Contracting Specialist

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO, UN, EU and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services, specialised aerospace and defence sales, delivery, and operational subject matter expertise. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

---

Who we are supporting

Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is NATO’s leading agent for change: driving, facilitating, and advocating the continuous improvement of Alliance capabilities to maintain and enhance the military relevance and effectiveness of the Alliance. The main objectives of ACT are: providing appropriate support to NATO missions and operations; leading NATO military transformation; and improving relationships, interaction and practical cooperation with partners, nations and international organisations. ACT therefore leads Alliance concept development, capability development, training and lessons-learned initiatives and provides unfettered military support to policy development within NATO.

---

The program 

Capability Development & Management Support (CDMS)

DCOS Capability Development (CAPDEV) acts as the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation's Director for guidance, direction and coordination of the activities and resources of the Capability Development Directorate.

The Requirements Division will execute all tasks and activities needed to support requirements management for NATO capabilities

The Capability Requirements (CR) Branch will develop the Capability Requirements Brief and recommended courses of action to resolve issues through the life cycle management of requirements using matrixed, cross-functional project-specific Requirements Management teams.

The Requirements Forward Branch (Mons) is responsible for conducting requirements development and management representation and engagement-related functions in Europe.

The Capability Division coordinates the development of capabilities from capability planning through acceptance and then disposal with management entities, NATO Headquarters staff and the NATO Governance Structure

The Capability Forward Branch (Mons) coordinates with ACO, NCIA, NSPA, NATO HQ, territorial Host Nations, and NATO Centres of Excellence (COEs) to support the development of capabilities.

Strategic Plans and Policy (SPP) supports Allied Command Transformation in formalizing military advice to shape future military strategy, political guidance, and other policy documents supporting NATO’s strategic objectives.

---

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Contribute and support the Contracting Officer in the cradle to grave procurement activities to include but not limited to:
  • the development of acquisition plans, SOW review, proposal evaluation, contract reports and documentation, industry debriefs for competitive solicitations
  • Tracking and validating submissions in support of RFIs
  • Coordinating and posting Questions & Answers from Industry
  • Assisting the Contracting Officer in tracking and executing contracts and agreements for Conferences, Workshops, and other events.
• Perform as contracting specialist for purchases <40K, seeking quotes and formalising purchase orders as required in coordination with the Contracting Officer.
• Perform contract administration tasks including, preparing DBIDs instructions, VISA letters, issuing contract amendments.
• Create purchase orders in support of contracts awarded while ensuring all supporting documents are collected and filed in accordance with the Contract File Management Plan.
• Prepare and coordinate requests for deviation from the normal method of procurement when appropriate.
• Maintain Contractor Databases to support invoicing, tracking, exercising option periods and other data calls.
• Process invoices and close-out for all assigned contracts in coordination with the Contracting Officer.
• Contribute to and support the Contracting Officer in processing cases of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Acquisition Cross-Servicing Agreements (ACSA).
• Assist the Contracting Officer with National Security Investment Programme (NSIP) data entry and contract execution of authorised projects.
• Assist the Contracting Officer with annual reviews of current in place contracts to confirm currency and continuation.
• Enter procurement information into the CIRIS database as required.
• Perform additional procurement related tasks as directed by the COTR

Essential Skills and Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ demonstrable experience working in procurement and/or contracting conducting a full range of contracting activities.
• Minimum 2 years’ demonstrable experience working pre-award, award, post-award phases on competitively awarded contracts interpreting and applying statutes, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated understanding of Statement of Work (SOW) development and ability to translate user requirements into tangible, measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience working closely with cross-functional teams and facilitating collaboration across technical, financial, and operational domains.
• Demonstrated experience with contract administration and management.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex procurement requirements into actionable timelines, strategies and execution.
• Excellent tactful written and oral communication skills.

Desirable Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience conducting procurement in a NATO command.
• Demonstrated experience with NSIP contracting rules.
• Demonstrated experience with CIRIS.
• Demonstrated experience with NATO Financial System (Oracle) CNAFS/FINs or equivalent.
• Familiarity with NATO-specific procurement rules and requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with Agile Procurement Strategies to include MVPs, Sprints, Prototypes.
• Experience as a Warranted Contracting Officer with authority to award or administer in excess of Level B (40,000 euros) or national equivalent.

Education

• University degree with at least 24 semester hours of business related courses, or DAWIA certification in Contracting, or equivalent.

Language Proficiency

• Advanced Proficiency in English

Working Location

• Norfolk, VA, USA

Working Policy

• On-Site

Contract Duration

• January 2026 – December 2030

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance