Time-in-Grade: Current or former federal employees who have held a GS position in the preceding 52 weeks, must meet the time in grade requirement. Applicant must have served 52 weeks as a GS-13 or higher grade in Federal Service. To minimally qualify for this position, Lead Contract Specialist, you must meet all three requirements stated below. 1. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (SPL) Selective Placement Factor - Federal Acquisition Certification (Mandatory): Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting - FAC-C (Professional) or higher This position requires the applicant to possess a current FAC-C (Professional) or an equivalent DAWIA Contracting Certification at the time of application. This certification is essential to perform the duties of the position, which include providing expert acquisition policy guidance, leading complex procurement actions, conducting compliance reviews, and advising senior leadership on contracting matters. Note: Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) is a law that requires standardized training, certification, and career development for DoD acquisition professionals. IMPORTANT NOTE: You must upload a copy of your certification prior to announcement closing or you will be considered ineligible. 2. BASIC REQUIREMENTS 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 of experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that 4-years of experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, GS-13, 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, 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. 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 1 and 2 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 4, 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. 3. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT To minimally qualify for the GS-1102-14 Lead Contract Specialist position, applicants must demonstrate one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience must demonstrate all of the following: Demonstrating project management techniques for developing, implementing, and maintaining systems and overseeing contracts. Creating and monitoring contract management plans, policies, and procedures. Providing direction and technical oversight to ensure successful implementation of federal contracts/task orders and contractor performance. Developing negotiation strategies. Performing cost/price analysis. Manage projects that require collaboration across multiple organizations, program offices, and sections and preparing briefings to leadership on crucial progress and issues with a solutions-oriented approach. Provide guidance to lower graded contract specialists and CORs concerning contracting policies and procedures. Demonstrate ability to lead a group of employees. 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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.