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Posted: March 25, 2026 (2 days ago)

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LEAD CONTRACT SPECIALIST

Defense Information Systems Agency

Department of Defense

Fresh

Location

Salary

$143,913 - $187,093

per year

Closes

March 31, 2026More DOD jobs →

GS-14 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $104,604 - $135,987

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-13. Senior expert or supervisor.

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

Job Description

Summary

This job is for a lead contract specialist at a defense agency, where you'll guide a team in managing government contracts from start to finish, including planning, negotiating deals, and ensuring everything follows federal rules.

It's ideal for someone with extensive experience in federal procurement who enjoys leading others and solving tough problems in a high-stakes environment.

You'll act as the main expert on contracts, helping upper management and handling complex negotiations for defense-related projects.

Key Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
  • At least one year of specialized experience at GS-13 level or equivalent, including negotiating, awarding, and administering federal contracts
  • 52 weeks of time-in-grade at GS-13 or higher for federal status applicants
  • Experience ensuring compliance with federal procurement policies and regulations
  • Leadership skills to serve as team lead, plan work, train staff, and provide performance input
  • Expertise in full cradle-to-grave contracting processes, from acquisition planning to closeout
  • Ability to lead negotiations and solve complex technical contract administration issues

Full Job Description

This position for The Defense Information Systems Agency is at Fort Meade, Maryland . **This Job Opportunity Announcement is using an additional online assessment tool to evaluate applicants.

Please review the HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED, REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, HOW TO APPLY and NEXT STEPS sections below for instructions.

Time in Grade: For entry at the GS-14 level, status applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-13 or higher grade in the Federal Service.

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below.

Basic Education Standards for positions in the 1102 series: Bachelor's degree from an accredited education institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees.

Please reference the Education section for more details.

Qualifying Experience: For the GS-14, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable in difficulty and responsibility to GS-13 if outside the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as: Experience such as negotiating, awarding, and administering federal contracts; OR ensuring federal procurement policies for regulatory compliance.

You may qualify for consideration if meeting time-in grade, specialized experience, education requirement, 90 days after competitive appointment requirement, and all other qualification requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the announcement, unless otherwise indicated on the announcement.

Major Duties:

  • As Team Lead, serves as intermediary between the team and upper management. Articulates assignments, plans subordinate work, trains or arranges training, provides input to the supervisor on performance management and personnel administration.
  • Plans, develops, and establishes the contract strategy for the overall acquisition program.
  • Serves as negotiation Team Leader and spokesperson for the Government during complex contract negotiations.
  • Directs/performs the full range of contract administration; provides direction for solving the extremely complex technical problems associated with the analysis and evaluation of complex administration issues.
  • Serves as technical authority and subject matter expert in all aspects of cradle-to-grave contracting, to include acquisition planning, solicitation, evaluation, award, post-award administration and contract closeout.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 3/25/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/25/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: DISA-12914273-26KEB