Senior DoD Contracting Subject Matter Expert

Position Summary

Avum is seeking a Senior DoD Contracting Subject Matter Expert with at least 15 years of experience supporting Federal or Department of Defense acquisition and contracting activities.

This individual will provide functional expertise to support the design, implementation, sustainment, and improvement of procurement business systems. Working closely with software developers, business analysts, QA teams, and government stakeholders, the SME will translate contracting regulations, business processes, and user needs into clear software requirements.

The ideal candidate has extensive knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and the federal contracting lifecycle, along with hands-on experience using procurement systems. This role focuses on helping technical teams build and support solutions that meet the operational needs of contracting personnel.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior functional resource for Federal and DoD acquisition and contracting workflows, business processes, and procurement system requirements.
• Work with contracting personnel and government stakeholders to identify user needs, clarify requirements, and resolve functional questions.
• Translate FAR, DFARS, and applicable agency requirements into functional requirements, business rules, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Provide expertise across the contracting lifecycle, including acquisition planning, solicitations, evaluations, awards, modifications, contract administration, and closeout.
• Review system designs and proposed software functionality for alignment with contracting processes and user needs.
• Support Agile development teams through requirements refinement, sprint planning, demonstrations, and functional reviews.
• Develop and review functional test scenarios, support user acceptance testing, and validate that software features meet documented requirements.
• Assess existing procurement processes and recommend improvements through updated workflows, automation, and system enhancements.
• Support procurement data analysis, reporting requirements, and validation of system outputs.
• Provide functional support for data migration, including mapping, interpretation, and validation of contracting data.
• Assist Tier 3 service desk personnel with complex procurement system issues, workflow questions, and functional troubleshooting.
• Develop and review user guides, training materials, business process documentation, and knowledge base content.
• Explain complex contracting requirements clearly to technical teams and stakeholders with varying levels of procurement experience.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $115,000 to $150,000 annually. Actual compensation and position level will be determined based on experience, qualifications, certifications, geographic location, and the responsibilities of the assigned role.

Avum offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical (Cigna), dental and vision (Principal), 401(k), PTO, education reimbursement, and certification reimbursement.

Work Environment & Requirements

• Hybrid/remote work environment with potential on-site requirements based on contract needs
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Active Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one, consistent with contract requirements. An appropriate active clearance and authorized access are required before performing classified duties.
• Background investigation required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Avum, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law. Avum is committed to compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and VEVRAA, and maintains an active Affirmative Action Plan.

Required Qualifications

• At least 15 years of professional experience in Federal or DoD acquisition and contracting, including direct experience with contracting workflows, procurement processes, and contract lifecycle activities.
• Extensive working knowledge of FAR and DFARS and experience applying these requirements to Federal or DoD contracting activities.
• Hands-on experience using federal procurement or contract writing systems, such as PD2/SPS, CONWRITE, PIEE, WAWF, or comparable agency systems.
• Ability to translate contracting policies, procedures, and operational needs into clear functional requirements and business rules.
• Experience reviewing procurement workflows, identifying process gaps, and recommending practical improvements.
• Ability to validate system functionality and data against contracting requirements and expected business outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain contracting concepts to software developers and other technical personnel.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate with government stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams in a remote environment.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. An active Secret clearance is preferred.
• Ability to successfully complete the required background investigation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current or previous experience as a Federal 1102 Contract Specialist or Contracting Officer.
• Current or previous possession of a Contracting Officer warrant.
• Experience supporting DoD procurement system modernization, implementation, or sustainment.
• Experience working with software development teams as a functional SME, business analyst, or product stakeholder.
• Experience developing user stories, acceptance criteria, functional test scenarios, or user acceptance testing materials.
• Familiarity with Agile development practices and tools such as Jira.
• Familiarity with the Procurement Data Standard (PDS), procurement system interfaces, and contracting data migration.
• CPCM or CFCM certification.
• FAC-C or DAWIA contracting certification.