7 Characteristics of an Excellent Contracting Officer

7 CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EXCELLENT

CONTRACTING OFFICER BY MIKE DERRIOS

USCG HEAD OF CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

CRITICAL THINKING

• THE DAILY CHALLENGES THAT CONTRACTING OFFICERS FACE REQUIRE THEM TO LOOK THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT LENSES AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THEY ARE CONSTANTLY THINKING ABOUT SECOND AND THIRD ORDER IMPACTS. STRONG ANALYTICAL SKILLS ARE THE VERY FOUNDATION FOR THIS PROFESSION.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• CONTRACTING OFFICERS HAVE TO WORK ACROSS MULTIPLE LINES OF BUSINESS AND THE ABILITY TO PRACTICE ACTIVE LISTENING TO PROPERLY UNDERSTAND AND FRAME ISSUES, IN ADDITION TO BEING ARTICULATE BOTH VERBALLY AND IN WRITING TO CONVEY KEY INFORMATION, IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL TO SUCCESS.

INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY

• FEDERAL PROCUREMENT IS AN EVER-EVOLVING UNIVERSE AND CONTRACTING OFFICERS HAVE TO ENGAGE IN CONTINUOUS LEARNING TO STAY CURRENT. THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CONTRACTING OFFICERS ARE THOSE THAT DEMONSTRATE A NATURAL INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY AND A PENCHANT FOR NEW INFORMATION.

FLEXIBILITY

• FEDERAL PROCUREMENT IS A FLUID BUSINESS AND CONTRACTING OFFICERS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST AND ADAPT QUICKLY. AS MARKET CONDITIONS, REGULATIONS AND FISCAL POSITIONS CHANGE, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TURN ON A DIME AND GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AS NEEDED.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

• CONTRACTING OFFICERS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN HIGH-STRESS ENVIRONMENTS. BEING SELF-AWARE OF THEIR EMOTIONS, AND ALSO THE EMOTIONS OF OTHERS, HELPS TO RESOLVE NEGATIVE CONFLICT AND PROMOTES POSITIVE CONFLICT INSTEAD.

PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

• EVERY CONTRACTING ACTION, NO MATTER THE SIZE OR COMPLEXITY, HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE SET OF CHALLENGES. EACH TIME A PURCHASE REQUEST IS RECEIVED IT INVOLVES IDENTIFYING ISSUES, UNDERSTANDING THE CUSTOMER'S INTERESTS, EVALUATING OPTIONS AND MAKING DECISIONS. CONTRACTING OFFICERS THAT EXCEL IN THEIR FIELD HAVE A TENACIOUS ABILITY TO UNCOVER ROOT CAUSES AND SOLVE PROBLEMS.

INITIATIVE

• WHETHER IT'S REMINDING THEIR PROGRAM COUNTERPARTS THAT IT'S TIME TO PLAN FOR A CONTRACT RE-COMPETE, OR TAKING THE LEAD TO STAND UP THE INTEGRATED PROJECT TEAM THEMSELVES, CONTRACTING OFFICERS HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE INITIATIVE. KNOWING WHEN AND HOW TO TAKE THE REINS WILL ENABLE A CONTRACTING OFFICER TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER.