Contract Specialist

KENYATTA L. GARDNER

Richmond, VA *****

706-***-**** ***********@*****.***

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenyatta-gardner PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Contracting Officer and United States Army Veteran leveraging over 20 years of experience in leading multi- discipline workstreams and managing complex projects in diverse industries. Dynamic and initiative-taking Procurement Professional with over four years of expertise in orchestrating intricate procurement processes, negotiating contracts, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Broad experience in managing cross-functional dependencies for a wide range of products and services. Consistent history of superior leadership and people skills managing risk in complex organizations’ business processes, operations, communications, and portfolios up to $500M and 120 employees.

● Contract Administration

● Project Program Manager

● Resource Management

● Leadership Development

● Market Research Analysis

● Executive Relations

● Regulatory Compliance

● Acquisitions Logistics

● Effective Communicator

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

● Microsoft Office 365: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Richmond, VA

Contracting Officer (Contract Specialist) 2021 – Present Serves as a Contracting Officer (Contract Specialist) responsible for acquisition planning, preparation of cost and price analysis for designated actions, contract negotiation, contract execution, and production management activities. Reviews, analyzes, coordinates, and provides determinations on production management functions from the point of pre-award survey to delivery of hardware and closeout of contracts. Formulates negotiation objectives and negotiations contracts and prepares designated price and cost-analysis in accordance with current command regulations and policies.

• Warranted Contracting Officer for Below Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT).

• Leads all aspects of the contracting process, including solicitation, evaluation, negotiation, and award of contracts, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and relevant regulations.

• Facilitates various contracting types, such as simplified acquisitions, formal bilateral contracts, Firm Fixed-Price, indefinite delivery, and Small Business Programs contracts (e.g., HUBZone, Service- Disabled Veteran Owned, Woman-Owned), emphasizing support for small and disadvantaged businesses.

• Conducts market research to identify contractors capable of meeting requirements, with a focus on small business participation, and negotiate procurements for Aviation requirements in alignment with Defense and Federal Acquisition Regulations to include services, equipment, and/or products.

• Evaluates subcontracting plans, submit plans to the DLA Aviation Small Business Office, and re- negotiate plans based on Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) recommendations.

• Proficiently utilizes various procurement tools and platforms including Enterprise Business System (EBS), e-Procurement Advanced Acquisition Analysis (AAA), SAM.gov, and Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE), and conducts cost and price analyses to determine Fair and Reasonable prices. KENYATTA L. GARDNER PAGE. 2

Program Director, Fort Bragg, NC 2014 – 2018

Directly supervised the Commanding General Officer’s (CEO equivalent) Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Program which provided training to reduce/prevent sexual harassment and assault. Delivered multiple policy improvement procedures to provide support and advocacy for victims and families. Routinely provided information to over three hundred Soldiers, employees, managers, and family members at all levels, concentrating on systemic problems as well as individual problems. Led organizational wide change initiatives utilizing clear, concise, and compelling strategic communications.

• Served as the Senior Commander’s principal authority, strategic advisor, and advocate for the SHARP Program.

• Maintained the Department of Defense (DoD) Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program as well as any applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

• Collected data, performed analyses to identify trends and defensible conclusions.

• Developed managerial tools to accurately track sexual harassment and sexual assault case management and regulatory requirements.

• Authored key documents including the SHARP Memorandum of Instruction and standard operating procedures, contributing to regulatory updates.

• Personally led day-to-day operations of a Company level unit. Oversaw personnel management, training, resource allocation, and welfare of staff across four junior departments maintaining lofty standards of accountability and operational efficiency.

• Initiated performance management and professional development/mentoring of six hundred junior personnel, fostering leadership skills and career advancement. EDUCATION

• Master of Business Administration – Human Resource Management Columbia Southern University (CSU), Orange Beach, AL

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Organizational Leadership Columbia Southern University (CSU), Orange Beach, AL CERTIFICATIONS

• Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Contracting Professional Certification

• Lean Six Sigma (Yellow Belt)

• Logistics Engineer Apprenticeship for the State of North Carolina

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