Supervisory Contract Administrator(Subcontracts), IS-1102-14

Application Deadline: 21 August 2026

Department: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Cambridge, MA

Compensation: $142,452 - $185,193 / year

Description

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation, as required.
• Complete a Probationary Period if applicable.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

MAJOR DUTIES

• Provides overall supervision and operational leadership for the Subawards Section, including planning and assigning work, establishing priorities and deadlines, monitoring workflow, evaluating performance, mentoring staff, identifying training needs, supporting workforce development, and recommending personnel actions, awards, and disciplinary actions. Serves as a senior contractual advisor to SAO leadership, principal investigators, program managers, and administrative staff on subcontracting, procurement strategy, acquisition planning, sponsor compliance, contractual risk, and research administration matters involving federally funded and trust funded activities.
• Performs subcontract, contract, and subaward planning, solicitation, negotiation, award, administration, modification, and close-out activities for complex scientific, technical, research, construction, and service-related procurements and sponsored projects of significant institutional importance. Develops acquisition and subcontracting strategies for complex projects involving multiple funding sources, collaborating institutions, scientific programs, long-range program objectives, and sponsor requirements. Reviews procurement and subcontract requests; analyzes technical and administrative requirements; develops evaluation criteria; recommends revisions to statements of work and specifications; determines appropriate procurement methods and contract types; and establishes milestones, schedules, and procurement plans. Prepares solicitation, award, and modification documentation for complex procurements and subawards, including incorporation of sponsor requirements, contractual provisions, flow-down clauses, cost accounting standards, technical proposal requirements, pricing provisions, and public posting requirements.
• Leads proposal evaluations, source selection activities, technical review processes, competitive range determinations, and negotiations involving contractors, subcontractors, collaborating institutions, and subrecipients, including pricing, schedules, terms and conditions, profit or fee arrangements, and resolution of complex contractual issues. Administers complex contracts, subcontracts, and subawards throughout the award lifecycle by monitoring technical and financial performance, reviewing expenditures and milestone payments, authorizing modifications, resolving performance and compliance issues, investigating disputes and claims, negotiating equitable adjustments and settlements, and ensuring fulfillment of contractual obligations. Conducts and documents are pre-award and post-award conferences and coordinate with scientific, technical, legal, finance, audit, property, export control, and research administration personnel regarding contractual requirements, compliance obligations, acquisition planning, and performance concerns.
• Develops, interprets, implements, and maintains subcontracting and subaward policies, procedures, templates, monitoring tools, and internal controls consistent with FAR, Uniform Guidance, sponsor requirements, export control regulations, and Smithsonian and SAO policies. Represents SAO in interactions with federal agencies, auditors, contractors, collaborating institutions, and institutional stakeholders regarding subcontracting, procurement compliance, sponsored project administration, Contractor Purchasing System Reviews (CPSRs), Uniform Guidance audits, and related institutional reviews. Reviews completed award files to ensure all contractual, financial, administrative, reporting, property, and compliance requirements have been satisfied prior to close-out or termination and negotiates final settlements when necessary.

• Serves as the senior advisor within SAO for subcontracting, subaward administration, and trust-funded procurement activities supporting scientific research, instrumentation development, facilities, and operations. Provides strategic guidance on acquisition and subcontracting approaches, sponsor compliance requirements, contractual risk management, and administration of complex research- related agreements. Oversees the full lifecycle of subcontracts, subawards, and trust-funded procurements supporting SAO's scientific and operational mission.

• Develops, interprets, and implements subcontracting, subaward, procurement, and research administration policies and procedures consistent with Uniform Guidance, sponsor requirements, federal regulations, Smithsonian policy, and SAO operating practices. Establishes internal controls, monitoring processes, and compliance procedures to support audit readiness and ensure appropriate stewardship of federal, trust, and sponsored project funds.

• Supervises Contract Specialists, Procurement Analysts, and other procurement and sponsored project personnel. Assigns work, establishes priorities, evaluates performance, approves leave, identifies training needs, mentors staff, and supports professional development. Ensures staff maintain the knowledge and competencies necessary to support SAO's procurement, subcontracting, and sponsored project activities.

• Serves as a senior advisor to SAO leadership, principal investigators, program managers, administrative staff, and institutional partners regarding subcontracting, procurement strategy, sponsor requirements, contractual risk, research administration, and compliance matters. Resolves complex contractual and business issues involving contractors, subcontractors, collaborating institutions, and research sponsors.

• Represents SAO in interactions with federal sponsors, collaborating institutions, contractors, subcontractors, auditors, Smithsonian offices, principal investigators, and other institutional
  stakeholders regarding subcontracting, procurement compliance, sponsored project administration, Uniform Guidance compliance, and related operational matters. Serves as SAO's representative in high- level meetings, audits, reviews, and negotiations involving scientific collaborations, sponsored projects, procurement activities, and institutional compliance matters. Negotiates agreements, resolves contractual and compliance issues, and works with senior contractor and institutional representatives to support successful execution of SAO's scientific and operational programs.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Comprehensive knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR); NASA FAR Supplement (NFS); Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance; NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Handbook; National Science Foundation Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide and related award conditions; sponsor- specific award requirements and flow-down provisions; and Smithsonian and SAO procurement, sponsored project, and research administration policies and procedures.
• Mastery of subcontracting, subaward administration, and research acquisition principles, policies, regulations, and procedures sufficient to independently plan, negotiate, administer, and close out complex research-related contracts, subcontracts, subawards, and collaborative agreements involving scientific, technical, construction, service, and research activities funded through federal appropriations, contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and trust funds.
• Superior knowledge of sponsored research administration and federal research compliance requirements sufficient to oversee subrecipient monitoring activities, evaluate sponsor flow-down requirements, interpret award conditions, support audit readiness, and ensure compliance with Uniform Guidance, sponsor requirements, export control obligations, research security requirements, and institutional policies.
• Exceptional knowledge of acquisition planning principles and scientific collaboration frameworks sufficient to develop subcontracting and acquisition strategies for complex multi-institutional scientific programs involving long-range project schedules, multiple funding sources, overlapping compliance requirements, and evolving technical objectives.
• Mastery of contract cost and price analysis techniques sufficient to evaluate complex contractor and subrecipient proposals; analyze cost breakdowns, indirect costs, and pricing structures; establish negotiation positions; and develop recommendations regarding cost reasonableness, allowability, allocability, and financial risk.
• Knowledge and skill are sufficient to formulate negotiation strategies and independently negotiate complex contractual matters involving contractors, subcontractors, subrecipients, universities, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and scientific collaborators.
• Knowledge of non-procurement laws and regulations affecting research acquisitions and sponsored projects, including export control requirements, research security obligations, intellectual property considerations, and other sponsor-specific compliance frameworks.
• Ability to interpret and apply evolving regulations, policies, audit guidance, and sponsor requirements involving complex or unusual contractual and research administration matters where precedents may be limited or unavailable.
• Expert mastery of federal acquisition law, including FAR, DFARS, agency supplements, cost/priceanalysis, negotiation techniques, and contract administration for complex, highdollar, multiyear procurements.
• Skill in developing acquisition strategies, resolving protests/claims, interpreting regulatory changes, and advising senior leadership on business risk and compliance.
• Knowledge of supervisory principles to lead a professional contracting workforce, set priorities, evaluate performance, and develop staff competencies in procurement, subcontracting, sponsored project administration, and research compliance.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to develop policies and procedures; prepare guidance and contractual documentation; advise leadership and scientific personnel; conduct training; and negotiate and resolve complex contractual and compliance matters.