Total 640 job vacancies in Lancaster/Barrow-in-Furness, LA9 7RG

The major duties of the Contracting Specialist position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provides procurement direction, guidance and requirement/policy interpretation on Federal, Department and Bureau regulations. Serves as lead contracting member on project teams; analyzes difficult issues and identifies alternative or new courses of action.
• Oversees acquisition planning and pre-award activities and requirements; serves as source selection authority. Awards and obligates contracts.
• Prepares government decisions in response to contractor requests for equitable adjustments and claims.
• Oversees contract administration; negotiates contract changes, modifications and terminations.
• Ensures contractor compliance throughout contract performance period.

• Plan, coordinate, and perform systems design and development of a major IT functional area, which may include providing direction to lower-level staff and/or contract personnel.
• Plan, schedule, estimate, monitor project progress and associated development and operational costs using project management and resource estimating techniques.
• Analyze issues and define the enterprise architectural application development standards to be used in new and modernized IT applications.
• Make recommendations on how new application development concepts, techniques and tools could be applied to modernize IT Systems.

Note: This is a DETAIL/TEMPORARY appointment (not to exceed 120 days). Supervisor approval in writing is required before starting if selected and you will return to you position at the conclusion of the detail/temporary assignment.

This announcement will close on 11/18/2024. The initial application review cut-off for this job announcement is 50 applications. The first 50 applications received will be considered first. Applications received after the initial cut-off number (50 applications) may not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management.

Duties

• Incumbent serves as a member of the VACO General Post Fund Review Committee which reviews and approves the distribution of available resources to the field facilities.
• Provides program and technical support to Central Office, regional offices and medical center directors to maintain a high level of program activity.
• Supervises research and special projects directed towards utilizing information and data from the system to maintain and expand the program.
• Develops, coordinates and evaluates the training program required to operate the program successfully.
• Identifies the training needs and develops appropriate training experiences; and determines to what extent training improves performance.
• Develops guidelines and resource material to support institutionalizing methods in which VA can receive and act on VSO resolutions and other Issues in an expeditious and organized fashion.
• Serves as the principal representative, staff advisor and points of contact with Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) for the Under Secretary for Health.
• Develops, administers and coordinates a variety of organizational and operational issues that impact the work of the Voluntary Service Office.
• Develops guidelines and resource material to support institutionalizing methods in which VA can receive and act on VSO resolutions and other Issues in an expeditious and organized fashion.
• Serves as a member of the VA Central Office (VACO) General Post Fund Review Committee, which reviews and approves the distribution of available resources to the field facilities.
• Provides program and technical support to VACO, regional offices and medical center directors to maintain a high level of program activity.
• Other duties as assigned.

As a HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST (COMPENSATION/R&P) at the GS-0201-14 some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Providing staff-level technical advisory service and the development of policy interpretation/guidance in the assigned HR functional areas within Compensation and Recruitment and Placement.
• Analyzing legislation, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulatory changes, court decisions, and other external developments for impact on DoD HR operations to develop detailed guidance to assure timely and effective implementation within DoD.
• Providing policy interpretation and guidance to DoD Components and agencies to resolve complex problems and provide solutions which ensure no adverse impact on the organizational mission.
• Serving as a subject-matter expert in advising DoD management and the field establishment on varied and complex issues such as pay administration, premium pay, hours of work, leave, special salary rates, travel reimbursement, qualifications, hiring authorities, employment incentives, and other pay/employment related issues.
• Conducting special projects in response to critical issues or subjects of intense interest by the DoD Components/agencies or top DCPAS management.
• Preparing briefings, information papers, action memos, and other documentation outlining the results of studies/analyses of specific issues options and recommendations for action.
• Developing and updating training materials related to the assigned areas or pertaining to special interest or emerging issues for HR staff throughout DoD and presents training as needed.

• As a Grants Management Specialist, some of your duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:
• Serve as one of the principal experts on grants compliance and oversight issues as they relate to DHHS, PHS, and NIH policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Analyze cases of noncompliance and studies of special problems or issues of interest to NIH or the Department.
• Prepare briefings and reports on the findings of the analyses and provide recommendations to management in the development and/or modification of policies.
• Initiate DGCO audit oversight activities for OPERA, OER, and NIH on a variety of complex grants management issues.
• Work closely with NIH and grantee institutions to assist with audit follow-up activities and to resolve compliance issues including the development and evaluation of corrective action plans.
• Assist other Federal agencies by analyzing data, identifying compliance issues, interpreting policy requirements, and recommending appropriate courses of action.
• Work closely with NIH and grantee institutions to assist with audit follow-up activities and to resolve compliance issues including the development and evaluation of corrective action plans.
• Actively participate in staff development and training of NIH grants management staff and assist the Director, DGP in establishing and maintaining a vigorous program of education and career development.
• Provide grants compliance leadership and advice for functions used primarily by the Grants Management and Program business areas.

• Performs pre-award and post-award functions involving highly specialized procurements of significant importance to the agency. Requirements typically involve systems or programs such as those involving research, development and production of extensive, specialized equipment or systems; state-of-the-art Information technology products, equipment and/or services impacting customers throughout the nation and/or world; or similarly complex commodities and/or services integral to national defense or security.
• Performs procurement planning. Identifies those large-scale systems, components, equipment, and services to be acquired by contract. Develops procurement objectives and strategies in terms of competition and price range and constructs the contractual vehicle including use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting policy, set-aside policies and similar considerations. Prepares and maintains current acquisition plans, appropriate milestone charts, and related schedules.
• Serves as an advisor to program officials in procurement planning meetings, identifying the procurement objectives and methodologies to be used and assists in the preparation of statements of work and acquisition plans. Prepares determinations and findings and solicitation documents. Performs detailed analyses of all elements of cost in contractor proposals and makes competitive range determinations. Conducts pre-proposal conferences with prospective contractors to arrive at a clear understanding of what is required under the proposed contract. Obtains appropriate data from business and technical officials. Issues necessary modifications to clarify questions concerning such topics as specification changes, language ambiguities or clarification of contract clauses. As required by the lack of meaningful cost and price information, incumbent explores new or innovative contracting approaches to arrive at an equitable contractual arrangement.
• Plans a comprehensive negotiation strategy, coordinates strategy with others technical experts involved and leads negotiations which are conducted with contractors to develop the contract prices and terms. Awards the contract. Performs contract administration, including incremental funding, preparation of rate and cost adjustments, redirection of effort, coordination of time extensions, incorporation of change orders, issuance of stop work orders, issuance of cure notices or show cause letters, monitoring of Government property reporting, approval of progress payments, final payment and contract close out. Terminates contracts for the convenience of the Government or default by the contractor.

• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Provides expert advice for all pre-award and post-award functions and is involved with the planning and development of purchase and financial assistance programs and procedures.
• Determines both financial and technical responsibility of potential new vendors and assists those vendors through the process to become an approved vendor.
• Reviews and analyzes relevant production and price data and, where applicable, makes recommendations concerning the need for surplus removal purchase programs.
• Responsible for reviewing announcements, invitations to bid, requests for information, requests for proposals, and related contractual documents in the administration of contracts.
• Reviews, analyzes, and makes recommendations concerning various factors affecting ongoing purchase and other financial assistance operations.
• Works closely with minority business firms, small businesses, the Small Business Administration and the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.
• Recommends purchase and financial assistance programs relative to the full range of agricultural commodities.
• Examines Instrument and Notices of Assignment, invoices, claims, and other requests for payment for commodities provided to the Government.
• Develops procedures and overall contracting strategies to effectively accomplish unique acquisition programs including making independent decisions on complex problems.

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-13. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

As an Information Technology Specialist (INFOSEC), you will:

• Conduct risk assessment programs to identify areas of potential vulnerability in operating systems used throughout the organization.
• Prioritize and schedule areas to be evaluated and develop assessment criteria.
• Analyze findings and develop long-range plans for security systems that minimize risks, mitigate vulnerabilities, prevent security incidents, and insure systems reliability.
• Develop, recommend, and implement approved security contingency plans, incident response plans, and disaster recovery procedures.
  

This is a Bargaining Unit position.
The initial application review cut-off for this job announcement is 50 applications. The first 50 applications received will be considered first. Applications received after the initial cut-off number (50 applications) may not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management. If management requests additional certificates, applicants will continue to be reviewed in groups of 50 in the order they applied.

• Significant knowledge in the pay and leave entitlements of USC code Title 5 and Title 38 (physicians and nurses) which covers: pay systems; salary and wages, pay administration; recruitment, relocation, and retention incentive; student loan repayments; leave administration; and work schedules.
• Maintain expert knowledge of processing of DCPS, RSD/HR Smart reports to perform quality control checks and ensure team is performing quality control checks timely and accurately.
• The employee also is a technical authority with responsibility for these types of actions:

• Provides expertise in recommending, initiating, developing and implementing contracting policies strategies, procedures, guidance and control for personnel Army-wide.
• Develops contracting policy and guidance for the Department of Army (DA) concerning all contracting functions.
• Provides expertise in the area of utilizing or referencing Government procurement regulations, statutes, policies, provisions and clauses.
• Provides expertise in regulations and policies for awarding and administering services contracts.

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Work includes designing, developing, operating, or inspecting accounting systems; examining, analyzing, and interpreting accounting data, records and reports.
• Plans and executes modifications to these types of activities and programs, accounting systems, accounting program operations; and the management, control, and flow of accounting system input documents and source data. May also plan and execute changes to the content and nature of financial reports and application of computer technology to accounting functions.
• Provide for synchronization of proprietary, cost, and budgetary accounting records for each of the appropriations, funds, and programs operated at the Medical Center. This includes balancing of subsidiary records with control accounts, adjustment of accounting records to ensure inclusion into the proper accounting period.
• Analyze, supervise, and direct the recording of all transactions in the general ledger, allotment ledger, and operating cost ledger to provide a complete accounting on an accrual basis for assets, liabilities, operating, interoffice, and budgeting accounts. This includes final responsibility for classifying entries.
• Prepares or supervises the preparation of a multiplicity of fiscal reports and studies involving analysis, interpretation, and summary of information into a meaningful final form for VA Headquarters, VISN, and local management officials.
• Accounting transactions at the VA Medical Center are largely recorded through subsidiary feeder systems and then transmitted to the system of record. The incumbent is required to maintain precise controls over all computer input and output. This data is produced by means of high-speed communication software programs that are constantly changing and being upgraded.
• The Chief of Accounting is responsible for data processing involving the complete spectrum of accounting reporting. The incumbent coordinates the implementation of new systems and packages; ensures the continuation of all accounting computer
  system operations; trains users both inside and outside Financial Management Service; informs managers of needs; and troubleshoots problems.
• The incumbent performs all duties and completes assignments in compliance with Federal Appropriations Law so that Facility, VISN, and VACO performance measures and financial indicators are met. Incumbent coordinates the administration of all accounting programs to provide effective controls of appropriated funds to prevent violation of the Anti-Deficiency Act.
• Incumbent will assume responsibility for full supervision of the operations and administrative sections. Supervises the
  management/administration staff.
• Recruits and hires subordinate staff members in line with merit staffing procedures and equal employment opportunity guidelines.
• Completing performance appraisals; and the completion of competency-based orientation checklists for all supervised employees.
• Completes disciplinary actions, recognition of outstanding performance, sick and annual leave administration.
• Assigns work to staff and provides technical and policy direction to their efforts .
• Reviews completed work of the staff and provides feedback to encourage top performance to enhance an atmosphere of team.
• Plans training and development with subordinate employees to assure they acquire and maintain both technical competencies in their fields and cross training in related fields.
• Evaluates the work performance of subordinate staff members and recommends appropriate awards to enhance effective performance or takes action to deal with inadequate performance, through counseling, training, coaching and other means.

• Provide technical and supervisory direction to a team of human resources supervisors, specialists, and assistants that accomplish work that involves position classification, and providing position management advisory services.
• Provide senior level advice and consultation in the area of program improvement by conducting policy review to evaluate the effectiveness of current policies and practices.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures for internal management and execution of classification.
• Advise on the accepted principles and rules of judgment in analyzing contentious and complex individual position descriptions and organizational structures.
• Advise management on organizational changes and how those changes impact the organization and grade structure.
• Serve as the senior lead on a variety of classification issues including: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), reviewing draft classification standards, competitive level descriptions, and various DHS/USCIS initiatives.

• Serves as a Contract Specialist for pre-award and post-award functions, including acquisition planning, price/cost analysis, negotiation, administration, coordinating, and controlling the full range of contracting functions.
• Analyzes proposals and negotiate terms and conditions of contracts and prepares Price Negotiation Memorandums (PNMs) in order to make fair and reasonable price determinations.
• Prepares Price Negotiation Memorandums (PNMs) in order to make fair and reasonable price determinations.
• Advises the Contracting Officer and other Government personnel on the contractor’s compliance with contract requirements and recommends alternatives available for effecting corrective actions.
• Serves as lead negotiator during negotiations of contract modifications.
• Performs contract management monitoring a group of contracts during the post-award contract phase of the procurement cycle to assure timely receipt of all contractual data specified.
• Performs procurement planning and in coordination with the technical office and develops the contractual strategy to be used in the procurement of a specific contract/contract program.
• Serves as Contract representative on the Product Delivery Team providing advice to team members on all aspects of contracting throughout the acquisition process.
• Attends conferences and exhibits or initiates meetings with industry associations, Small Business Administration, and others for the purpose of expanding competition.

Data Software Engineering and Security

• Serves as an expert data engineer and consultant, managing and directing multiple highly complex and innovative data engineering and information security projects and initiatives.
• Leverages data, programming, data visualization, and advanced analytic tools, skills, and techniques to support accomplishment of the organizational mission and facilitate the program’s adoption of data-driven information security, cybersecurity, and risk management approaches.
• Utilizes integrated development environment software for data engineering and visualization (e.g., R Studio, Visual Studio Code, Tableau, MicroStrategy), general purpose programming languages for statistical and data analysis (e.g., R, Python, Java, Scala), data structures, algorithms, and SQL (e.g., SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL).
• Engineers data automations and processes (e.g., building, testing, and deploying code) using programming languages and other tools to minimize human error and improve data security, reliability, efficiency, and quality for program/customer agency missions, goals, and future planning.
• Uses relevant programming language(s) as well as its packages or libraries for various applications to organize, manipulate, reuse, and/or scale data and for associated secure engineering functions and processes used in program office data operations.

Customer Communications and Reporting

• Provides authoritative advice on data engineering and security methodologies, products and services, and related analyses in discussions with program office managers, supervisors, data consumers, and coworkers.
• Determines appropriate data tools or services with clients or customers to define project scopes, requirements, and deliverables.
• Implements and/or maintains data engineering quality assurance processes.

Data Security Support

• Supports emerging IT and information security initiatives including but not limited to DevSecOps (i.e., development, security, and operations), continuous integration and continuous delivery, and vulnerability management, ensuring new technologies are appropriately accounted for from a data engineering and security perspective.
• Provides technical expertise and advice on the restructuring and/or re-architecting of program data collection storage and approach to ensure maximum visibility into risk while minimizing data collection and storage engineering overhead.

• Duties are listed at the full performance GS-12 level
• Provides Regional advice and guidance to line and staff officers and other program managers in all aspects of the unit's grants and agreements to federal and non-federal agencies; state, local, and tribal governments; and other varying entities.
• Provides advice and guidance on the administrative aspects of partnership agreements including cooperative agreements, cost-share agreements, participating agreements, collection agreements, interagency agreements, and cooperative fire agreements.
• Exercises full and final authority to negotiate grants and agreements within the limits of delegated authority, reviews all reimbursement requests for appropriateness, and processes payments.
• Provides interpretation of laws and regulations concerning use of Federal funds and qualifying program expenditures. Determines appropriate legislative and program authority prior to execution of each grant or agreement.
• Develops instruments within the delegated authority, circularizes requests for proposals for grants and agreements, reviews and analyzes responses, and makes or recommends acceptance by higher authority as appropriate.
• Monitors and analyzes the effect of changes in laws, regulations and policies pertaining to grants and agreements, administration and management, and performance reporting.
• Plans and conducts annual meetings or workshops for agency personnel for maintaining partnership agreement and grant expertise
• Approves all official correspondence sent to partners, program personnel, and other interested parties relating to any specific case.
• Terminates grants and agreements as the situation dictates. Closes out grants and agreements within the established closeout procedures.