Military

Contract Specialist

Missile Defense Agency ยท Department of Defense
๐Ÿ“ Redstone Arsenal, Alabama NH-3 $93,216 - $158,322/yr
Posted: May 20, 2026 Deadline: Jun 1, 2026 (Closes in 11 days)

About This Position

This position is part of the Department of War (DoW), Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The incumbent will be responsible for coordinating and supporting a spectrum of acquisitions for both cost-reimbursement, fixed-price contracting, and other transaction authorities. Salary Ranges are the following unless statutory/regulatory rates prevail. For the Redstone Arsenal, AL Location: $93,216 to $144,102 For the Dahlgren Location: $102,415 to $158,322

Qualifications

You may qualify at the NH-03 Broadband Level, if you fulfill the following qualifications: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the NH-02/GS-11 grade level in the Federal service as listed below and must meet 3 of the 5 specialized experience listed below to be qualified: Reviews requisition package for adequacy, consistency, and compliance with administrative, regulatory, and procedural requirements. Develops solicitations, evaluates responses, and makes award recommendations. Analyzes price trends and cost factors applicable to the review and evaluation of contractor proposals.

Applies Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) guidelines or other policy guidelines to support various types of contracting requirements. Works in a team environment, including cross-collaboration among peers and across multiple stakeholders. 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.

In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 1102, series as listed below: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/500066p.PDF?ver=8uLQi55jR6NBmspg1dirzg%3d%3d Bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees.

OR

Served as a contracting officer with authority to award or administer contracts in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold on or before September 30, 2000. This exception does not apply to new hires into an 1102 position.

OR

Served in an 1102 position or as a Service member in a similar occupational specialty on or before September 30, 2000. This exception does not apply to new hires into an 1102 position.

OR

Is an enlisted member of the Contingency Contracting Force (CCF). This exemption only applies to CCF members in their current or future CCF positions. The baccalaureate degree exemption does not apply to current CCF members seeking employment within DoD as an 1102. This exception does not apply to new hires into an 1102 position.

NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Major Duties

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Acq Demo Business and Technical Management to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. As a Contract Specialist at the NH-1102-3 broadband level, some of your typical work assignments may include: Serves as a contract specialist and member of a negotiating team responsible for planning, coordinating, and negotiating a variety of procurements pertaining to research, development, test and evaluation requirements essential to the Missile Defense Agency's mission. Coordinates, analyzes, and negotiates acquisitions of both cost reimbursement and fixed-price contracting in such areas as prototype development of sophisticated research and test equipment; weapons systems; software systems development; and development of new and unique materials.

Conducts acquisition planning and, in coordination with the technical program office, determines the contractual strategy to be used in the acquisition of a specific program element. Prepares required determinations and findings. Prepares and assembles solicitation documents.

Processes, analyzes, evaluates, performs cost analysis, provides input for the competitive range determinations or makes the competitive range determination if serving as a contracting officer, and develops a pre-negotiation position for proposals. Negotiates individual contracts to obtain services for the Government at a fair and reasonable cost within acceptable time frames. Serves as a point of contact for advising and assisting the MDA Deputies and Directors in areas not requiring contracting officer authorization, such as, coordination of future procurement requirements; preparation of required procurement

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

How You Will Be Evaluated

We will review your resume and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified below, required for this position.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy.

Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements. Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume.

Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. For information on entitlement see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx Military Spouse Preference: If you are entitled to military spouse preference, in order to receive this preference you must choose the spousal eligibility in your application package referencing MSP Military Spouse Preference.

Your preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. If you are claiming military spouse preference and qualified for the position, your name will be placed below preference eligible veteran candidates and above non-preference candidates on a list sent to the hiring manager for employment consideration. To claim Military Spouse Preference (MSP) please complete the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist, save the document and attach it to your application package.

Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the " Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp)" eligibility. If you are claiming Military Spouse eligibility and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager. Information and required documentation for claiming Military Spouse eligibility may be found at the General Applicant Information and Definitions link below.

Additional Information

Other Notes: DAWIA (Back to Basics) Certification: NON-CAP: Position requires DoD Acquisition Contracting, Foundational (Contracting Professional) certification. Certification prior to hiring is not essential but must be accomplished within 36 months after entry into this position. Selectee must also achieve 80 hours of Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) every 2-years.

Click here for more details and Resources. RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf.

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov)) This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date).

The selectee's inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment.

You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application.

Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents.

You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.

You will be taken to an online application.

Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.

NOTE: Resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.

You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://www.usajobs.gov, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application.

Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To preview the questionnaire, please go to https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12961443 Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc.).

Your complete application includes your COMPLETE resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further. The following documents are REQUIRED 1.

Your resume: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages showing all relevant experience.

Your resume must address your qualifications for the position, and it may not exceed two (2) pages.

Your 2-page (or less) resume must be in PDF format, with no smaller than a 0.5" margin and no smaller than a 10-point font. If you submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit and/or does not meet the margin or font limitations stated herein, you will immediately be deemed ineligible for this position and will be removed from further consideration. Must include the work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed.

The resume and required supporting documentation should provide the minimum qualifications and relevant experience for the announced position. If multiple resumes are submitted by an applicant, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed for qualifications and referred for selection consideration, if eligible. The resume must not be more than 5MB and should be saved and uploaded as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages.

We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a font like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans.

Additional guidance on writing a federal resume can be found at: USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job? The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.

  1. Transcripts: This position has a degree or education requirement so you are required to submit a copy of your transcript. We accept unofficial transcripts, as long as they contain your name, the name of the school, the date and degree that was awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned.
  2. SF50 It is recommended that all current and former civilian Federal employees submit a copy of your MOST RECENT SF50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your tenure, grade and step, salary, and type of position occupied (i.e., Excepted or Competitive); or similar Notification of Personnel Action documentation, i.e., Transcript of Service, Form 1150, etc. PLEASE REVIEW THE BELOW LINK FOR OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS needed for proof of eligibility: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DODCustomersRequiredSupportingDocumentation.pdf?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Contract Specialist position at Missile Defense Agency?
The salary range for this position is $93,216 - $158,322/yr. This is a NH-3 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Contract Specialist job located?
This position is located in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Jun 1, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Secret clearance is required.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.