Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Tara M. Brandt

Meridianville,Alabama

Summary

Experienced professional seeking a position to leverage analytical and critical-thinking skills, along with strong communication and leadership abilities. Honed through educational and work experiences, eager to apply them in a professional setting.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Procuring Contracting Officer Team Lead 1102 (DA-06 – GS-14)

NAVAIR
07.2018 - Current
  • Effectively manage a diverse contract portfolio that includes research and development, service and commodities contracts
  • Lead a team of Senior, Journeyman and Junior level Contract Specialists, assigning, prioritizing and managing tasking and monitoring progress to ensure timely completion
  • Ensure all contract documents comply with laws, regulations and reflect sound business acumen
  • Mentor and coach team members in developing contracting strategies that contribute to successful program performance in cost/price, schedule and risk
  • Mentor and coach team members in recognizing issues, problems, opportunities, and emerging trends
  • Mentor team members in effectively identifying or addressing problems and developing sound and strategic solutions
  • Support competency wide employee development initiatives by providing planned as well as, ad hoc training and mentoring to junior and senior personnel in any/all aspects of cradle-to-grave procurement of supplies and services
  • Review various acquisition documents including market research, justifications and approvals, statements of work or performance work statements, acquisition strategies, Independent Government Cost Estimates’s, request for proposals and/or quotations and source selection criteria (Tradeoff and LPTA) and Plans to ensure adequacy and compliance with regulatory, and administrative procedural requirements
  • Lead and/or coach team members conducting proposal analysis and/or participating in complex negotiations
  • Perform risk analysis and create plans for mitigation purposes
  • Monitor administration of various types of contracts including FFP, CPAF and CPFF in accordance with federal and local policies and legal requirements
  • Evaluate post-award contractor performance through a variety of measures including contractor performance management systems
  • Monitor funding obligations to ensure proper use within the federal appropriations law
  • Provide training to WD Financial Managers on a variety of topics including acquisition methods, and contracting lifecycle considerations
  • Participate in yearly competency wide training initiatives for junior, journeyman and senior workforce members for a variety of topics related to contracting principles, procedures and techniques
  • Monitor all contract actions to protect government interest
  • Work with external organizations including NAWCWD counsel, IT and Security functions to ensure compliance with stated regulations
  • Provide customer and team member guidance on a variety of complex contract administration issues, including ITAR, Intellectual Property Rights, Security, foreign disclosure and disposal of Government property

Contract Specialist 1102 (DA-05/GS-13)

NAVAIR
04.2018 - 07.2018
  • Mentored and trained junior team members on a variety of contract topics
  • Participated in cradle-to-grave procurement of supplies and services
  • Collaborated with requirements owners on preparation of various acquisition documents including market research, justifications and approvals, statements of work or performance work statements, IGCE’s, request for proposals and request for quotations and source selection criteria (Best Value and LPTA) to ensure adequacy and compliance with administrative, regulatory, and procedural requirements
  • Analyzed business proposals to determine reasonability of prices and terms and conditions proposed
  • Conducted and/or participated in contract negotiations
  • Performed risk analysis and created plans for mitigation purposes
  • Executed and administered various types of contracts including FFP, CPAF and CPFF in accordance with federal and local policies and legal requirements
  • Evaluated post-award contractor performance through a variety of measures including contractor performance management systems
  • Monitored funding obligations to ensure proper use within the federal appropriations law
  • Monitored all contract actions to protect government interest
  • Worked with external organizations including NAWCWD counsel, IT and Security functions to ensure compliance with stated regulations
  • Participated in interchange meetings with technical customers, program offices and legal counsel
  • Provided customer and team member guidance on contract administration issues, including ITAR, Intellectual Property Rights, Security, foreign disclosure and disposal of Government property

Branch Head for the Program and Business Analysis Department 0301 (NM-04)

NAVAIR
09.2016 - 04.2018
  • Managed a branch of 35 employees providing leadership, direction and oversight of employee of work products and performance
  • Maintained a positive, productive and professional work environment
  • Developed and managed employee performance plans, conduct performance evaluations, and provide performance appraisals
  • Provided career coaching and ensured all employees have IDP’s and strategies for career and personal development
  • Managed relationships with external customers to ensure employees are delivering high quality products and services
  • Responsible for leave approval, travel and voucher approval, timecard certification, hiring and termination proceedings and annual mandatory training compliance
  • Managed all hiring plans, succession plans and attrition reports
  • Interfaced routinely with the department head, division heads and other branch heads to identify the most efficient methods of providing business and financial support to customers
  • Provided advice, counsel, guidance, and instruction to employees as necessary
  • Supported EEO programs and goals

Workforce Development Lead, Program and Business Analysis Department 0301(NM-04/DA-05)

NAVAIR
03.2015 - 04.2018
  • Provided leadership, direction and oversight of employee workforce development for approximately 230 people
  • Led a team of a 5 SME’s, 2 government employees and 3 contractors
  • Maintained a positive and productive work environment
  • Worked with Branch Heads to ensure plans are created for all developing employees to ensure they are meeting established developmental benchmarks
  • Worked closely with business leaders and managers across the organization to identify skill gaps, training opportunities and develop/deliver training solutions
  • Reviewed and recommend changes and enhancements to current curriculum
  • Developed curriculum to close identified skill gaps when appropriate
  • Developed and maintain programmatic structure and systematic approach to design and deliver training programs in support of the learning objectives
  • Performed ongoing learning needs analysis, design, scripting, development, assessment, implementation and evaluation of training materials to ensure alignment with workforce development strategy
  • Designed and delivered, both in house and with expert third parties, solutions that include a blended approach to learning such as coaching, classroom training, experiential learning, distance and online learning
  • Managed relationships with external stakeholders
  • Assisted key members of the management team with forecasting Formulate training budget and estimates to meet department development requirements
  • Monitored training/development programs, projects, operations and activities to ensure short and long-term goals were met

Procurement Analyst 1102 (DA-05)

NAVAIR
10.2013 - 03.2015
  • Developed guidance material related to everyday or periodic activities to ensure and/or maintain congruency between regulations, policies and business or systematic procedures
  • Advised both contracts and outside organizational personnel on a wide variety of policy related topics
  • Provided assistance upon request regarding situations or problems resulting from changed procedures imposed by higher headquarters involving regulations, laws, and business practices
  • Reviewed and provided feedback of NAVAIR policy prior to final approval and implementation
  • Developed and presented informational material to inform, clarify, and explain regulatory and policy changes, and to note recurring errors observed during various activities including contract review
  • Conducted training of contracting personnel to improve acquisition practices based on identified organizational trends
  • Participated in the development of local policy
  • Participated in or lead special task groups within the organization
  • Performed analysis and formulated implementation strategies for new policies and regulations
  • Participated in drafting and maintaining triannual review and contracts overview guidance and training material
  • Applied knowledge of procurement and financial functional areas to provide expert technical consultation, manage and implement changes, formulate guidelines, and provide policy interpretation
  • Participated in regular meetings between Procurement, Comptroller and Program and Business Analysis Department to discuss issues, policy changes, impact, resolutions, and communication strategies
  • Regularly researched, tested, evaluated and resolved issues within Standard Procurement System (SPS), NAVY ERP, Electronic Data Access, Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), NAVAIR Obligation Database (NOD), and Procurement Management Tool (PMT)

Contract Specialist/Procuring Contracting Officer 1102 (DA-02-DA-05/GS-7–GS-13)

NAVAIR
09.2006 - 10.2013
  • Managed work flow of contract actions for several 4.0 customers, this included prioritizing and assigning tasking
  • Responsible for ensuring that government contract actions, pre-award and post-award for highly specialized procurements, complied with laws, regulations and reflect sound business judgment
  • Mentored team members in developing contracting strategies that reflect good business acumen and contribute to successful program performance in cost/price, total ownership cost, schedule and risk
  • Mentored team members in recognizing issues, problems, opportunities, and emerging trends
  • Mentored team members in effectively identifying or addressing problems and developing sound solutions
  • Supported competency by providing on-the-job training and mentoring to junior personnel on a regular basis
  • Participated in cradle-to-grave procurement of supplies and services
  • Reviewed and assist in preparation of various acquisition documents including market research, justifications and approvals, statements of work or performance work statements, acquisition strategies, IGCE’s, request for proposals and request for quotations and source selection criteria (Best Value and LPTA) to ensure adequacy and compliance with administrative, regulatory, and procedural requirements
  • Analyzed business proposals to determine reasonability of prices and validity of terms and conditions
  • Led and/or coached team members conducting and/or participating in complex negotiations
  • Performed risk analysis and create plans for mitigation purposes
  • Executed and administered various types of contracts including FFP, CPAF and CPFF in accordance with federal and local policies and legal requirements
  • Evaluated post-award contractor performance through a variety of measures including contractor performance management systems
  • Monitored funding obligations to ensure proper use within the federal appropriations law
  • Provided yearly training to CPP recipients that provides an overview of the acquisition cycle as it relates to CPP purchases
  • Provided competency wide training on the principles of cost and price analysis and various techniques
  • Monitored all contract actions to protect government interest
  • Worked with external organizations including NAWCWD counsel, IT and Security functions to ensure compliance with stated regulations
  • Participated in interchange meetings with technical customers, program offices and legal counsel
  • Provided customer and team member guidance on a variety of complex contract administration issues, including ITAR, Intellectual Property Rights, Security, foreign disclosure and disposal of Government property

Education

Graduate Coursework -

Purdue University
04.2016

Bachelor of Science - Business Marketing

06.2006

Skills

  • Leadership skills
  • Influence skills
  • Communication skills
  • Adaptability
  • Strategic thinking
  • Change management
  • Relationship building
  • Multi-priority management
  • Collaboration
  • Self-awareness
  • Results-oriented

Certification

  • Class I Unlimited Contracting Officer Warrant 2019
  • DAWIA Contracts Level III Certified 2011
  • Acquisition Corps Workforce Member
  • US Navy Good Conduct Service Medal 1998
  • US Navy Honorable Discharge 1998
  • Naval Acquisition Intern Program Graduate
  • Procuring Contracting Officer Next Generation Training Course
  • Procuring Contracting Officer Current Generation Training Course
  • One on One Leadership Coaching 2012 - Present
  • Supervision for Team Leads
  • Fundamentals of Federal Appropriations Law
  • Program Management for Contracting Professionals
  • Finance for Contract Professionals
  • Construction Contracting
  • Administration of Government Contracts
  • Contract Intellectual Property Workshop
  • Introduction to Mentoring
  • Adaptive Leadership
  • Influential Leadership
  • Learning as Leadership (Leadership Training)
  • Professional at All Levels (Leadership Training)
  • The Ownership Spirit
  • Leading and Managing in the 21st Century
  • Financials for Managers
  • Program Business Financial Management
  • Principles of Federal Appropriation Law
  • Ethics for Supervision
  • Risk Communication
  • Mindful Leadership
  • Emergenetics and Problem Solving
  • Active Top Secret Clearance

Timeline

Procuring Contracting Officer Team Lead 1102 (DA-06 – GS-14)

NAVAIR
07.2018 - Current

Contract Specialist 1102 (DA-05/GS-13)

NAVAIR
04.2018 - 07.2018

Branch Head for the Program and Business Analysis Department 0301 (NM-04)

NAVAIR
09.2016 - 04.2018

Workforce Development Lead, Program and Business Analysis Department 0301(NM-04/DA-05)

NAVAIR
03.2015 - 04.2018

Procurement Analyst 1102 (DA-05)

NAVAIR
10.2013 - 03.2015

Contract Specialist/Procuring Contracting Officer 1102 (DA-02-DA-05/GS-7–GS-13)

NAVAIR
09.2006 - 10.2013

Graduate Coursework -

Purdue University

Bachelor of Science - Business Marketing

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Tara M. Brandt