Contract Specialist

About this job

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM) provide the infrastructure and support that enables the U.S. Department of Labor to perform its mission. OASAM provides leadership and support for information technology, human resources management, procurement, business operations, safety and health, space management, civil rights, emergency management, security, budget, and performance.

Duties

There are 3 vacancies available. These positions may be filled in any of the following locations: Washington DC; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; New York City, NY; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Philadelphia, PA; San Francisco, CA. The advertised salary reflects the pay range for the above locations. Upon selection, the salary will be set in accordance with the selectee's assigned duty location. The selectee(s) will report to their assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and be eligible for telework as determined by agency policy. This is not a remote position. The positions are located in the Department of Labor's (DOL), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM), Office of the Senior Procurement Executive (OSPE). OSPE is responsible for the management and direction of DOL's acquisition system and mission; providing effective, ethical, and prudent business advice; and robust acquisition policies and services. The GS-14 Contract Specialist is responsible for contracting actions within contracting divisions, actively engaged in all phases and activities related to the procurement process. Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Exercises contracting officer authority for all contract actions and serves as principal business advisor to agencies on procurement methods for all supplies and services, ensuring compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and the RFO/FAR. Manages and directs procurement operations to meet programmatic goals, Departmental policy, and legal requirements, exercising sound business acumen and signatory authority with accountability for the quality of all contractual documents. Serves as technical expert on all aspects of procurement and contract actions, including development of work statements, critical analysis of technical/business proposals, and complex pricing arrangements and incentive structures (e.g., cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive-fee). Reviews and analyzes contract terms, conditions, and legal precedent to determine liability, monetary relief, and consistency with government contracting case law, ensuring decisions are defensible on appeal. Develops and implements procurement policies, procedures, and guidelines, incorporating GSA, OMB, and GAO decisions and directives to ensure proper contract execution Department-wide. Manages procurement workloads and resolves complex problems, exercising practical business judgment, political awareness, and calculated risk-taking/innovation; monitors performance and adjusts operations to meet emergencies or changing requirements. Represents the organization and advises customers on contractual matters with Federal agencies and private industry, including acquisition roles, responsibilities, and strategy development to meet mission needs. Communicates procurement information clearly and effectively to internal and external audiences on acquisition processes and procedures. Ensures contractual documents are accurate, compliant with applicable regulations, grammatically correct, and logically organized.

Qualifications

You must meet the Basic Education Requirements (the individual occupation requirement, IOR) AND the Specialized Experience to qualify for the Contract Specialist position, as described below. Please read these requirements carefully. 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 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 requirement: In addition to the basic requirement, to qualify for this position you must have at least 52 week of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 which is the next lower grade level of the normal line of progression of this position in the Federal government. Specialized experience is experience that is related to the work of this position and has provided you with the competencies required for successful job performance. Examples of qualifying specialized experience for this GS-14 Contract Specialist includes the following (applicants must meet all to be considered qualified): Experience managing, assigning, reviewing, and awarding complex contracts to achieve agency goals Experience exercising sound judgment to resolve complex contract-related matters, and Experience collaborating effectively and maintaining cooperative relationships with the program office and contractor community

Education

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Evaluations

Your evaluation will be based on how well you meet the qualifications outlined in this vacancy announcement, as demonstrated through your resume and supporting documentation. You may preview application questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13112007 USA Hire You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, and volunteer, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.). INFORMATION FOR CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. CTAP eligible(s) will be considered well-qualified if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation. 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 the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

How to apply

Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. You must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. Application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the vacancy closing date. Save your information before the 30 minute system timeout! For help: USAJOBS Help Center. STEP 1-Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents. For each employment period, include start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week) otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete. In alignment with the Presidential Memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, applicants may only submit a resume limited to two (2) pages. Only the résumé uploaded under the 'Resume" document type in USAJOBS will be reviewed. If the resume submitted exceeds two (2) pages, the application will be deemed ineligible for further consideration. STEP 2-Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS). Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the job title and then click the Apply button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Proceed through the steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. In the final step, once you have certified your application, click the Continue to agency site button. STEP 3-Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL). On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click Apply to this vacancy. Continue through the progress steps at the top of the DOL page. The 2nd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 3rd progress step Documents is where you submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy. STEP 4-On the Review and Submit step, verify each section of your application is complete and correct. In order to submit your application, you must have a check mark next to each section listed. If there is an X, return to the appropriate section and follow the prompts. When it is ready for submission, certify your application and click the Submit Application button. STEP 5-Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm Eastern Time of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then Update Application. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about 2 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. For more detailed information click here to view the U.S. Department of Labor, How to Apply website.

Applications are handled only on the official announcement. This page is a readable copy of the public announcement data — the official version controls if anything differs.

Required documents

The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service). These requirements must be met within 30 days of 11/18/2026 the announcement closing date. The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY): AGENCY EMPLOYEES: Please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility. *WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step. Resumes are required- provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of work hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses. Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. *In most cases, CTAP applicants must submit this document - see the CTAP link below for more details. The following documents are required (if applicable): Displaced Employee Placement Documents: Only required if requesting priority consideration under Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligibility. Click/Review this CTAP link to confirm what must be submitted as proof that the requirement has been met. Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) - You MUST submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. BA/BS, MA, JD, Ph.D., etc.). If specific coursework is required to qualify, you must supply an unofficial transcript from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit. You may upload your unofficial transcript(s) as one document with a maximum size limit of 5 MB. FAC-C or DAWIA Certificate: Applicants MUST hold a FAC-C (Professional) or DAWIA Contracting certificate. A copy of the certificate must be submitted. In addition, a copy of your completed CLP hours as an indication that your certificate is current is requested. NOTE: The OFFICIAL Transcript(s) MUST BE RECEIVED, if you are selected, and prior to receiving the firm offer with a start date. Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience but may be submitted. Reference the Education Section for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education. Do not upload password-protected documents. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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.

What to expect next

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days of the issuance date of the certificate. For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to USAJOBS Help Guide. USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications. You can check your application status in the TAS by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS). If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency's point of contact on the job announcement. To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Other information

The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. If the duty location is outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit. Non-Supervisory Financial Disclosure: This position is subject to the confidential financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521). Therefore, if selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest(s) and your prospective position with DOL. This information will be required annually. For more information, click Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy. Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy. The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information. The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions. All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.

Frequently asked questions

More jobs at Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management

• Human Resources Specialist (Information Systems)

  🏛 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management📍 Washington, District of Columbia💰 $143,913–$187,093 per yearPosted Nov 13, 20266 days left
  Announcement MS-27-CHI-OHR-13098280-MBM · closes Nov 20, 2026 · Official announcement on USAJobs ↗

• Data and Policy Manager

  🏛 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management📍 Location Negotiable After Selection💰 $133,007–$197,200 per yearPosted Nov 4, 20262 days left
  Announcement MS-27-CHI-OFO-13107397-SAH · closes Nov 16, 2026 · Official announcement on USAJobs ↗

All Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management jobs →

More Contracting jobs

• Executive Director Regional Procurement Office West

  🏛 Executive Director, Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction📍 Multiple Locations💰 $151,661–$228,000 per yearPosted Nov 13, 202613 days left
  Announcement VA-SES-13093763-26-DG · closes Nov 27, 2026 · Official announcement on USAJobs ↗

• SUPERVISORY CONTRACT SPECIALIST

  🏛 U.S. Marine Corps📍 Albany Marine Corps Logistics Base, Georgia💰 $125,776–$163,514 per yearPosted Nov 13, 20263 days left
  Announcement ST-13115889-27-TLL · closes Nov 17, 2026 · Official announcement on USAJobs ↗

• SUPERVISORY CONTRACT SPECIALIST

  🏛 Naval Supply Systems Command📍 Kauai Island, Hawaii💰 $131,310–$170,708 per yearPosted Nov 13, 20262 days left
  Announcement ST-13115357-27-PMB · closes Nov 16, 2026 · Official announcement on USAJobs ↗

• CONTRACT SPECIALIST

  🏛 Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command📍 Cape Canaveral, Florida💰 $107,228–$139,398 per yearPosted Nov 13, 20265 days left
  Announcement ST-13111183-27-TS · closes Nov 19, 2026 · Official announcement on USAJobs ↗

• Executive Director, Acquisition Policy and Oversight

  🏛 DHS Headquarters📍 Springfield, Virginia💰 $151,661–$228,000 per yearPosted Nov 13, 202613 days left
  Announcement ST-13084827-ES-27-VH · closes Nov 27, 2026 · Official announcement on USAJobs ↗

All Contracting jobs →