Contract Specialist Jobs

The Company:

Censeo Consulting Group is a top Washington D.C. based management consulting firm dedicated to helping public sector and non-profit clients build operational excellence, deliver better outcomes, and lower cost. We take a personalized approach to strategic consulting to solve our clients’ most complex problems and build operational excellence that transforms their organizations, allowing them to better deliver on their public and social missions.

At Censeo, our award-winning culture means you’ll join a tight-knit community of 75 brilliant and passionate colleagues. We are advocates for a better functioning public sector, and we’re also good friends who know the names of each other’s dogs. Our philosophy is horizontal, not hierarchical, and our open-door policy encourages a culture of entrepreneurship at all levels. We share successes, make decisions together, and foster an environment for those with initiative to lead. Our colleagues bring their own unique personalities to work every day and use them to help shape our growing firm in ways that reach far beyond client projects.

The Position:

We are looking for passionate, driven candidates to help solve our client’s complex problems and guide them towards operational success. As a Contract Specialist, you will work closely with our federal client at the Department of State to provide innovative business strategies, agile procurement solutions, and work with the team to develop and implement the agency procurement policy/processes and provide consulting support to the acquisition team.

• Performs on a team as an individual contributor with a proactive approach to project management
• Serves as a liaison between the program and acquisition offices on all matters of complex, high-dollar procurements
• Ensures on-time completion of task deliverables and activities such as developing SOWs/PWSs, IGCEs, market research, RFPs, project and operational plans, and process improvements
• Delivers expert advisory support to government senior executives, program managers, CORs, and division managers regarding the acquisition lifecycle
• Provides acquisition lifecycle planning and execution support
• Demonstrates knowledge of major acquisition lifecycle environments for strategy development and associated best practices
• Applies knowledge of federal procurement principles, policies, procedures, and standards to implement programmatic requirements

The Ideal Candidate:

At Censeo, we are looking for unique candidates whose passion and enthusiasm will help shape Censeo’s client insights and workplace culture. Our staff have a wide range of backgrounds, areas of expertise, personality types, and favorite breakfast foods. Our client and cultural successes are rooted in our team’s innovation, creative problem solving, and collaboration. The unique perspective that you bring and the way you tackle problems are much more important to us than what’s printed on your diploma. We believe a successful Contract Specialist will have:

• Strong understanding of various acquisition approaches and ability to formulate analyses and create comprehensive documentation
• Excellent verbal communication and writing skills
• Direct experience with federal acquisition processes and activities including development of acquisition documents such as statements of work, market research, and acquisition plans
• Possess knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), agency-specific regulations, and be knowledgeable of acquisition streamlining initiatives and reforms
• 3+ years of federal government acquisition management activities
• (Preferred) Background as a COR and/or Contract Specialist
• (Preferred) Professional certification (CPCM, CFCM, and/or DAWIA/FAC-C III)
• Ability to add value in semi-unstructured roles, working with diverse groups of stakeholders
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite of tools, to include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and SharePoint
• Bachelor’s degree required
• Strong organization skills and attention to detail
• (Preferred) Experience at Department of State
• Secret clearance required

The Location:

• Censeo Consulting Group is based in Washington D.C., a fantastic city for working professionals. We work in a hybrid setting with flexibility to work from home and work in our office conveniently located in the heart of downtown, just a few blocks away from the White House. And with many of our clients also based in D.C., we have the luxury of leaving for a meeting and being back in the office in time for post-work happy hours, team dinners, and game nights.

The Fine Print:

• Essential Physical Functions
• This is an exempt, full-time position
• Light Carrying: Physically transporting items weighing less than 15 pounds from one location to another
• Sitting: Particularly for sustained periods of time
• Expected travel 0-10%; may increase based on business needs

Censeo offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including paid vacation and sick leave, flexible and remote work opportunities, and tuition and training reimbursement. More information on our benefits and perks can be found at: https://www.censeoconsulting.com/about/join-us/.

Censeo is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal opportunity to all applicants and employees in full compliance with all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, gender, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other class protected by applicable state or federal law.

Join Our Award-Winning Culture!

Our passion wins awards. But don’t just take it from us…

• 2023 Vault #23 Best Consulting Firm for Overall Diversity
• 2020 Vault #21 Best Boutique Consulting Firm
• 2019 Ivy Exec #7 Best Boutique Consulting Firm
• 2015 Washington Business Journal’s Philanthropy
• 2023 Management Consulted #3 Best Boutique Firms in Washington DC
• 2018 Consulting Magazine Best Small Firms to Work For 
• 2023 Vault #9 Best Consulting Firm for Work/Life Balance
• 2022 Vault #41 Best Overall Consulting Firm to Work For
• 2016 Forbes Best Management Consulting Firms in America
• 2017 Vault #12 Best Boutique Consulting Firm