Developing My Staff

[civ_1102]

I recently started my first position as a supervisory contract specialist/branch chief in a civilian agency. All of the employees that I lead are in the 1102 series. However, all of their work consists of very high volume but low dollar value supply buys that really would be more accurately described as purchasing rather than contracting (which in itself is a big change for me as most of my experience had been in R&D, program contracting, and professional services). Most of the employees have been working for quite some time. In such a situation, what do those of you who have had supervisory experience think would be in the value of getting my staff to pursue FAC-C certification?

Also, any advice in terms of good reading for a new manager would be helpful? I did complete a year long program with lots of Franklin Covey material, but always open to good new material.

[shinaku]

Check this out. The real deal - no theory - hands on - it works. Start with M-tools basic.

http://www.manager-tools.com/

[soboco]

civ,

Just to clarify... the FAC-C certification is to be in lieu of DAU (DAWIA) Level I, II & III certifications?

[civ_1102]

Right, FAC-C is the program used by civilian agencies. The training requirements are more or less the same. One big difference is that in civilian agencies, you need the 24 hours OR the degree in any field through Grade 12, and both for 13 and higher. Under DAWIA, both are supposed to be required at any grade.

[soboco]

I have a couple of staff in my office who are now fully engaged in their DAWIA training... one is a new staff member and the other person was here when I arrived but hadnt pursued any certification. Both folks are local nationals (we are overseas), so it seemed as though this wasnt a "priority" for them. As they are permanent employes working in the Contracting field it seemed appropriate, to me, for them to also have access to 1102 training.

[formerfed]

This is an excellent book and practices a good supervisor/manager should follow:

"First, Break All The Rules - ?What The World?s Greatest Managers Do Differently?" by Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman

[Don Mansfield]

civ_1102,

If the work is purchasing, and all that it will ever be is purchasing, then I don't think FAC-C would provide much benefit. I teach most of the courses required for FAC-C certification and they were not designed for purchasing agents (or contract specialists that do purchasing). When I get such students in my classes, they are only there to fulfill certification requirements. They learn very little that will apply to their jobs. Their time would be much better spent learning how to do purchasing better, faster, and cheaper, than to learn about source selection, cost analysis, cost-reimbursement contracting, etc.

[civ_1102]

Thanks, Don. That is pretty much what I was thinking, too. I wanted some outside advice since it is my first supervisory position. Most of the other management in the activity have spent most of their career in this office, so they do not have the perspective of working elsewhere, or doing more "contracting" vice purchasing.