Contract Specialist

Full Job Description

Protect your homeland and defend your culture. Join USCIS, America's frontline defense against illegal foreign infiltration and fraud.

As a Contract Specialist, you will plan, award, and administer high quality contracts that deliver the best value products and services to USCIS on a timely basis while maintaining the public's trust and fulfilling public policy objectives.

The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 02/02/2026.

Time in Grade does not apply to Delegated Examining Announcements, any reference to Time in Grade in the questionnaire will not apply to the rating and ranking of applicants.

This announcement is issued under the Direct Hire Authority to recruit for positions for which the Department of Homeland Security, U.S.

Citizenship and Immigration Services, has a critical hiring need.

Basic Requirements: All applicants must meet the following basic requirements: (Must be supported in Transcripts from an accredited institution, Resume and/or Applicable Certificate) 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field.

OR 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.

GS-07: You qualify at the GS-07 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position.

You must have experience performing the following duties: Researching data to making recommendations or provide information to a broad audience.

Assisting with planning, awarding, and administering contracts in the procurement of supplies, equipment, and/or services.

Holding responsibility of various ancillary duties to include but not limited to processing of Interagency Agreements and Government Purchase Card Requests.

OR You may substitute successful completion of one year of fulltime graduate education for the experience required at the GS-07 level.

This education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university and demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work of the position.

Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education.

If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours GS-09: You qualify at the GS-09 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position.

You must have experience performing the following duties: Applying acquisition, contract, and procurement regulations to prepare solicitations containing appropriate provisions, clauses, terms, and conditions with supervisory review.

Assisting in evaluating responses to solicitations for price reasonableness and compliance with terms and conditions for more senior Contract Specialists.

OR You may substitute a Master's degree or two (2) full years of graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or a J.D. or L.L.B.

degree for experience required at the GS-09 grade level.

Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours.

GS-11: You qualify at the GS-11 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position.

You must have experience performing the following duties: Applying acquisition, contract, and procurement regulations to prepare solicitations containing appropriate provisions, clauses, terms, and conditions.

Evaluating responses to solicitations for price reasonableness and compliance with terms and conditions.

Coordinating contract/financial assistance actions with appropriate program/project managers to ensure contract information and documentation is accurate, complete, and timely.

OR You may substitute a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent degree) or three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or L.L.M.

if related for experience at the GS-11 grade level or such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate study. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours.

GS-12: You qualify at the GS-12 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position.

You must have experience performing the following duties: Planning, negotiating and performing a full range of cradle to grave contracting such as commercial services, supplies, information technology, construction, A&E, and inter-agency agreements of various contract types.

Evaluating responses to solicitations for price reasonableness, compliance with terms and conditions, and adequacy of competition.

Applying acquisition, contract, and procurement regulations to prepare solicitations containing appropriate provisions, clauses, terms, and conditions that communicate the requirements.

Administering contracts to include contract scope determinations, contract modifications, supplemental agreements, justifications, approval reviews/fair opportunity evaluations, claims disputes, or contract terminations.

Please read the following important information to ensure you submit everything we need to consider your application: It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit your responses and appropriate documentation prior to 02/02/2026.

Your resume will be used to determine your qualifications for the position advertised in this announcement.

Therefore, your resume must highlight your most relevant, significant experience related to the requirements found in the qualification section of this announcement, as well as any applicable education.

Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.

To help ensure your resume remains clear and easy to read, we recommend using margins of at least 0.8 inches and a font size of at least 11 point.

Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience.

Your application will be rated and ranked based on your responses to the online questions.

Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information: Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job) Duties (be specific in describing your duties) Employer's name and address Supervisor name and phone number Start and end dates including month, day and year (e.g.

June 18 2007 to April 05 2008) Start and end dates for each grade/pay level if you've held a federal position.

Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week) Salary Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide the above information may result in a finding of ineligible.

Note: Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Federal Experience: If you are using current or prior federal experience as a basis for qualifying for this position, the grade levels and length of employment (mm/dd/year) at each grade level must be listed in your work history.

This information will be further validated if selected for this position. Major Duties:

• Organizational Location: This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, within the Office of Contracting and are assigned based on the need of the agency.
• The responsibilities described are for the full performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope performed with less independence, and limited complexity.
• Developing and implementing acquisition strategy for the acquisition of goods and services of significant importance to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• Plan, negotiate, lead, award, and administer simple and complex procurements inclusive of all types under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
• Administer contracts by assuring compliance with the terms and conditions of contracts, including resolution of problems concerning the obligations of the parties.
• Collaborating with the program offices to plan and develop long and short range acquisition plans, strategies and realistic approaches to meet U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services mission.