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Contract Specialist

Department of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Defense Innovation Unit

Summary

The purpose of this position is to serve as the Agreements Specialist at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). The incumbent is responsible for providing expertise and advice throughout the contract lifecycle, and developing and awarding Other Transactions Authority agreements on behalf of the U.S. government within defined limits. Additionally, the incumbent serves as the business advisor to the technical portfolios and program managers within DIU.



Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/19/2026 to 02/24/2026
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$143,913 to - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
NH 4
Locations
2 vacancies in the following locations:
Mountain View, CA
Pentagon, Arlington, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
DHA-12873879-26-DMB
Control number
858071900

Duties

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This is a Direct Hire Public Notice, under this recruitment, applications will be accepted for each location and/or installation identified in this Public Notice and selections are made for vacancies as they occur. There may or may not be actual/projected vacancies at the time you submit your application.

This Public Notice is to gather applications which may or may not result in a referral or selection.

This position is being filled under Direct Hire Authority (DHA) in accordance with Section DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN PERSONNEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IN 5 U.S.C. ยง

Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.


Incumbents typical work assignments may include the following:

  • Serve as an Agreements Specialist (Contract Specialist) with delegated authority for prototype projects under Title 10 of the United States Code, Section 4022, and procurement for experimental purposes under Title 10 of the United States Code, Section 4023.
  • Responsible for executing agreements obligating funds on behalf of the U.S. government and the Department of Defense within limits defined by the Agreements Officer Warrant.
  • Support the DIU leadership on agreements, contract management issues, major programs and resourcing issues, and agreements policies, laws, and regulations. Advise senior leadership on policies and priorities within the agency and their impact on DIU program operations.
  • Serve as the independent technical authority for the organization. Represent the organization in working groups, steering groups, or other meetings, conferences, seminars, etc.
  • Perform the complete cycle of contract/awarded agreements. Meet established program goals and objectives and plans for achieving annual and multi-year goals and objectives.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
  • Total salary varies depending on location of position
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
  • Must be determined suitable for federal employment
  • Required to participate in the direct deposit program
  • Individuals tentatively selected for drug testing designated positions will be required to submit to urinalysis for illegal drugs prior to appointment and are subjected to random drug testing.
  • This position requires you to submit a Financial Disclosure Form (OGE 450) upon appointment.
  • This critical acquisition position requires certification in the acquisition functional area of Contracting Professional. You will have 60 months to achieve this certification.
  • Selectee must execute, as a condition of appointment, a written agreement to remain in Federal service in the position for at least three years.
  • This position is eligible for Remote Telework Work and Salary will be based on the employee's duty location locality where the duties will be performed.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below.

Basic Education Standards for positions in the 1102 series: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.

And

A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree.



You may qualify at the NH-04 ( GS-14/15) level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the NH-03 (GS-12/13) grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to NH-03 (GS-12/13).

Specialized experience is defined as: Experience performing the complete cycle of contract/awarded agreements; Experience developing acquisition approaches and other acquisition strategy, policy, and planning documents.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.
Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages
. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

Probationary Periods: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing an online application, you may request an alternative application. Please send an email to the following address for information on how to obtain an alternative application: whs.job.application.assistance@mail.mil.

Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. /www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Note: Under this DHA, veteran's preference does not apply.

Your application (resumes and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed in this announcement. Qualified candidates should demonstrate the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics) in their resume:

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