Corporate Profile:
Acquisition Professionals (AP) LLC is a trusted strategic partner and solutions-based company that combines years of deep knowledge-based expertise, agile program management, and customized learning solutions, AP provides cradle-to-grave acquisition services and acquisition training; administrative support services; Information Technology Support Services and program and financial management. We leverage technology, tools, and industry best practices through our experienced personnel to create cross-functional results and navigate the complex and high-risk areas for our clients’ projects and programs.

Job Summary:

The Contract Specialist will support the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Office of Acquisitions (OA) in implementing the OA Knowledge Management Project. This initiative seeks to review, refine, and develop acquisition-related templates, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and guidance documents, ensuring alignment with current federal regulations and agency/Institute policies. The Contract Specialist will be responsible for coordinating project milestones, engaging with stakeholders, and delivering comprehensive, compliant documentation that supports the efficiency and effectiveness of NHLBI’s acquisition processes

Responsibilities:

• Project Kickoff and Planning
  • Organize and facilitate the project kickoff meeting with key stakeholders to clarify scope, objectives, timelines, and deliverables.
  • Develop a detailed project plan, including tasks, milestones, responsibilities, and deadlines.
  • Document meeting discussions and decisions, ensuring alignment with project objectives.
• Review and Assessment of Existing SOPs and Templates
  • Examine current acquisition-related documents (e.g., SOPs, templates) for clarity, completeness, relevance, and compliance with regulations and NHLBI/NIH policies.
  • Identify gaps, inconsistencies, and areas for improvement.
  • Compare multiple versions of templates from various NIH Institutes/Centers and incorporate best practices.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Feedback Collection
  • Engage with NHLBI OA leadership, Contracting Officers, Contract Specialists, procurement analysts, customers/program staff, and subject matter experts.
  • Gather insights through interviews, surveys, focus groups, or other methods to understand user needs and pinpoint areas for improvement.
• Refinement and Development of SOPs and Templates
  • Refine existing SOPs and templates based on initial assessments and stakeholder feedback.
  • Develop new templates and guidance documents to fill identified gaps, ensuring documents are user-friendly, comprehensive, and compliant with regulations.
  • Provide annotated drafts highlighting changes made to meet regulatory requirements.
• Review and Revision
  • Incorporate feedback from the OA Operations Support Team, ensuring documents meet objectives for clarity, comprehensiveness, and usability.
  • Produce final publishable versions of all revised and newly created SOPs and templates.
• Guidance Documentation
  • Develop user guides and supporting documentation to accompany newly revised or created SOPs and templates.
  • Offer best practices and instructions on usage, facilitating smooth adoption across the organization.
• Ad Hoc Support
  • Provide on-demand support for additional tasks, including populating an Intranet/SharePoint site or uploading documents to a Teams page, as requested.
• Final Report and Project Closure
  • Prepare a comprehensive final report summarizing the project’s work, challenges, and outcomes.
  • Coordinate a closure meeting, document the discussion, and hand over all final project documentation, templates, and resources.

Education/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Contract Management, Public Administration, or a related field.
• FAC-C (Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting) OR DAWIA (Defense Acquisition Workforce Act) Level 1 Certification.
• Equivalent Federal Contracting Certifications.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: 
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Contract Management, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Contracting Experience:
  • 5–10 years of experience in a contract specialist or contract management role, preferably in a federal government environment.
  • Demonstrated expertise in cradle-to-grave contract management (planning, award, administration, modification, closeout).
• Regulatory and Policy Knowledge:
  • Familiarity with federal acquisition regulations and policies.
  • Proven ability to interpret and ensure compliance with applicable guidelines.
• Certifications: 
  • FAC-C (Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting) OR DAWIA (Defense Acquisition Workforce Act) Level 1 Certification.
  • Equivalent Federal Contracting Certifications.
• Experience Writing Policy:
  • Demonstrated ability to interpret federal regulations and translate them into clear, user-friendly policy documents, SOPs, and template

Corporate Summary:
Acquisition Professionals (AP) LLC is an Economically Disadvantaged, Woman-Owned, 8 (A)  small business. We are located in the Metropark Office Complex in Alexandria, Virginia. We offer a competitive salary and compensation benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, matching 401k, tax free transit subsidy, paid federal government holidays and paid time off. AP is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and are committed to creating an all-inclusive environment for all employees. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind.