Senior Contract Specialist, SSC/PK

Do not email applications. To submit your resume for this Direct Hire opportunity click here. For additional information on other USSF direct hire opportunities visit the Air Force Civilian Careers Space Force website and follow USSF on LinkedIn. The United States Space Force (USSF) at Los Angeles Air Force Base is searching for a Senior Contract Specialist to support SSC/PKB (NH-1102-04, GS-14/15 Equivalent). Description: The United States Space Force (USSF), Space Systems Command (SSC) Contracting Directorate (PK) is searching for a senior expert to fill a Nonsupervisory Principal Contracting Officer position. Located at Los Angeles AFB in El Segundo, California, this role demands high-level acquisition execution across a dual-pronged portfolio. While the incumbent will serve as a premier expert for executing Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and international agreements, they will also execute high-visibility, traditional U.S. domestic (non-FMS) major system acquisitions. We are casting a wide net to hire top-tier contracting professionals with elite backgrounds in either international FMS or traditional major defense acquisition programs (MDAP). Position Responsibilities: - Acquisition Leadership: Plans, organizes, and directs comprehensive contracting and acquisition activities for the Branch, ensuring all operations strictly comply with the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul, Revolutionary DFARS, and other statutory or regulatory requirements. - Non-Traditional Acquisition Pathways e.g., Middle Tier Acquisition/Rapid Prototyping/Rapid Fielding): Directs the strategic application of both traditional contracts and non-traditional acquisition methods, aggressively leveraging Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) to accelerate the prototyping and fielding of innovative space technologies at rapid speed. - Strategic Integration: Develops branch goals and objectives that seamlessly integrate organizational requirements with SSC regulations, establishing governing policies and procedures for AMTI and related SBST acquisitions. - Executive Representation: Routinely represents the organization at the PAE level, maintaining strategic and resilient relationships with Interagency and Industry partners to actualize acquisition strategies and deliver decision-quality procurement products and deliverables to senior leadership. - Resource & Business Optimization: Implements and directs advanced business rules and contracting best practices to ensure the highly effective and efficient utilization of directorate resources in agile manner. Ideal Candidate: - Regulatory Mastery: Mastery knowledge of DoW, Space Systems Command, and federal contracting standards and policies (R-FAR/R-DFARS) for major system acquisitions, with an in-depth understanding of DoW, Service, and Agency interrelationships. This significant collaboration, mentoring, and guiding will be necessary across functions and contracting in order to deliver high impact contracting support. - Ability to collaborate at an incredibly high level and execution tempo and build team chemistry and cohesion resulting in seamless combined execution and optimum mission results. - Mission Awareness: Comprehensive understanding of large, complex organizations that provide component, space operations, command and control (C2) support, mission support, and base infrastructure critical to combatant command operations within the homeland and abroad. - The ideal candidate will lead high-visibility and dollar value programs for the SBST PAE by drafting and executing flexible agreements and associated contractual instruments. - Lifecycle Expertise: Mastery knowledge of pre-award and post-award contracting program goals, including the sequencing and timing of key acquisition milestones, evaluating procurement planning effectiveness, and developing complex contract amendments to ensure continuous space operations. - Leadership & Personnel Management: Proven ability to analyze, plan, organize, and direct branch functions. Demonstrated skill in mentoring, motivating, and appraising a staff of contracting professionals to meet program objectives within available resources, while resolving conflicts harmoniously through tactful interpersonal relations. - Supervisory, Warrant, & OTA Experience: Previous supervisory experience and tenure as a warranted Contracting Officer at Space Systems Command, the NRO, or a similar major DoW acquisition organization or industry is highly desired. Extensive experience managing Other Transaction Authority (OTA) portfolios, or previously holding an Agreements Officer authority, is highly preferred. **Value of Position (VOP): If your current basic salary is within the band, but above the stated VOP, your basic salary will not be reduced if you are selected for the position.