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6C091 Career Guide

Air Force

6C091: Contracting Specialist

Career transition guide for Air Force Contracting Specialist (6C091)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 6C091 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Contract Specialist

$78K
High matchHigh demand

Procurement Manager

$105K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Supply chain managementProject management

Compliance Officer

$72K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Industry-specific regulationsAuditing

Logistics Manager

$85K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Supply Chain ManagementInventory Control

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 6C091 training built — and where they transfer.

Procedural Compliance

Strictly adhering to government regulations, directives, laws, and contracting policies when preparing solicitations, reviewing bids, and awarding contracts.

Meticulously following established protocols, legal requirements, and industry standards to ensure accuracy, consistency, and risk mitigation in operations.

Adversarial Thinking

Evaluating bids and proposals, negotiating terms, and mediating protests requires anticipating potential challenges and conflicting interests from contractors.

Analyzing potential risks, identifying weaknesses in proposals, and strategically planning for negotiations by considering various viewpoints and potential opposition.

Resource Optimization

Maximizing the use of commercial items and practices, determining the most appropriate contracting methods and contract types, and ensuring adherence to delivery schedules and prices to achieve cost-effectiveness.

Identifying opportunities to streamline processes, reduce waste, and improve efficiency by leveraging available resources, technologies, and best practices to achieve optimal outcomes.

After-Action Analysis

Analyzing award actions, assessing contractor compliance, and resolving claims/disputes to identify areas for improvement in future contracting activities.

Evaluating project outcomes, identifying lessons learned, and implementing corrective actions to improve processes, mitigate risks, and enhance future performance.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041

You've been ensuring contractors comply with regulations, laws, and policies. Now, as a Compliance Officer, you can use those skills to develop, implement, and monitor compliance programs within organizations.

Purchasing Manager

SOC 11-3061

You've been managing and administering contracting functions, including preparing solicitations and negotiating contracts. As a Purchasing Manager, you can leverage these skills to oversee the procurement of goods and services for organizations, ensuring cost-effectiveness and quality.

Project Manager

SOC 11-9199

You've been supporting all functions of contingency operations and developing program plans. As a Project Manager, you can apply these skills to plan, execute, and finalize projects according to strict deadlines and within budget.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Contracting Apprentice Course, Lackland AFB, TX

360 training hours9 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended in business administration

Topics Covered

  • Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
  • Contract Types and Methods
  • Solicitation Preparation and Evaluation
  • Negotiation Techniques
  • Contract Administration
  • Simplified Acquisition Procedures
  • Contingency Contracting

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM)70% covered

Study specific aspects of commercial contract law, advanced negotiation techniques, and current trends in supply chain management.

Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM)80% covered

Focus on updates to the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement). Review recent case law impacting federal contracting.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)Lean Six Sigma Green BeltCertified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
Automated Business Services System (ABSS)Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle)
Contract Writing System (e.g., Procurement Automated Data and Document System (PADDS))Contract Management Software (e.g., Coupa, Ariba)
Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF) / Electronic Data Access (EDA)Electronic invoicing and payment platforms (e.g., Tungsten Network, Taulia)
Joint Contingency Contracting System (JCCS)Emergency Procurement Software
Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation (FPDS-NG)Market Research and Spend Analysis tools

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