Principal Specialist, Contracts

City/Country Location Details Bethesda, MD

Employment Status Full-Time Regular

Job Type Corporate

Job Title : Principal Specialist, Contracts

Grades: P7

Department : Contracts and Grants

Supervisor: Director, Contracts, Regional Contracts

Function of the Position:

The incumbent serves as contracts and compliance advisor to the Senior Portfolio Directors, Chief of Parties, and project management teams. She/He also serves as primary Contracts point of contact for several projects within the assigned portfolios. The incumbent administers various types of contracts/task orders from inception to closeout.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Contract Management

Assists Directors in providing overall leadership and high-level contractual expertise, and supports project management teams in the administration of a portfolio of contracts. Specific tasks include:

• Serve as the primary point of contact and official representative of DAI to USAID and other clients on contractual matters.

• Responsible for timely resolution of internal and external issues related to contract administration and compliance issues.

• At project start-up carry out a thorough review of the contract, explain terms and conditions to project management teams, and review and approve the contract approvals matrix.

• Review and advise on draft documents and requests that are submitted to the Contracting Officer (CO) to include, but not limited to the following: International travel approvals, salary justifications, notification and approval of project local compensation plans, Third Country National/Cooperating Country National (TCN/CCN) Waivers, source/national waivers for restricted commodities, CO’s approval for restricted commodities, notification/approval of key personnel changes, purchase of non-expendable items that require prior CO approval, non-expendable disposition requests, annual inventory reports, limitation of funds/cost notification submissions, VAT report submissions at CO’s request, budgets/cost proposals for realignments/add-ons, specific requests for separate maintenance allowance, severance CCN leave payouts, allowances, and other documents for which the CO has the authority.

• Review and participate in finalizing responses for the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) and respond to any inquiries/questions from the CO’s office

• Conduct complex client, subcontractor, and grantee negotiations with minimum intervention from Supervisor.

• Perform necessary due diligence to ensure cost/price reasonablenessfor procurement/subcontract actions andcompliance with applicable U.S. Government regulations and DAI’s policies.

• Issue subcontracts and task orders, grants, and amendments, address and/or support resolution of other subcontract- and grant-related issues, and provide post award administration support as needed

• Assist the project management teams on budget realignments/modifications to ensure compliance with existing terms and conditions, DAI policies, and client’s cost principles

• Provide mediation between technical, contractual, finance, and management personnel of the project in alignment with the project’s objectives.

• Perform necessary due diligence to ensure cost/price reasonableness for procurement/subcontract actions and compliance with applicable U.S. Government regulations and DAI’s policies.

· Train and mentor field and project management teams on DAI’s procurement and grant policies so that they can independently review and execute procurement and grant transactions in a compliant manner.

· Carry out other contract administration actions per the approved Contracts Administration Matrix.

· Review and approve any expat and TCN Independent Contractor Agreements (ICAs).

· Draft contract close-out related documents such as requests for quick closeout, excess fund review forms, etc.

Department Resource Development and Training

• Responsible for developing contracts templates, and resource materials for use by mid-level members of the Contracts and Subcontracts teams and by the field and project management teams.

• Provide input on the development and delivery of contracts training materials related to the Contracts transition plan.

• Provide on the job training to project management teams (field and home office) on the newly transitioned contractual tasks and responsibilities.

• Perform an active role with cross departmental teams, participating in corporate initiatives and proposing innovative solutions to problems of medium complexity.

Business Development

• Provide overall guidance to proposal teams on complex contractual issues including:

• Review and analyze USAID solicitations to understand the terms and conditions and convey any unique or risky contract terms to proposal teams.

• Provide guidance to recruiters, proposal teams and Subcontract Negotiators on allowances and salary offers.

• Review or prepare contractual clarification questions in response to requests for proposals.

• Provide guidance and support to Subcontract Negotiators in the selection of subcontract types, effective negotiations with subcontractors, analyzing budgets, effective negotiation of subcontract terms and conditions, and responding to BAFOs.

Additional responsibilities may be assigned as business needs evolve.

Minimum Qualifications

P7 : Minimum of 7 years of experience* and a college degree. Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

• Working knowledge of CPFF, T&M, FP, and/or IDIQ contracts; FAR, AIDAR, ADS, and 2 CFR 200/700.

• Contract administration experience with USAID contracts, COAG, and GUCs.

• Experience participating in contract creation and/or administration, preferably in an international environment. Demonstrated experience negotiating various types of subcontracts.

• Self-directed with strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks/competing deadlines simultaneously.

• Ability to communicate policies and interpret regulations to provide clear guidance.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally with internal clients and external candidates, and tailor communication style to diverse audiences.

• Able to build and maintain excellent working relationships with staff at all levels of the organization and external clients from diverse backgrounds.

• Able and willing to travel to any country where DAI currently operates or may wish to operate barring times when DAI Global Security has deemed travel unsafe.

• Able and willing to adjust work schedule, if needed, to support teams located in different time zones/countries.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a culturally diverse environment.

• Authorized to work in the United States.

• *Based in one of the following U.S. locations where DAI is registered: District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Self-motivated, entrepreneurial, results-oriented, and customer service-minded.

· Experience utilizing technology to introduce innovation to improve effectiveness and efficiencies.

· Experience working with USAID OTI and CDC contracts.

*The following areas qualify as relevant work experience: contracts administration/management, negotiation, pricing, subcontracts and procurement. Project management or operations experience with an emphasis on contractual compliance is also relevant.

Compensation & Benefits:

For employees working the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $118,614 to $145,863. Salary for part-time employees will be prorated based on actual hours worked. Actual offers will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, qualifications, relevant education, experience, skills, seniority, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Eligible U.S. based employees, will be able to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, plus a 401(k)-retirement plan with a company match. Additionally, employees will be eligible for company-paid annual leave (vacation & holidays), sick leave, parental leave; as well as short- and long-term disability coverage. Detailed information will be provided at the time a formal offer is extended.

For employees working outside of the United States, compensation and benefits will vary based on location.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting discrimination in all forms, nurturing respect for our interpersonal relationships, and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

DAI requires COVID-19 vaccinations subject to accommodation required by law.

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