, and within the cyber domain. Contracting Specialists at NSA acquire commercial goods and services as part of a team that handles a wide range of acquisition tasks to effectively manage the total acquisition requirements of an organization, department, or program in support of NSA's mission.

Qualifications

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position. Entry is with a high school diploma or GED plus 4 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree and no experience. A degree in any field is acceptable. Relevant experience must be in business management or contracting (for example, acquisition, procurement, program management, finance, accounting, and logistics) and must also include using email, spreadsheets, and word processing.

Competencies

The ideal candidate demonstrates the following: -Effective Communication -Problem Solving -Interpersonal Skills -Partnering -Customer Service -Accountability -Continual Learning -Resilience