Contract Management Support (CMS) Training Program
New Career Opportunity
Lighthouse Central Florida is seeking motivated, legally blind individuals to join our Contract Management Support (CMS) training program.
The federal government is facing a critical shortage of qualified contracting personnel, and Lighthouse Central Florida has partnered with National Industries for the Blind (NIB) to develop a training program to help meet this need while simultaneously providing high-growth career opportunities for people who are legally blind.
What is Contract Management Support?
Contract management support (CMS) services include the tasks required to conduct contract close-out and administration. These tasks range from research and analysis prior to awarding a contract to contract negotiation and post-award vendor follow-up.
In 2008, the federal government spent over $500 billion on the purchase of various goods and services, but is facing a critical shortage of qualified contract specialists, as hiring has not kept up with retirements and government demand has increased for contracted goods and services.
What is National Industries for the Blind?
The mission of National Industries for the Blind (NIB) is to enhance the opportunities for economic and personal independence of persons who are blind, primarily through creating, sustaining and improving employment. Careers ranging from manufacturing to call center operations, high-tech distribution and management exist through a nationwide network of associated agencies. For the CMS program, NIB is partnering with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Acquisition University (DAU) to provide the core training courses required to establish a foundation in contract management. For more information visit www.nib.org.
Who is eligible to apply?
In order to be considered for this program, a candidate must:
• Be a U.S. citizen with English language proficiency
• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Be legally blind.
• Be independent in activities of daily living,
communication, and travel.
• Possess skills necessary to gain and maintain
employment.
• Be proficient in use of a computer and software,
including Windows, Internet, E-mail, Microsoft
Word, and basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Be proficient using adaptive technology, such as
ZoomText and/or JAWS.
• Have a Bachelor's degree with 24 credit hours in
a combination of the following fields:
accounting, business, finance, law, contracts,
economics, industrial management, marketing,
quantitative methods, or organization and
management.
Note: Tuition is free to participants who are eligible for this training.
What will happen in the CMS training?
• Interested candidates will be contacted for a
brief telephone screening interview.
• Those who meet the requirements will be invited
to a two-day assessment process at the Orlando
office of Lighthouse Central Florida.
• If a candidate meets the preliminary criteria, his
or her name will be submitted to NIB for
approval
• Once approved by NIB, the candidate will be
scheduled for up to 3 weeks of training in
Orlando. This part of the program consists of
four online courses from DAU that cover the
basics of government contracting procedures.
• The candidate will also be scheduled to attend
one additional week of specific contract
close-out training at a later time.
• Information about lodging and transportation
will be provided upon acceptance into the
program.
For more information please contact Nikki Littmann at 407-898-2483 x 29 or
nlittmann@lcf-fl.org
