Graduate Contract Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

This vacancy is for a Contract Specialist in the Office of the Secretary within the Department of Commerce.Qualifications:Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-Series
Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.
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.
This position is being filled under the Department Of Commerce (DOC) Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). Under CAPS, positions are classified by career path and pay band.
The ZA-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12 grade levels.
To qualify at the ZA-3, you MUST meet the Basic Requirements AND Specialized Experience as stated below:
Basic Requirements: (You must submit a copy of certificates. Also, you must submit a copy of your transcripts, official or unofficial, to document your education.)
A. 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field; -OR-
B. 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. -OR-
C. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy 1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other 1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position. Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Specialized Experience requirements as noted.
AND
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-03/GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience:

• Managing multiple federal contracting actions concurrently, acquisition planning, and procurement strategies for supplies, services, or research and development requirements.
• Applying acquisition regulations and contracting procedures to evaluate proposals, analyze costs, and administer contracts.
• Providing acquisitions guidance, coordinating procurement activities, and communicating contracting recommendations to stakeholders.
• Working independently serving as a Contract Specialist or warranted Contracting Officer with minimal supervisory oversight within applicable warrant authority.

-OR-
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Three (3) full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. To qualify for 1102 positions on the basis of graduate education it must be 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 education and experience as described above. Only graduate-level education in excess of two full years is qualifying for combination of education and experience. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.Education:There is a positive education requirement for this position, please refer to the above qualification section.
**NOTE** - Failure to provide transcripts and certifications will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.
NOTE:
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.Employment Type: OTHER