Ascension LLC is seeking an experienced Senior Contract Specialist to support the United States Air Force 18th Contracting Squadron (18 CONS) by performing acquisition lifecycle support services that enable mission-critical procurement activities.

This role is critical to helping the Government manage an increasing contracting workload by providing expert support across the pre-award and post-award phases of federal acquisitions, including market research, solicitation development, proposal evaluation support, price/cost analysis, contract administration, and contract closeout.

The ideal candidate will be a mid-to-senior level federal acquisition professional with experience comparable to a GS-12 Contract Specialist (OPM 1102 series) who understands the complexities of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Department of Defense acquisition policies, and Air Force contracting procedures.

Successful candidates will be detail-oriented professionals who thrive in mission-driven environments and possess the ability to independently manage multiple acquisition packages while supporting Contracting Officers and Government stakeholders.

This position is well suited for acquisition professionals who want to apply their contracting expertise to support mission operations within the U.S. Air Force acquisition environment.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Senior Contract Specialist provides expert-level acquisition support services that enable the 18th Contracting Squadron to procure supplies, services, and construction requirements necessary to support the mission of the 18th Wing.

The contractor will support the Government by performing functions throughout the acquisition lifecycle while ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations, Air Force policy, and agency procedures. Contractor personnel will support but not perform inherently governmental functions, such as obligating funds or executing contractual documents.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong analytical skills, sound acquisition judgment, and the ability to navigate complex contracting requirements while maintaining regulatory compliance.

The individual must be capable of working in a remote, distributed team environment, communicating effectively with contracting officers, program managers, technical evaluators, and other acquisition stakeholders.

The Senior Contract Specialist will use a variety of federal acquisition tools, contract writing systems, and data repositories commonly used in DoD contracting environments. This includes acquisition planning documentation, market research tools, contract writing systems, and evaluation support tools necessary to complete procurement actions efficiently and accurately.

Position Day-to-Day Activities

The Senior Contract Specialist will perform acquisition lifecycle support tasks that may include:

• Conduct market research to identify potential vendors, contract vehicles, and procurement strategies.
• Develop acquisition plans, procurement strategies, and supporting acquisition documentation.
• Draft and prepare solicitation packages including RFQs, RFPs, and IFBs.
• Develop evaluation criteria and support the creation of source selection plans.
• Coordinate with program managers and technical stakeholders to refine requirements documentation.
• Support proposal and quotation evaluations in accordance with FAR and source selection procedures.
• Perform cost and price analysis for proposed contracts and modifications.
• Prepare contract award documentation and contract files for Government review.
• Support the administration of contracts to ensure compliance with terms and conditions.
• Monitor contractor performance, deliverables, and milestones.
• Draft and process contract modifications as required.
• Review and process contractor invoices for accuracy and payment approval workflows.
• Assist the Government with the resolution of claims, disputes, and contract performance issues.
• Prepare contract closeout documentation and ensure proper file documentation.
• Maintain acquisition documentation and contract files in accordance with FAR requirements.
• Provide advisory support to Contracting Officers and Contracting Officer Representatives.
• Participate in meetings, acquisition reviews, and contracting strategy discussions.