Contract Specialist

This position is in the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering (OUSW(R&E), specifically in the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO). Major duties: This is a Direct Hire Public Notice, under this recruitment, applications will be accepted for each location and/or installation identified in this Public Notice and selections are made for vacancies as they occur. There may or may not be actual/projected vacancies at the time you submit your application. This Public Notice is to gather applications which may or may not result in a referral or selection. This position is being filled under Direct Hire Authority (DHA) in accordance with Section II.B.4.b and Pub. L. 111-383. DHA for AcqDemo Business and Technical Management Professional Career Path (NH) Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration. Incumbents typical work assignments may include the following: Plans, develops, and executes comprehensive contracting and acquisition strategies for complex, high-priority programs and systems across a high-tempo operational environment. Serves under or works toward maintaining an Agreements Officer warrant to lead non-traditional procurement pathways, specifically negotiating, awarding, and administering Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) and prototype-to-production instruments. Conducts rigorous compliance and adequacy reviews of complex requirements packages, statements of objectives, and procurement documentation, mitigating operational and acquisition risks. As the Contracting Officer Representative(COR), leads portfolio management and cradle-to-grave acquisition oversight for enterprise-wide AI and data programs. Directly oversees contractor performance, cost, schedule, and technical milestones, focusing on systems integration, architectural scalability, and interoperability across multi-stakeholder defense ecosystems. Evaluates, refines, and endorses program acquisition strategies, procurement baselines, and charter documentation to ensure strict adherence to Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO), Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), and federal regulatory standards.