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ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST (CONTRACT SPECIALIST PAE - ROBOTIC AND AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS)

Department of the Navy
Commander, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWARSYSCOM)

Summary

This is a public notice flyer to notify interested applicants of anticipated vacancies. Applications will not be accepted through this flyer. Interested applicants must follow the directions in the "How to Apply" section of this flyer to be considered. There may or may not be actual vacancies filled from this flyer. Notice of Result letters will not be sent to applicants who respond to this flyer.

Overview

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Location
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—This position is eligible for ad-hoc/situational telework at the discretion of management.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$143,677 - $197,200 per year

The salary range shown above is capped equivalent to GS-14 Step 10 ($139,684 BASE).

Pay scale & grade
DP 4
Promotion potential
4
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
DE-13035103-26-BCH
Control number
880325600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

U.S Citizens.

Duties

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  • You will serve as the technical expert in all contract related matters and maintains a high level of experience and proficiency in all aspects of Federal and Defense Acquisition regulations.
  • You will provide business advice and collaborate with customers including Competencies, Program Managers, and Program Executive Officers as well as Office of General Counsel, NAVWAR contracting leadership, Defense Contract Management Agency etc.
  • You will complete ownership of all pre-award and post-award functions, using the full spectrum of available FAR and non-FAR contract strategies including a wide range of complex contracting methods from and complex and hybrid contract types.
  • You will lead planning effort to determine the overall approach to meet program objectives through the procurement of prime mission product, and supplies/services with multiple complexities associated with major systems acquisitions.
  • You will independently research, interpret, analyze, and apply Federal, DoD and Department of the Navy guidelines, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and its supplements, DoD Instruction (DoDI) 5000.02.
  • You will actively participate in developing objectives and strategies for the acquisition in terms of the degree of competition and probable price range, and will construct the contractual vehicle, including use of pricing arrangements etc.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a US Citizen.
  • Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
  • Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
  • New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
  • Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Generally, current federal employees applying for APS jobs must serve at least one year at the next lower grade level.
  • You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
  • This position is covered under the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA). Certification in the Functional Area and Tier assigned to the position, along with Continuous Learning (CL) points, are required within established timeframes.
  • You will be required to complete training, obtain, and maintain a government credit card for travel and travel-related purchases.
  • This position may require travel from normal duty station to CONUS and OCONUS and may include remote or isolated sites. You must be able to travel on military and commercial aircraft for extended periods of time.

Qualifications

Your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-13 grade level or pay band DP-03 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Demonstrating experience as a Professional Contracting Officer, working with Contract Specialists, coordinating contracting functions or activities (e.g., contract awards, proposals and solicitations, cost/price analysis, contract performance, negotiation, and administration) for the procurement or acquisition of goods, services, and/or agile software development using FAR and non-FAR contract strategies.

Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1100/contracting-series-1102/

Desired Skills:
- You will provide expert contracting and business advice to support the Navy's Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) initiatives, from requirements definition to the full lifecycle of acquisition programs.
- You will develop and implement innovative acquisition strategies tailored to the needs of RAS programs, enabling the rapid development, prototyping, and deployment of autonomous technologies.
- You will execute a full range of pre-award and post-award contracting functions using a variety of complex contracting methods and hybrid contract types (e.g., Cost-Plus, Firm Fixed-Price, Fixed-Price Incentive, and Other Transaction Authority (OTA).
- You will formulate acquisition approaches for advanced, emerging robotic and autonomous technologies, balancing cost, schedule, and performance.
- You will research, interpret, and apply Federal, DoD, and Navy acquisition regulations and guidance, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and its supplements and non-FAR (other transactions).
- You will monitor industry trends and emerging technologies in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and autonomous systems to support the development of acquisition plans and strategies.
- You will create and maintain acquisition documentation, including acquisition plans, milestone schedules, and risk management strategies tailored to RAS programs.
- You will manage proposal evaluations for complex RAS programs, including cost analysis, price analysis, and technical evaluations, ensuring compliance with regulations and best practices.
- You will perform advanced cost analysis, develop profit/fee objectives using weighted guidelines, and lead negotiations with contractors.
- You will administer contracts for RAS programs, including modifications, funding actions, and scope changes. Ensure contractor performance aligns with technical objectives and program milestones.

Additional Desired Skills:
As a Contracting Officer supporting PAE Robotic and Autonomous Systems, you will play a critical role in utilizing innovative and expedited acquisition strategies to deliver cutting-edge robotic and autonomous technology solutions to government customers. Your responsibilities will include:

  • Acquisition Planning & Strategy:
    • Develop and execute acquisition strategies using streamlined and innovative contracting authorities, including Other Transaction Authority (OTA), Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO), and other flexible procurement methods for rapid prototyping, production, and deployment.
    • Conduct market research to identify commercial technology solutions and ensure acquisition strategies align with mission needs and statutory requirements.
  • Contract Management:
    • Manage the full spectrum of acquisition activities, including pre-award, award, and post-award processes, with a focus on expedited acquisition timelines.
    • Oversee contract modifications, ensure compliance with deliverables, and facilitate contract closeouts.
    • Monitor contractor performance and address performance issues, ensuring alignment with program goals.
  • Negotiation & Collaboration:
    • Lead negotiations with government customers, contractors, and industry partners to achieve fair and reasonable terms while meeting program objectives.
    • Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including engineers, program managers, and legal counsel, to develop Statements of Work (SOWs), Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs), and acquisition documentation.
  • Regulatory Compliance & Expertise:
    • Serve as a subject matter expert on federal acquisition regulations, including FAR, DFARS, and agency-specific supplements, while leveraging non-traditional acquisition strategies such as OTAs and CSOs.
    • Stay informed on acquisition policy updates and innovations, providing guidance to internal teams on streamlined procurement methods.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

Education

A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees.

NOTE: The education requirements listed above apply only to individuals entering DoD GS-1102 positions on or after October 1, 2000. Current civilian personnel in DoD who occupied GS-1102 positions or contracting positions with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold in an Executive Department on or before September 30, 2000 are exempt from meeting this requirement. Current military members who occupied a similar occupational specialty to the GS (or equivalent)-1102 or before September 30, 2000 are also exempt from meeting this requirement.

Additional information

THIS IS A DIRECT HIRE ANNOUNCEMENT. Section 1109 of the National Defense Authorization Act Fiscal Year 2020 Public Law 116-92 amended Section 9905 of title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.) to streamline and simplify certain Department of Defense civilian Direct Hire Authorities to recruit and appoint qualified candidates directly to certain positions in the competitive service in the Department of Defense.

This position is in the Personnel Demonstration Project under authority of Title VII of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978.

The pay schedule and pay band for all Demonstration Project Professional Positions will be DP-1/2/3/4.

If selected, your salary will be set according to the established control points of this position which is Base $107,446 - $139,684 plus locality adjustment.

The salary range shown above represents all of the positions within the pay band, including higher responsibility positions. Based on the responsibilities of this position (DP-4, Control Point), the total adjusted salary may be capped equivalent to GS-14 Step 10 (currently ($139,684 plus locality).

Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may or may not be authorized to eligible selectees.

This position is covered by the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program.

Several vacancies may be filled.

A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.

Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants. Policy information may be found at: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Documents/CivilianJobs/FedCivAnnuitants.pdf.

Veteran's preference does not apply when selecting individuals under this specific hiring authority. However, if you claim veteran's preference, you will be required to submit supporting documentation with your application as described in the Required Documents section below.

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.

In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Resumes are restricted to no more than 2 pages. Illegible/unreadable resumes will not be considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience.

As vacancies occur, the Human Resources Office will review your resume to ensure you meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this flyer. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume, along with your supporting documentation.

If selected, you may be required to provide additional supporting documentation.

If after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be found ineligible/not qualified.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

All qualification requirements must be met before being considered for any vacancies.

Commander, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWARSYSCOM)

The Navy and Marine Corps team offers innovative, exciting and meaningful work linking military and civilian talents to achieve our mission and safeguard our freedoms. Department of the Navy provides competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and extensive professional development and training. From pipefitters to accountants, scientists to engineers, doctors to nurses-the careers and opportunities to make a difference are endless.

Civilian careers-where purpose and patriotism unite!

Agency contact information

Christina Narvaez
Phone
619-221-7267
Email
christina.narvaez@navy.mil
Address
NAVWARSYSCOM
4301 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA 92110
US

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Learn more about what it's like to work at Commander, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWARSYSCOM), what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Pages/Default.aspx

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