The purpose of this position is to serve as a Supervisory Contract Specialist for the US Department of Veterans Affairs with responsibility for performing professional work involving the procurement of supplies and services using procedures outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulations, VA Acquisition Regulations, Public Laws, and Agency policy. This is for a Temporary Promotion not to exceed 120 days which can be further extended without competition up to one year.

Duties

Supervises a group of employees performing work at the GS-5 through GS-12/13. Some of the staff could be located virtually. Exercises supervisory authorities and responsibilities involving work assignment and review, as well as the administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised. Provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the team. Distributes workload within the team and ensures the work assignments of employees in the team are carried out. Reviews the work of team members at various stages of completion, to assure compliance with Federal and VA Acquisition Regulations, Veterans Administration (VA)/Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Policies, VA/VHA Directives, VA/VHA Information Letters, VA/VHA Handbooks, and Network Contracting Office (NCO) standard operating procedures (SOP)s. Tracks work assigned to the team from receipt of procurement requests through contract close-out. Incumbent provides status reports to the Director of Contracting (DoC).Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff, which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Observes workers' performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary. Effects minor disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area. Reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible Schedules: Available Position Description Title/PD#: Supervisory Contract Specialist Branch Chief/PD40009A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Retention Incentive: Authorized:10% after 90 days of fully successful (or better) performance and supervisor approval for GS-11 and above Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Remote: This may be offered as a remote position. (Remote refers to work performed on full-time basis anywhere other than a VA facility or using VA-leased space.) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. (Virtual refers to work performed on full-time basis using VA-leased space or at a VA facility other than the facility that hired the employee.) **For this position, telework (up to 80% per pay period) or remote work (100% off-site) may be authorized upon supervisor approval if within the local commuting distance of the advertised duty station. This is for a Temporary Promotion not to exceed 120 days which can be further extended without competition up to one year with the VHA Regional Procurement Office East, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 4 located: Altoona, Pennsylvania, Aspinwall, Pennsylvania, Butler, Pennsylvania, Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Erie, Pennsylvania, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware. Vacancies can be filled at any of the duty locations listed, dependent upon space availability and management approval.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements GS-13: 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, 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 A and B 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 D, 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. Specialized Experience GS-13 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Performs professional work involving the procurement of supplies and services using procedures outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulations, VA Acquisition Regulations, Public Laws, and Agency policy. Interpret and apply contracting rules, regulations, laws, and policies. Review quotes and determine responsiveness and responsibility of low offeror in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. Independently, and in concert with others, review program processes and develop strategies to improve program services. Prepares price negotiation memorandum, outlining in writing the details of negotiations with contractors in competitive and noncompetitive negotiations. Trains subordinates in methods and techniques of performing contract actions. Provides or arranges for specific administrative or technical training necessary for accomplishment of individual and team tasks. Prepares individual development plans and conducts performance evaluations for subordinate staff. Exercises supervisory authorities and responsibilities involving work assignment and review, as well as the administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised. Provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the team. Distributes workload within the team and ensures the work assignments of employees in the team are carried out. Distributes workload within the team and ensures the work assignments of employees in the team are carried out. Reviews the work of team members at various stages of completion, to assure compliance with Federal and VA Acquisition Regulations, VA/VHA Policies, VA/ VHA Directives, VA/VHA Information Letters, VA/VHA Handbooks, Service Area Office (SAO), and Network Contracting Activity (NCA) SOPs. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-13. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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; religions; 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.

Education

Transcripts: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts must depict the name of the college to determine accreditation, and your name must also be displayed on the transcripts. If qualifying based on a degree, or for positions requiring a degree, the transcript must show the date the degree was conferred.

If selected, you must provide official transcripts. Transcripts should state degree conferred, and have a date. Undergraduate transcripts are required to meet the basic requirement for this position; please submit all transcripts. Copies of Official Transcripts are accepted and are the best way to ensure your education is interpreted correctly in accordance with OPM qualification standards, but unofficial transcripts are accepted if they contain all the required information. If credit for a course is being questioned by the HR Professional performing qualifications, it is your responsibility to provide supporting descriptive information (course syllabus/descriptions) in your application package.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Contacts

• Address VHA Service Center - 2 6100 Oak Tree Blvd Independence, OH 44131 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]