CONTRACT SPECIALIST (JOB #578) WITH SECURITY CLEARANCE

Summary DAS Services is seeking an experienced Contract Specialist to support a government customer in APG, MD. Responsibilities * Contract Management: Assist in drafting, reviewing, and finalizing contracts with suppliers, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and legal regulations. Monitor contract performance and resolve any issues or disputes that may arise during the contract lifecycle. * Purchase Order Processing: Generate and manage purchase orders for the procurement of goods and services, ensuring accuracy in pricing, quantities, and delivery schedules. Coordinate with relevant departments to track order status and expedite deliveries when necessary. * Supplier Relationship Management: Maintain positive relationships with suppliers and vendors, serving as the primary point of contact for inquiries, negotiations, and issue resolution. Foster collaboration and communication to ensure alignment with organizational goals and objectives. * Inventory Management: Collaborate with inventory control teams to manage stock levels and inventory replenishment processes. Monitor inventory levels, identify shortages or excesses, and coordinate with suppliers to optimize inventory management practices. * Cost Analysis and Budgeting: Analyze procurement data and financial reports to identify cost-saving opportunities, forecast future procurement needs, and contribute to budget planning and forecasting processes. * Continuous Improvement: Participate in process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency within the procurement function. Identify areas for optimization and implement best practices to streamline workflows and reduce costs. * Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with internal stakeholders across departments, such as finance, operations, and legal, to ensure alignment of procurement activities with organizational objectives and priorities. Required Qualifications & Experience * Active Secret Clearance * Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline: Accounting, Business, Finance, Law, Contracts, Purchasing, Economics, Industrial Management, Marketing, Quantitative Methods, Organization and Management * 3 years of government experience OR 3 years government experience + 4 additional years of related experience, in leu of a degree Desired Skills * Proven ability to critically think. Ability to review reports, check validity, reliability, and relevance...explaining steps and rationale for positions and data provided. * Former Army Contracting Command (ACC) experience * Experience with IDIQ, Options, FFP, FPI, Cost plus extra type of contracts. * Experienced in pre-award and/or post-award functions for a variety of specialized equipment, services - sustainment knowledge is a plus * Development of requirement documentation leading to the successful award of a contract. * Ability to track multiple acquisition packages at one time. * Understanding of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR/DFAR/AFAR) or unique regulatory requirements pertinent to diverse procurements. * Understanding of Market Research and market conditions and available sources as well as competition, historical costs, reports, cost breakdowns, or other evaluation criteria and selection procedures * Understanding of Source Selection Procedures * Understanding of contractual Security Requirements (DD254) * Understanding of and ability to track contract deliverables. Performing Post-award contract functions such as monitoring contractor performance, tracking deliveries, tracking assets and contract data requirements. * Understanding the technical requirements and first article testing requirements. * Independence in planning and carrying out assignments, selecting the approach or methodology to be used, resolving most of the conflicts that arise, and coordinating the work with others, as necessary. * Government Purchase Card transactions. * Experience writing Justification & Approval (J&As), acquisition plans, and other memorandum for records / determination and findings. Beneficial Systems Knowledge: * Procurement Automated Data and Document System (PADDS) * Standard Procurement System (PD2)