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Posted: January 6, 2026 (8 days ago)

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Contract Specialist

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys

Department of Justice

Recent

Salary

$68,315 - $107,447

per year

Closes

January 20, 2026

GS-9 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $51,332 - $66,732

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-8. Master's degree or 2 years graduate study.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job as a Contract Specialist involves handling procurement tasks like reviewing purchase requests, preparing contracts, and managing supplies or services for the U.S.

Attorneys' Offices in Chicago. It's a government role at the GS-9 level that supports the Department of Justice by ensuring fair and efficient buying processes.

A good fit would be someone with a background in business, finance, or law who enjoys detail-oriented work and has experience in purchasing or contract preparation.

Key Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in any field or at least 24 semester hours in areas like accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, or related fields (transcripts required)
  • For GS-9: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7, such as reviewing requisitions, determining procurement methods, purchasing supplies/services, and preparing contract documents
  • For GS-9 alternative: Master's degree or equivalent (e.g., LL.B., J.D.) in a related field, or two years of graduate education leading to such a degree
  • For GS-9 alternative: Combination of graduate education (beyond one year) and relevant experience
  • Strong understanding of procurement policies, contract clauses, specifications, and financial reporting
  • Ability to prepare statements of work, solicitations, and contract modifications
  • U.S. citizenship or nationality required for federal service

Full Job Description

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/.

As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This position is also being announced to All U.S. Citizens and Nationals under 26-ILN-12850075-DE.

To be QUALIFIED for this position, you must meet one of the following basic requirements and the minimum qualifications. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: 1.

A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field. -OR- 2.

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.

**You must submit your transcripts (unofficial or official) to be considered for this position.

Failure to submit your transcripts may result in disqualification for this position.** In addition to meeting one of the basic requirements as described above, applicants MUST also meet the following grade specific qualification requirements below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: GS-09: To be eligible at the GS-09 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience.

Specialized Experience: You must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as reviewing requisitions and determining appropriate method of procurement; purchasing supplies/services/construction as a purchasing agent, preparing contract solicitation and award documentation; preparing contract documents that include specifications, packing and shipping requirements, inspection instruction and contract clauses.

OR Education: Have one of the following types of education: A Master's Degree or equivalent graduate degree such as an LL.B. or J.D.

in a related field (e.g., Accounting, Business, Finance, Law, Contracts, Purchasing, Economics, Industrial Management, Marketing, Quantitative Methods, or Organization & Management); OR 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.

Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

OR Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements.

In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of one full year.

GS-11: To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience.

Specialized Experience: You must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as experience in preparing statements of work or statements of objectives, and other documents necessary prior to a formal solicitation process; preparing a variety of reports concerning the status of funds, expenses, and obligations; drafting final contract documents to include specifications of bids and proposals; interpreting procurement policies and procedures; participating in the preparation of contract modifications, cost analysis, and acquiring services and supplies.

OR Education: Have one of the following types of education: A Ph.D. or equivalent Doctoral Degree.

in a related field (e.g., Accounting, Business, Finance, Law, Contracts, Purchasing, Economics, Industrial Management, Marketing, Quantitative Methods, or Organization & Management); OR 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree.

Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

OR Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements.

Only graduate education in excess of the first two years may be used to meet total qualification requirements.

***Must be able to attain and retain at least a level 1 (one) Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) as a federal contracting professional.

FAC-C has specific training requirements with some courses online as well as classroom courses.

To maintain a FAC-C, contract professionals are required to meet the continuous training requirement.*** Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria.

You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria.

You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application.

Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) -VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce.

To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service.

If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.

Special Employment Consideration - Persons with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non-competitive appointments.

For further information, click on the links provided below .

You must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments Major Duties:

If selected for this position, you will serve as a Contracting Specialist for the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois.

Typical work duties include the following: Providing administrative support in the areas of contracting, purchasing, and budget; Reviewing requisitions and determine appropriate method of procurement; Preparing Statement of Work (SOW); Evaluating proposals and other bidder documents; Prepares contract solicitation and award documents.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/6/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/7/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 26-ILN-12860076-MS