What are some options to transition out of 1102? (eg. 0341 (AO) or 0343 (Program Analysis/Mgmt)?)

[NewbieFed]

I've been in the 1102 field for a few years and it has not been what I expected. I expected to be a business + regulatory advisor and save the government money...the reality for me has been completely different. Thus, I am looking to transition out of the field. Anyone have recommendations? I have FAC-C cert, some business experience, and a law degree.

 

I have been looking into the following:

0341 - Administrative Officer

0343  - Management and Program Analysis Series

 

I am not sure what the difference between 0343 vs 0340 (Program Management) is.

 

[formerfed]

You don’t say where your current 1102 position is but 1102 job duties vary widely by agencies and locations.  Some 1102s are basically clerks and just check-the-box with processing transactions.  At the other extreme some 1102s serve as “business advisors” and help program offices plan, execute, and administer acquisitions that directly support agency missions.  They not only save money but help formulate actions that optimally foster program success.

If I were you I would search for the kind of job you like rather than just be disillusioned about your 1102 experience thus far.  The 341 and 343 job series has similar pitfalls - some are glorified clerical duties while others are exciting 

[NewbieFed]

56 minutes ago, formerfed said:

You don’t say where your current 1102 position is but 1102 job duties vary widely by agencies and locations.  Some 1102s are basically clerks and just check-the-box with processing transactions.  At the other extreme some 1102s serve as “business advisors” and help program offices plan, execute, and administer acquisitions that directly support agency missions.  They not only save money but help formulate actions that optimally foster program success.

If I were you I would search for the kind of job you like rather than just be disillusioned about your 1102 experience thus far.  The 341 and 343 job series has similar pitfalls - some are glorified clerical duties while others are exciting 

Contract specialist, entry FAC-C cert. Working on FAC-C 2 and will be a CO in the near future. My experience has been working on awards between 10k-250k, and also have some experience with awards over the SAT 250k (below the 7.5 million limit for commercial items). 

The kind of job "I want" is to streamline government programs, save them money, make them more efficient, etc. I was curious as to Management/whether Program Analysts do this.

 

I'm frustrated with my current position because it seems people just wants me to make awards as fast as possible. We get spammed with a ton of last minute acquisitions whenever a funding deadline is approaching so they can use up their funds...seemingly disregarding the Bona Fide Needs Rule.

Nobody seems to care that I save the money a few thousand on a contract here and there. People are more likely to get annoyed that I do a full and open competition (slightly delaying the acquisition and risking an award to their non-preferred vendor) to save them money rather than quickly spend more money on the restricted competition acquisitions that they wanted with their poorly written/poorly justified justifications/JOFOCs.

And in performance evaluations, the metric always seems to be revolving around how fast we can make the awards/get stuff out the door to please the program office. How much $$$ I save is not remotely considered whatsoever.

[Don Mansfield]

My sentiments are similar to @formerfed. If I had believed that my first position as an 1102 was representative of 1102 work in general, I would not have stayed in the field. I moved a few times and ended up doing and seeing some cool stuff. 

It sounds like you have a thankless job with limited responsibility that's starting to wear on you. May be time to look elsewhere.

[nonlinearthinking]

On 6/8/2023 at 3:18 PM, Don Mansfield said:

My sentiments are similar to @formerfed. If I had believed that my first position as an 1102 was representative of 1102 work in general, I would not have stayed in the field. I moved a few times and ended up doing and seeing some cool stuff. 

It sounds like you have a thankless job with limited responsibility that's starting to wear on you. May be time to look elsewhere.

Do you think there are some agencies that are considered better than others when it comes to being an 1102?

[REA'n Maker]

15 hours ago, nonlinearthinking said:

Do you think there are some agencies that are considered better than others when it comes to being an 1102?

From my experience, DoD is in general a better place for 1102s than the civilian side because DoD acquisition is vital to its mission.  DoD also has acquisition curriculum, systems and processes in place that have been developed over several decades as well as a respect for basic stuff like the chain of command.  The civilian side is a politically-driven money-wasting machine more concerned about where something is procured than what is procured.

[formerfed]

REA’n, I don’t completely agree with your assessment.  Both DoD and Civilian processes have good points and bad.  For example DoD stresses chain of command heavily from your example.  That can be good as well as bad.  I’ve seen numerous success stories in the civil side where empowered employees literally pulled off miracles.  Most civilian agencies have much less detailed policies, procedures, and regulation to follow by comparison which can mean either quicker and more responsive acquisitions partially through personal exercising of judgement and decision-making or major blunders depending upon the people conducting them.  As far as mission, many 1102s are so far away from high level DoD missions, much of their acquisitions are way removed from directly affecting it.

Work experiences and job satisfaction can very considerably not only between agencies and individual offices but even within an office.  I once worked  at a DoD office doing major R&D contracting.  It was a wonderful experience where program offices treated 1102s with much respect.  We were empowered by management to work mostly independently and make our own decisions.  Minimal review of work products took place.  But within the same office was a counterpart group that did mostly complex services and supplies.  It was the exact opposite for them with supervisors micromanaging everything.

 

[REA'n Maker]

Yeah formerfed I agree every experience is different but based on my experience in 25 agencies in all 3 branches of government, DoD is the place to be as an 1102.  Why else does every civilian agency copy DoD to the point of teaching the proper use of WPN funding (!) in their 'training classes'?  Civilian agencies definitely have fewer rules and regs but I also know of at least 2 agencies who believe that task orders are cost-type and delivery orders are FFP (I'm not making that up).

I would advise the OP to look at the mission of whatever agency they are considering. 

Have a great weekend!

[formerfed]

4 hours ago, REA'n Maker said:

I would advise the OP to look at the mission of whatever agency they are considering. 

That and check out info from others including those working there and prior employees on conditions.  One thing about the 1102 community is people talk with each other.  Despite being relatively large it’s easy to find someone that works at any given office even though it might involve a few calls

[Don Mansfield]

19 hours ago, nonlinearthinking said:

Do you think there are some agencies that are considered better than others when it comes to being an 1102?

Yes, but as you can see opinions differ.

@REA'n Maker and @formerfed give good advice on what you should consider in choosing an 1102 job. I would also add how much they care about training and developing employees. 

[Todd Davis]

Have you considered a Grants Managment Specialist (1109)?  The ones you mention are also good ideas.  I transition to the 0301 series (Miscellaneous Administration and Program) and have a role as a Chief of Staff, albeit in an acquisition organization. 

I'm not sure how many different contracting offices you've worked in or roles that you have but I would suggest looking at other agencies/offices.  I know our agency values good business advisors in acquisitions.

[KeithB18]

On 6/23/2023 at 1:33 PM, REA'n Maker said:

 

I would advise the OP to look at the mission of whatever agency they are considering. 

 

Great advice. If you can wake up in the morning proud to work for the agency, it will go a long way in terms of job satisfaction.

The DOD is too rules heavy for me, but YMMV. The DOD has thousands (probably) of contracting offices and they'll vary, sometimes significantly. 

As far as 0343 and 0431, be careful. In my experience, those jobs don't have common characteristics so you may have no idea what you're walking into. At least with 1102, the job series is well understood. That's not to say 0343 and 0431 can't be fabulous jobs, just ask a lot of questions about what you'll be working on if you're offered one. I've seen them range from doing budget work to writing the office telework policy. They often have COR duties. (Noting here that I'm an 1102; I haven't worked as a 0343.)