The George Mason University Mason Enterprise Center; Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), is looking for an enthusiastic and energetic person for a Procurement Counselor position. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.
About the Department:
The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at George Mason University is a non-profit organization funded by the Defense Logistics Agency and George Mason University. PTAC provides procurement assistance by offering marketing, counseling, and educational services to businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. PTAC is headquartered in Fairfax, VA, with satellite offices in Fredericksburg, VA and Hampton, VA.
About the Position:
The PTAC Procurement Counselor provides training and counseling to Virginia businesses in all aspects of federal and state/local procurement. These services include instruction in methods for submitting bids and proposals, billing, and execution of contracted work. This position will interact on a consistent basis with business representatives, and representatives of government agencies at local, state, and federal levels. This position typically will advise and counsel business representatives including owners and managers. The Procurement Counselor provides a full range of technical assistance counseling services to clients who wish to conduct business with the federal, state, and local governments. The Procurement Counselor also acts as PTAC representative/liaison to local and statewide organizations and partners. Metrics of success as a Procurement Counselor include the number of clients, counseling hours, success stories, and positive impacts via contract awards by clients.
Duties:
Advise PTAC clients about the advantages and disadvantages associated with teaming arrangements, and the various regulations governing subcontracting and joint ventures;
Provide PTAC clients information about the government's competition policies, contract types, procurement methods, and source selection processes;
Perform assessments of PTAC clients' draft responses to government solicitations and provide recommendations to improve their chances of winning more government contracts and subcontracts;
Advise PTAC clients about their post award debriefing rights under the various government procurement methods and provide recommendations to improve draft correspondence addressed to government contracting officials;
Provide PTAC clients information about government procurement policies, rules, regulations, and processes;
Provide PTAC clients recommended courses of action to resolve government solicitation, prime contract, subcontract, contract management, and/or performance issues;
Maintain current, accurate, and complete electronic records for all counseling sessions in a timely manner and perform administrative actions in support of the PTAC mission; and
Follow guidelines outlined in the Terms and Conditions of the Cooperative Agreement.
Training:
Assist with the development of government contracting presentations, workshops, and outreach events. Lead government contracting workshops and provide formal presentations to small businesses and external constituents within the PTAC's service area.
Professional Development:
Maintain current level of expertise in a changing regulatory environment. Maintain/update professional expertise in the Federal Procurement arena through attendance at appropriate seminars offered; APTAC (Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers), NCMA (National Contract Management Association), DLA, and others.
Outreach:
Establish and maintain relationships with government buyers and partners (incl. universities, economic development organizations, major prime contractors, legislators, chambers of commerce, and other business groups); and
Represent Virginia PTAC at industry trade shows, conferences, and matchmaking/outreach events as an exhibitor and speaker.
Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in a related field, or equivalent combination of education and related experience;
Working knowledge and skills in applying government rules and regulations related to procurement; public speaking, presentation, and writing; problem solving and time management; contract management and proposal development; and
Position may require occasional site travel; incumbent will be expected to provide for their own transportation to and from worksites.
Preferred Qualifications:
Demonstrated years of progressive procurement experience in government contracts administration preferred, especially experience working within a business that sells to federal or state government;
Professional experience in Commonwealth of Virginia procurement regulations;
Experience owning and operating a small business and/or advising on business growth strategies within the government sector;
Experience as a federal or state/local contract specialist/analyst/buyer;
Record of success winning and maintaining GSA Multiple Award Schedules;
Experience successfully obtaining, maintaining, and leveraging state or federal set aside certifications including SWaM, 8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB, or HUBZone;
Professional experience in federal procurement regulations;
Experience in bid/proposal preparation and contract administration/close-out;
Proficiency in analytical market research;
Fluent verbal/written communication skills which are critical to working with a wide variety of people and organizations;
Resourcefulness – will frequently have to research answers to clients' questions with little direction;
Ability to maintain confidentiality to protect client information;
Ability to manage multiple projects/tasks in a dynamic work environment;
Excellent time management skills;
Familiarity with and the ability to become proficient in the use of application software that tracks client interactions and progress (Customer Relationship Management Software);
Proficiency in MS Office 365 and other Office Suite software; and
Experience operating video-conferencing equipment and software, such as Zoom or WebEx.
Salary: Commensurate with education and experience.
Location: Fairfax, VA
Mason Ad Statement:
Great Careers Begin at Mason!
George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top U.S. News and World Report
George Mason University is a public, comprehensive, research university established by the Commonwealth of Virginia located in Northern Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. Mason was initially founded as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1949, and became an independent institution in 1972. George Mason University is an innovative and inclusive academic community committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous world.
George Mason University has 37,000 students from all 50 states and 130 countries and a residential population of more than 6,000 students. Mason is a vibrant and dynamic community of scholars. 80% of our students are employed within six months of graduation. Nearly two-thirds of the 140,000 Mason alumni live and work in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Mason is a young university that, in just a short time, has made impressive strides in size, stature and influence. Today, as Virginia’s largest public research university, we are setting the benchmark for a bold, progressive education that serves the needs of our students and communities. To that end, we have 10 schools and colleges devoted to a variety of study.
Mission.
We prepa...re Mason students for the demands of work, social responsibility, and life in an ever-changing global society. University Life's mission statement is core to our work. We support every student at Mason, from orientation through graduation.
George Mason: Patriotism Personified.
George Mason, for whom our university is named, was one of the greatest of the founding fathers of the United States. Mason drafted the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which became a model for the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.
We Are in Virginia. But We Serve the World.
Mason is committed to creating a more just, free and prosperous world. Located in one of the most important political, economic and intellectual hubs in the world, we accept our responsibility to serve others: to help our students succeed, enrich the life of our community, and contribute to solving some of the most complex global problems of our time.
Washington, D.C.: Land of Opportunity.
Mason’s main campus is in Fairfax, Virginia, just 15 miles outside of Washington, D.C. The nation’s capital is easily accessible by car or public transportation.
At Mason, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: a beautiful wooded residential campus and outstanding college experience, as well as numerous internship and recreational opportunities that only a world-class urban setting like D.C. can offer.
You can intern with National Geographic or the Justice Department, visit the numerous museums with your Art History classmates, take a selfie in front of Lincoln Memorial, catch a Nationals baseball game, kayak along the Potomac, or check out the many neighborhoods where you’ll discover lots of great shopping, places to eat, art galleries, music venues, and much more. You can attend events and hear nationally recognized speakers. You’ll run out of time before you run out of things to do.
There’s more to explore. Students participate in a field trip to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., organized by the Office of International Programs and Services.
In just a short drive, you can be hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains or walking the boardwalk in either Ocean City, Maryland, or Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Our closest airports are Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan National Airport, and Mason is easily accessible by public transportation. Free shuttle buses help you get to the nearest Metro station in Vienna, Virginia, just a short distance from our Fairfax Campus. The Arlington Campus is within walking distance of the Virginia Square-GMU stop on the Orange Line.
Enriching Work Environment.
We will invest in recruiting, retaining, and developing talented and diverse faculty and academic and professional staff. We will create a vibrant campus life in which all members can grow and thrive.
Diversity.
Diversity is one of our core values; everyone is welcome here. Mason was recently named the most diverse university in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report.
We bring together a multitude of people and ideas in everything that we do. Our culture of inclusion, our multidisciplinary approach, and our global perspective makes us more effective educators and scholars.
While at Mason, you’ll be making your own decisions and forming your own view of the world. Engaging with diverse groups of individuals, including students, faculty, and staff, will enrich this experience. You will learn from them, and they will learn from you.
We have a variety of communities here, and you're sure to find a group of people who are like you. The great thing is you'll also be embraced by communities of people who are not like you. At Mason, you'll be in a place where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Interacting with people from a variety of backgrounds will:
•Widen your outlook of the world,
•Show you how to work and collaborate with people of differing views,
•Expose you to new perspectives from people with disparate life experiences, and
•Give you the social skills to interact with all kinds of people.
Diversity also enhances learning and creative thinking by prompting the study of new material and the awareness of fresh viewpoints. The power of many perspectives will boost your capacity to explore original ideas and solutions. Seeing issues in a new way heightens your creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Another benefit: As our nation becomes more diverse, students who learn in a diverse environment will be more competitive in an increasingly global economy. You’ll enhance your critical thinking skills and improve your ability to develop nuanced solutions to real-world problems.
Campus-Wide Accessibility.
Accessibility @ mason provide information regarding the physical access of all campuses and online accessibility of programs and services. Information for disability related services and resources available to all employee, students, and visitors the entire university include physical access to buildings, parking policies, and emergency evacuation procedures.
Accessible.
We are an open and welcoming community. We partner with public and private organizations in our region and around the world. We proactively engage with our community. We define our success by how many talented students with potential we serve, not how many we leave out.
Social and Cultural Venues.
Our venues bring world-class performances to the community through vibrant concerts and events. Community members are invited to take part in many artistic and cultural offerings at Mason. Spaces are also available to rent for your next event.