Contract Support Specialist
Job description
About the role
The role supports a federal agency in Arlington, VA with an onsite Monday-Friday schedule. The position requires local presence in the Arlington, VA area. The role handles contract related functions for government acquisition.
Customer success teams keep customers happy after the sale. They onboard new accounts, answer questions, and help users get value from a product. They watch usage signals and step in before customers churn. The role mixes support, training, and account management. Customer success teams are measured on retention, usage, and customer satisfaction. Most companies provide structured onboarding so new team members learn the product deeply first.
Key facts
What you'll do
Documentation reviews support acquisition oversight and regulatory adherence.
Conduct Market Research to identify relevant vendors and industry capabilities. Research findings inform sourcing decisions and acquisition planning.
Review Cost/Price proposals and/or quotes to validate reasonableness and compliance. Analysis of pricing supports fair and reasonable acquisition outcomes.
Reports communicate analysis and decisions to stakeholders and auditors.
Process orders and contract modifications through established government channels. Actions ensure contractual terms align with agency needs and regulatory requirements.
Organized records enable efficient audits and reviews.
Handle actions related to pre- and post-award phases from initiation to closure. Actions mitigate risk and support continuity across the contract lifecycle.
Prepare correspondence for internal and external audiences. Clear communication maintains stakeholder awareness and expectations.
Updates ensure data accuracy and regulatory compliance.
Review documents and provide feedback to improve accuracy and completeness. Feedback supports quality control and decision making.
Responses ensure legal compliance and timely information handling.
Data management supports traceability and reporting.
Orders formalize acquisition actions and obligations.
Oversight ensures contractor compliance with retention schedules.
Requirements
Must possess in-depth knowledge of Federal Contracting such as FAR and other regulations as a baseline. Knowledge underpins lawful acquisition practices.
Hands on experience must demonstrate expertise in contracting and procurement to perform assigned tasks. Experience ensures practical competence in acquisition functions.
Experience in establishing and implementing U.S. Government acquisition programs and policies is required. Experience ensures programs meet government standards.
A minimum of 5 years of experience in Contracting and procurement is required, or a bachelor's degree with 7 years of directly related experience. Education or equivalent experience must substantiate capability.
Professional training and certifications must be pursued to maintain relevance. Certifications strengthen technical credibility and methodical execution.
Excellent written and oral communications skills are required for effective collaboration. Skills enable clear information exchange with partners and stakeholders.
Nice to have
FAC-C or DAWIA Certification in Contracting strongly preferred to demonstrate specialized knowledge.
Practical notes
This is an onsite role in Arlington, VA with Monday-Friday presence. The position is classified as contract support for federal agency work. Typical interview steps
Customer success interviews usually include a support scenario, a communication exercise, and behavioral questions. Candidates may be asked to handle an upset customer or plan an onboarding call. Some loops test product knowledge. Empathy and clear writing are the core skills. Interviewers often ask how you would bring an unhappy account back on track. Structure your answer around listening, a plan, and follow up.
Good to know
The role works with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) frameworks and related policies. Tools commonly include government contracting platforms and documentation systems. General expertise in procurement and acquisition processes applies to similar government support positions.
Career growth
Customer success careers grow from specialist to manager and director levels. Some people move toward account management or solutions engineering. Deep product knowledge and cross-functional work with support, sales, and product teams become key at senior levels. Success careers reward product depth and relationship skills equally. Many leaders in this function started in support or account management.