This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO). This office is responsible for providing acquisition management services throughout DHS. This position is in the Acquisition Professional Career Program (APCP). Before applying learn more at www.DHS.gov/APCP Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Duties

Duties: This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO). The primary purpose of this position is to perform developmental and/or recurring assignments in support of-contracting and procurement activities. The position is in the Acquisition Professional Career Program. Before applying learn more at www.DHS.gov/APCP. In this position as a Contract Specialist (Recent Graduate) GS-1102-7, your typical work assignments may include the following under supervision: Serving on a team specializing in acquisition to administer previously negotiated and formally advertise contracts. Assisting with requirements planning and the development and review of statements of work. Preparing acquisition documents and obtain legal, financial, and staff review. Assisting higher-graded staff with the day-to-day administration of acquisition activity. Assuring data in information systems for assigned work is complete, current, and accurate. This is an excepted service appointment under the Pathways Intern Program. After successful completion of the program requirements, the individual may at the agency's discretion be converted to a term of career or career-conditional appointment. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 150 applications have been received, whichever happens first. View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.

Requirements

• U. S. Citizenship Required
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You may be subject to obtain a Suitability Clearance or a Secret Security Clearance, dependent on work location.
• Applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to a drug test to screen for illegal drug use. A final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative drug test result.
• You must be 16 years of age or older to apply.
• Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
• The duration of Recent Graduates appointments in the excepted service is counted as a trial period across the Federal Government.
• The Pathways Program requires the incumbent to submit official or unofficial transcripts with your application and provide official transcripts prior to entrance-on-duty (EOD).
• This position requires the Selectee to sign a Recent Graduates Participant Agreement, which outlines the work schedule, responsibilities, work assignments, and program requirements.
• You will be required to complete at least 40 hours of formal interactive training every year that advances the goals and competencies outlined in your established Individual Development Plan (IDP).
• You may be subject to random drug testing.
• Completion of an OGE 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Form.
• Incumbent must meet position requirements for Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Professional certification Level 4 within 36 months as of entrance on duty.
• To be eligible for this position applicants must meet eligibility education requirements of degree conferral by June 05, 2024. Appointment will NOT be made until degree is conferred (Official Transcripts will be required).
• If selected, eligibility requirements must be held until Entrance on Duty (EOD).
• If selected, with a projected degree conferral date no later than June 05, 2024, the qualifying degree must be conferred and verified before a final job offer will be issued.

Qualifications

ELIGIBILITY FOR PATHWAYS RECENT GRADUATE PROGRAM: To be eligible for this position, you must be a recent graduate with a qualifying bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate program from a qualifying educational institution. You must have graduated within 2 years of the closing date of the announcement, December 15, 2023. You will not be eligible for the Recent Graduate Program if the degree was obtained before December 15, 2021. Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply. NOTE: Educational requirements of degree conferral must be meet by June 5, 2024 before a firm job offer can be sent to the incumbent. Qualifying educational institution means- Any of the following educational institutions or curricula that have been accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of Education: A technical or vocational school; A 2-year or 4-year college or university; A graduate or professional school (e.g., law school, medical school); or A post-secondary homeschool curriculum. In addition to the eligibility requirement above, you must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for the 1102 series: (1) A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts (which supports your response indicating awarded/conferral date) with your application; OR (2) 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. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts (which supports your response indicating completed applicable courses and awarded/conferral date) with your application; OR (3) Exception: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. In addition to the eligibility and IOR above, you may qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess one of the following: (1) Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal government, performing duties such as: Presenting information, composing memoranda and meeting minutes. Drafting contract provisions. Evaluating bid responsiveness, contract responsibility and contractor performance. Performing development assignments or segments of larger procurement actions. OR (2) Successfully completed one full academic year (equivalent to at least 18 semester hours) of graduate-level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as, accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) Note: If Graduate degree is complete, date awarded/conferred must be on the transcript provided; OR (3) A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above that is equal to 100%. This will be calculated using your resume; if you have less than 1 year of specialized experience and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application; if you have lest than 18 semester hours of graduate level education; OR (4) A bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement in one or more of the following fields is required: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. Based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership: Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Grade-point average (GPA.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. After Program completion, Department of Homeland Security Recent Graduates may be converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service. To be eligible for conversion to a permanent or term position, Recent Graduates must: Successfully complete at least 1-year of continuous service in addition to all requirements of the Program. Demonstrate successful job performance. Meet the Office of Personnel Management's qualifications for the position to which the Recent Graduate may be converted. To learn more, please visit: http://www.opm.gov/HiringReform/Pathways/program/graduates/ 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. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Education

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English.

You must submit a copy of your college transcript with awarded/conferral date indicated on the transcript. An unofficial transcript or a list of courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned can be used as a substitute for the official transcript at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

Contacts

• Address Department of Homeland Security Headquarters OCHCO/HRMS/MS #0170 6595 Springfield Center Drive Springfield, VA 20598-0170 US
• Name: Alisha Potts
• Phone: 771-215-6707
• Email: [email protected]