6C031 Career Guide
6C031: Contracting Specialist
Career transition guide for Air Force Contracting Specialist (6C031)
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Top civilian roles for 6C031 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Contract Specialist
Purchasing Manager
Skills to develop:
Compliance Officer
Skills to develop:
Project Manager
Skills to develop:
Logistics Manager
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 6C031 training built — and where they transfer.
Procedural Compliance
Ensuring all contracting actions adhere to strict government regulations, directives, laws, and policies. This requires meticulous attention to detail and a thorough understanding of complex legal frameworks.
Translates to an ability to navigate and enforce compliance in highly regulated industries, ensuring all operations meet established standards and legal requirements.
Adversarial Thinking
Evaluating proposals and bids, negotiating contracts, and mediating protests requires anticipating potential challenges and understanding the perspectives of contractors to secure the best value for the government.
This skill translates into an ability to anticipate risks, negotiate effectively, and resolve disputes in business settings. You can identify potential pitfalls and develop strategies to protect your organization's interests.
Resource Optimization
Maximizing the use of commercial items and practices, performing market research, and analyzing cost data to ensure the government receives the best possible value for its investments.
This skill translates into an ability to efficiently manage resources, identify cost-saving opportunities, and make data-driven decisions to improve profitability and operational efficiency.
Situational Awareness
Supporting all functions of contingency operations, advising government and contractor personnel, and conducting site visits requires understanding the broader context of each situation to make informed decisions and provide effective support.
This skill translates into an ability to quickly assess complex situations, understand the needs of stakeholders, and make informed decisions in dynamic environments. You excel at adapting to changing circumstances and maintaining a clear understanding of the overall picture.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Compliance Officer
SOC 13-1041You've been meticulously ensuring adherence to complex regulations and policies in government contracting. Now, as a Compliance Officer, you'll leverage your expertise to develop, implement, and oversee compliance programs for organizations in various industries. Your keen eye for detail and understanding of legal frameworks will be invaluable.
Purchasing Manager
SOC 11-3061You've been managing contracts, negotiating with vendors, and performing market research to secure the best value for the government. As a Purchasing Manager, you'll apply your skills to source goods and services, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier relationships for private companies. Your experience in resource optimization and adversarial thinking will make you a highly effective negotiator.
Fraud Investigator
SOC 13-2011You've been trained to identify discrepancies, assess compliance, and resolve disputes in government contracting. As a Fraud Investigator, you'll utilize your skills to investigate allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse within organizations. Your ability to analyze data, conduct interviews, and gather evidence will be critical to uncovering wrongdoing.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Contracting Apprentice Course, Lackland Air Force Base, TX
Topics Covered
- •Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
- •Contract Law
- •Simplified Acquisition Procedures
- •Contract Negotiation
- •Cost and Price Analysis
- •Contract Administration
- •Contingency Contracting
- •Automated Contracting Systems
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Focus on specific legal and ethical standards within the civilian contracting world, in-depth knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and advanced contract law topics.
Requires focused study on the legal nuances of federal contracting, current federal regulations, and recent changes to acquisition policy.
Study the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) guide thoroughly, focusing on areas like stakeholder management, risk management, and project integration, which may be less emphasized in military contracting.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Automated Business Services System (ABSS) | SAP Ariba, Coupa |
| Paperless Contract Files (PCF) | Electronic Document Management Systems (EDMS) like DocuSign, Adobe Sign |
| Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) | Commercial contract law, Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) |
| Wide Area WorkFlow (WAWF) | E-invoicing platforms such as Tungsten Network, Basware |
| Contract Writing System (ConWrite) | Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) software like Agiloft, Icertis |
| Joint Contingency Contracting System (JCCS) | Emergency procurement and disaster relief supply chain management software |
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