Federal Acquisitions/DITAP Subject Matter Expert/Instructor (Part Time)

Is This You?

Graduate School USA is seeking experienced federal acquisition and contracting practitioners — contracting officers, contract specialists, Contracting Officer’s Representatives (CORs), procurement and policy analysts, acquisition program and project managers, source selection leads, and contract administrators (typically GS-12/13 and above, or equivalent agency, DoD, or uniformed-service experience) — who want to share their expertise with the next generation of federal acquisition professionals.

This is not a traditional faculty position. We are looking for practitioners first: people who have planned and awarded federal contracts, conducted source selections, negotiated and administered awards, applied the FAR and DFARS to real procurements, overseen contractor performance as a COR, or led acquisition programs — and who can bring that lived experience into the classroom. If you have spent your career advising program offices, briefing leadership, or mentoring junior contracting staff, you already have the foundation we need. Formal teaching experience is highly preferred but not required; GSUSA provides instructional onboarding, established curriculum, and course materials.

Company Overview

Graduate School USA (GSUSA) is a distinguished training provider dedicated to delivering workforce development solutions exclusively to the federal government and public service professionals. With a proud legacy dating to 1921 — more than a century of service — GSUSA specializes in high-quality, practical training programs that enhance the skills and effectiveness of government employees through innovative learning experiences. As an Approved Equivalent Provider of the Defense Acquisition University (DAU), GSUSA has partnered with more than 125 federal agencies and trained over one million federal employees.

Position Overview

GSUSA instructors teach predominantly live virtual courses, with occasional in-person sessions, within our Federal Acquisition & Contracting curriculum. Courses are taught to predefined GSUSA learning objectives with established materials — your job is to bring the subject matter to life with depth, currency, and real-world federal experience.

Curriculum Areas — Deep Expertise Required in One or More

Our Federal Acquisition & Contracting curriculum spans the full acquisition lifecycle and the DAU/FAI competency framework. We welcome instructors with deep expertise in one or more of the following tracks:

•     Federal Acquisition Regulation & Contracting Law: FAR fundamentals and application; the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) and Strategic Acquisition Guidance framework; government contract law; DFARS and agency supplements; and procurement ethics, conflicts of interest, and enforcement.

•     Acquisition Planning & Pre-Award: Requirements development and market research; acquisition strategy and planning; performance work statements and statements of work; solicitation development; and simplified acquisition procedures (FAR Part 13).

•     Source Selection, Cost & Price Analysis: Competitive source selection under FAR Part 15; proposal evaluation and best-value award decisions; cost and price analysis; TINA requirements; and profit/fee determination with defensible documentation.

•     Contract Award & Negotiation: Evaluating offers and making award decisions; assessing contractor responsibility and risk; developing negotiation objectives and strategies; and structuring better business deals for the Government.

•     Contract Administration & Post-Award Management: Post-award orientation; monitoring contractor performance and quality; contract modifications and changes; management of government-furnished property and payments; and basic and advanced contract administration.

•     Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): COR roles and responsibilities; surveillance and performance assessment; documentation and file management; and effective coordination with the Contracting Officer, from COR Essentials through the Advanced COR Workshop.

•     FAC-C / DAWIA Contracting Certification: The DAU/FAI Contracting Training Model; foundational, pre-award, award, and post-award contracting competencies (CON series); and certification exam preparation for the civilian FAC-C (Professional) and DoD DAWIA programs.

•     Program & Project Management (FAC-P/PM): The federal project and program management lifecycle; cost estimating and business cases; Earned Value Management; the Adaptive Acquisition Framework; and leading integrated project teams.

•     Specialized & Contingency Contracting: Digital IT Acquisition (DITAP) and agile services procurement; systems acquisition management and the Defense Acquisition System; supply chain management for contracting; and joint and contingency contracting in austere environments.

Minimum Qualifications - Read before Applying

•     A minimum of 7 years of hands-on federal acquisition or contracting experience — in contract planning, source selection, award, negotiation, or administration; COR oversight; acquisition program or project management; or a related federal acquisition specialty — gained within a federal agency, the Department of Defense, the uniformed services, or in direct, sustained support of federal acquisition clients.

•     Experience in state, municipal, nonprofit, K-12/higher education, or general corporate procurement does not substitute for federal acquisition experience. Candidates without direct federal acquisition experience will not be considered for this curriculum.

•     Demonstrated experience leading, training, briefing, advising, or mentoring professionals — for example, advising program offices or agency leadership, supervising contracting staff, leading working groups, or conducting on-the-job or staff training.

•     Bachelor’s degree or higher.

Preferred Experience/Certifications

•     A federal acquisition certification, such as FAC-C (Professional) or DoD DAWIA Contracting, FAC-COR, or FAC-P/PM.

•     A professional contracts credential, such as Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM) or Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM).

•     Completion of, or eligibility for, GSUSA’s Federal Acquisition Certificate or Supply Chain Management for Contracting Certificate, or a comparable federal acquisition certificate.

•     Direct experience applying the FAR, DFARS, and current OFPP, DAU, and FAI guidance, with knowledge of evolving federal acquisition policy and practice (including the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul).

•     Prior formal instruction experience with adult professional learners, in classroom or live virtual settings (e.g., agency acquisition training programs, DAU/FAI-aligned courses, professional association courses, or adjunct teaching of federal acquisition content).

•     Experience delivering training via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

•     Deliver engaging instruction on federal acquisition and contracting topics to adult learners in live virtual and occasional in-person formats, aligned with GSUSA curriculum learning objectives.

•     Support instruction with provided materials (slides, handouts, references) and recommend updates based on regulatory and policy developments.

•     Draw on current federal acquisition practice to connect course content to learners’ real-world agency challenges.

•     Respond promptly and professionally to student questions during and outside of class sessions.

•     Collaborate with GSUSA curriculum staff to keep course content accurate and current.

•     Comply with GSUSA policies, procedures, and quality standards, and participate in instructional onboarding and ongoing professional development.

Technology & System Requirements (Virtual Instruction)

•     Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365; comfort with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and digital communication tools (training provided on GSUSA-specific platforms).

•     Windows 10 or macOS 10.9 or later; large or dual monitors; HD webcam; microphone and speakers; reliable broadband internet connection.

Compensation & Total Rewards

GSUSA offers a competitive, market-based total rewards program. Instructor roles fall under two designations based on skills and experience; those selected for an Instructor designation can expect an hourly pay range of $35.00 to $55.00, with individual compensation determined by relevant experience, skills, geographic location, and level of role. This range is subject to change.

All GSUSA employees, including part-time instructors, are eligible to participate in our 401(k) retirement plan, administered through Empower. Employees are automatically enrolled at a 5% pre-tax contribution rate and may change their contribution rate or opt out at any time. Part-time instructors also accrue paid sick leave in accordance with applicable state and local law and have access to our learning management system and individual development planning resources.

Scheduling is intermittent and flexible — many of our instructors teach alongside full-time federal careers or in retirement.

Compensation: $40.00 to $60.00 per hour, depending on experience, skills, and location.