Contract Specialist (Recent Graduate)

The FMC is the federal agency responsible for regulating the U.S. international ocean transportation system for the benefit of U.S. exporters, importers, and the U.S. consumer. The FMC is dedicated to ensuring a competitive and dependable international ocean transportation system that supports the U.S. economy and safeguards the public from unfair or deceptive practices.Join the FMC and be part of a mission-driven organization during an important and exciting time in the maritime industry. As a Contract Specialist (Recent Graduate), you will perform the following duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position: Processes requisitions and assists in determining the appropriate method of procurement for well-defined, precedented requirements. Works with the team lead or senior specialist to develop procurement plans by reviewing procurement history, market conditions, and specifications or technical data packages. Assists in preparing and issuing solicitation documents, selecting standard provisions and clauses, and applying established evaluation criteria in solicitations. Research manuals, catalogs, and other reference sources, or holds discussions with manufacturers' representatives or requisitioning offices, to help identify and resolve discrepancies in the description of work, referring unresolved or unusual issues to the supervisor or a senior specialist. Applies simplified acquisition procedures under FAR Part 13 and as directed, considers other methods such as those in FAR Part 8 (Required Sources of Supplies and Services) or FAR Part 12 (Acquisition of Commercial Items). This is an appointment under the FMC Recent Graduates program. The program duration is one year. Upon successful completion of the program and at the agency's discretion, the appointee may be converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service. To be eligible for a Recent Graduate appointment, you must meet requirement A or B. A. Completed all requirements for a diploma, associate, bachelor, master, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or career or technical education program (including registered Apprenticeship Programs, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Job Corps, Climate Corps) within the previous two years; OR B. Was released or discharged from active duty within the previous two years, where the applicant is a veteran who, due to a military service obligation, was precluded from applying for a recent graduate position during any portion of the two-year eligibility period following completion of his/her degree or certificate requirements, provided that not more than six years have transpired since the applicant completed the requirements for a degree or certification. You must submit an academic transcript from your academic institution showing the date that you most recently completed the academic requirements described above. In addition to meeting the requirements for the Recent Graduates program, you must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement: Basic requirement Contract Specialist (1102 series) positions also require one of the following: a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field; completion of at least 24 semester hours in accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management; or Federal employees in Contracting Series (1102) positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Transcripts or SF-50s must be submitted; AND Grade-specific requirements In addition to the Basic Requirement, applicants must also meet Minimum Qualifications for the grade level for which they are applying. GS-9 Applicants may qualify at the GS-9 level based on one of the following: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 level that demonstrates at least three of the following: Analyzing contract materials, technical specifications, or financial statements to support acquisition-related documentation. Reviewing contract proposals for pricing, technical capability, or adherence to specifications to inform award decisions. Preparing reports, summaries, memoranda, correspondence, instructions, or background research to support procurement or operational decisions. Responding to inquiries to provide business or administrative recommendations; OR Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or a master's, LL.B., or J.D. in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management; OR A combination of qualifying education and experience. If you have some qualifying education and some qualifying experience, but don't fully meet either requirement on its own, you may be able to combine them. Only graduate education in excess of one year (18 semester hours or equivalent) can be used in this calculation. Experience must be reflected in your resume, and transcripts are required. Divide your qualifying graduate semester hours beyond the first 18 by 18. That gives you your education percentage. Divide your months of qualifying experience by 12. That gives you your experience percentage. Add the two together. If the total is 100% or more, you qualify. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9. Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. 2-year trial period may be required. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service, see http://www.sss.gov/. Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. May be required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on. Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation. FMC participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. This position is in the Excepted Service. There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents: Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights, for those who undergo an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history record check for personnel vetting, which includes Rap Back, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement • FBI (this is the same statement used when your fingerprints are submitted as part of your background investigation), and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov), (applicable to those who hold a sensitive position or have eligibility for access to classified information)" Transcripts (official or unofficial) are required at the time of application. Transcripts must show the date the degree was conferred/awarded. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.