Contract Specialist III

Contract Specialist III

Salary

$79,192.88 - $131,987.44 Annually

Location

FX. CTY. GOVERNMENT CENTER, 12000 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY., FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA

Job Type

FT Salary W BN

Job Number

26-00763

Department

Procurement & Material Mgmt

Opening Date

06/27/2026

Closing Date

7/3/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Pay Grade

S27

Posting Type

Open to General Public

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Announcement

This opportunity is being reannounced. Candidates who have already applied need not re-apply; all applicants will be considered.

This advanced-level contract specialist serves as a contracts team lead and works closely with the supervising contract specialist to assist in the overall coordination and management of the contracts team. This position is responsible to the supervisor for ensuring that the work of other contract personnel on the team is carried out; and, as a regular and recurring part of the job, mentors, trains, coaches and leads less experienced employees in accomplishing work. Also manages independent procurement activities associated with a wide variety of advanced, complex, high-dollar and/or specialized goods and services, as well as professional and consulting services, construction, and information technology.

Work includes full life cycle support for procurement and contract actions to include pre-award, post-award, contract negotiation, administration, termination, and closeout. Work requires collaboration and proactive communication with management, staff, and stakeholders, as well as the use of critical thinking skills, initiative, and professional judgment. Provides subject matter expertise to assist customer departments with policies and procedures related to procurement and contracting. Uses automated contracting and financial system to process and finalize contracts and purchase orders. Works under the direction of the supervising contract specialist.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:

(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in public administration, business administration, supply chain management or a related field, including or supplemented by courses in procurement and supply chain management principles, laws, methods and procedures; plus three years of progressively responsible experience in technical procurement work. Comprehensive knowledge of contracting laws, principles and contracting strategies. Ability to influence others.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

Certification by a nationally recognized professional purchasing organization is required.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and credit check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of the Virginia Public Procurement Act.
• Knowledge of the Fairfax County Purchasing Resolution.
• Knowledge of Fairfax County procurement systems and procurement policies and procedures.
• Experience in structuring and negotiating contract documents.
• Experience negotiating terms and conditions with both government and non-governmental vendors.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, including language, spelling, and grammar.
• Ability to organize, prioritize and coordinate multiple work activities to meet critical deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and SharePoint, Outlook, and Teams
• Certification from a nationally recognized professional procurement organization.
• Excellent customer service skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Work is generally sedentary employee may be required to lift documents weighing no more than 10 pounds. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

#LI-AL1

Requisition 26-00763

Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click here for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program: Public Service Loan Forgiveness | Federal Student Aid

For additional details please visit the Countys benefits webpage.

Non-Merit Positions

• Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage

• Flexible Spending Program

• Deferred Compensation

• Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.

• No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associates degree
• Bachelors degree
• Masters degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate your area(s) of study or major(s)/minor(s) towards a degree. Check all that apply.

• Business administration
• Public administration
• Supply chain management
• Accounting
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not Applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".

05

Have you completed coursework in procurement and supply chain management principles, laws, methods and procedures?

• Yes
• No

06

How many years of full-time equivalent progressively responsible experience in technical procurement work do you possess?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven
• Seven or more years

07

Do you currently hold a certification from a nationally recognized professional purchasing organization?

• Yes
• No

08

If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list all current certifications from a nationally recognized professional purchasing organization that you possess. If this question does not apply to you enter "N/A".

09

How many years of experience do you have managing full life cycle support for procurement and contract actions to include pre-award, post-award, contract negotiation, administration, termination, and closeout for federal, state, or local government?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

10

Please indicate in which of the following areas you have at least two years of experience. Check all that apply.

• Developing IFB and RFP solicitations
• Awarding contracts from competitive solicitations
• Contract administration/compliance
• Analyzing technical and cost proposals
• Federally funded procurement
• Sole source/emergency procurement
• Construction procurement
• Facilities procurement
• None of the above

11

Please indicate which of the following you have negotiated (Check all that apply.)

• Governmental and non-governmental agreements
• Blanket purchase agreements
• Pricing agreements
• Software license agreements
• Support/maintenance agreements
• Lease/purchase agreements
• Warranty
• Other
• None of the above

12

Which of the following do you have knowledge and experience? (Check all that apply.)

• Federal procurement
• State procurement
• Local procurement (city, town, county)
• None of the above

13

How many formal competitive Request for Proposals (RFPs) have you conducted with an expenditure value of more than $200,000 in the past two years?

• None
• One to five
• Six to ten
• Eleven to fifteen
• Sixteen or more

14

Have you ever received a formal protest of award on a procurement you were managing?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Fairfax County

Address 12000 Government Center Pkwy. Suite 270

Fairfax, Virginia, 22035

Phone 703-324-3311

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/fairfaxcounty/default.cfm