Contract Specialist (Supervisory Contract Specialist)

About the opportunity

This position serves as a Supervisory Contract Specialist within the Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System, Department of Justice. The incumbent is charged with managerial responsibility for contracting, procurement, and property management, establishing local procedures to ensure compliance with applicable regulations. Major duties include reviewing procurement submissions for adequacy, providing technical support to staff, implementing new procedures, and offering legal interpretation, counseling, training, and guidance in all areas of contract and procurement. In addition to administrative and managerial responsibilities, all correctional institution employees are charged with maintaining the security of the institution, and correctional responsibilities precede all others on a regular and recurring basis.

Salary and benefits

• Remuneration ranging from $89,508 to $116,362 per annum
• A 5% retention incentive will be paid to selectee(s) who meet the criteria for retention incentives
• Paid professional experience

Who can apply?

• Must meet basic education requirements: a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field, OR at least 24 semester hours in a combination of fields such as accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management
• Must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level, equipped with qualifications to successfully perform duties such as preparing initial agency positions on protests, handling formally advertised procurements, negotiating settlements, and assisting in contract administration
• U.S. citizenship is required
• Must meet a maximum entry age of 36 for original appointment to a position in a Bureau of Prisons institution, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3307
• Must meet time-in-grade requirements if applicable

Required documents

• Resume (limited to 2 pages) including name, contact information, relevant experience (start/end dates in MM/YYYY format, and number of hours worked per week), and cover letter (optional)
• College transcript including School Name, Student Name, Degree, and Date Awarded (if applicable); official transcripts required if selected
• SF-50 Form: current or former Federal employees not employed by the Bureau of Prisons must submit an unredacted copy showing competitive service appointment, tenure group, and salary, and verifying highest grade held for time-in-grade purposes
• Proof of CTAP eligibility, if applicable
• Copy of latest yearly performance appraisal/evaluation
• List of any awards received in the last 5 years
• Professional Certification/License, if applicable

When to apply

• Date posted: 2026-08-28
• Application close date: 2026-09-04 at 11:59 PM (ET)

How to apply

• Read the entire announcement and all instructions before beginning an application
• Click the Apply Online button on USAJOBS
• Answer the questions presented in the application questionnaire and attach all necessary supporting documentation
• Submit the complete application package prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date (2026-09-04)
• If required to complete USA Hire Assessments, access the system using your unique assessment access link provided after submission and complete the assessments as instructed

Additional information

• Initial appointment to a supervisory/managerial position requires a one-year probationary period.
• The incumbent is subject to geographic relocation to meet the needs of the agency.
• Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a urinalysis, physical, background investigation, National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit checks.
• All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm.
• Successful completion of the 'Introduction to Correctional Techniques' three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.