Contracts Agent I, II, Sr

GRADE LEVEL: Exempt 4-6

JOB SUMMARY

This position will provide daily contracting and sourcing support (request for proposal, negotiations, contract development, risk mitigation, tracking, analysis) to meet SNC’s sourcing and procurement needs for services, software, materials, and equipment. This position will also work closely with our category managers and provide transactional support for category management strategies.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Degree(s) in Business, Management, Law, Finance, or Engineering preferred

• Formal education in contract language or supply chain management is highly preferred 

• Relevant certifications, such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) a plus

Experience

• Experience in commercial contracts or supply chain procurement preferred

• Maximo and GEP experience preferred

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications preferred

Knowledge and Skills

• Commercial contract law and drafting 

• Legal and commercial negotiations 

• Self-motivated and demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision 

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically under pressure.

• Ability to think strategically and apply broad, seasoned judgment to decisions 

• Customer focused with ability to build and maintain relationships with internal customers, suppliers, contractors and other key stakeholders 

• Ability to effectively handle tight deadlines, significant workloads, and multiple projects with positive enthusiasm  

• Superior written and oral communication skills with ability to successfully negotiate contract terms and draft contracts in a clear, logical and concise manner 

• Excellent organizational skills are required to plan and manage assigned workload and customer expectations effectively to meet internal business unit requirements 

• Analytical, negotiation and interpersonal skills 

• Ability to effectively work and participate in cross-functional and cross-company teams at all levels in the organization

• Ability to understand and interpret Technical Specifications and Scopes of Work.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Daily support of all sourcing & contracting activities "from cradle to grave," including advising internal business unit customers on Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Proposal (RFP) preparation, leading pre-bid meetings, reviewingproposals from bidders, performing cost & price analysis, negotiations, and contract risk assessments, preparing contract documents and agreements, assisting in contract administration, incorporation of scope or pricing changes, delivery expediting & follow-up, disposition of claims, dispute resolution and contract closeout.

• Expectations include outstanding oral and written communications with ability to excel in high-level communications with SNC management at multiple levels 

• Compliance with SNC and SCM procedures and goals.

• Ensure departmental compliance with all policies and guidelines.

• Serve in on-call duty rotation for SNC SCM contracts team.

• Develop the sourcing strategy for low to high-risk services and major equipment purchases in support of the operation and maintenance of the nuclear plants.

• Manage relationships with the company’s suppliers and vendors and ensure efficient and transparent contracting and negotiation process to reduce costs, improve commercial terms and reduce duplication of efforts.

• Work cross functionally to improve and streamline processes.

• Identify opportunities for process improvements within the contracting and procurement functions.

• Ensure that overall risk is properly controlled and mitigated.

• Develop a detailed knowledge of Southern Company and SNC procurement policies/procedures and have the capability to become a Subject Matter Expert (SME).

• Expected to build and maintain a detailed knowledge and understanding of essential legal provisions, contract law, contract formation issues, remedies, liquidated damages, litigation avoidance, and dispute resolution.

• Ensure all required terms and conditions are included in procurement documents and work with legal, risk management and financial services (accounting) to resolve contractor exceptions and issues in a timely manner.

• Ability or potential to draft new contract language, including special conditions for complex, non-standard purchases.

• Review Scopes of Work and Technical Specifications with ability to provide feedback when necessary.

• Identify and evaluate new sources of supply, domestic and globally, when necessary to meet customer needs, including performing market research and analysis.

• Ability to build and maintain a fundamental to proficient knowledge of our contracting systems utilized in daily support.

• Be adept at conflict resolution and display the ability to engage and fix identified issues in a timely manner.

• Maintain the primary relationship interface with contractors in an ethical and respectful manner while protecting the company's interests.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• Available to travel (occasionally) as needed, which may require an overnight stay

BEHAVIORAL ATTRIBUTES

• Must demonstrate behaviors consistent with the Southern Company's Our Values of safety first, intentional inclusion, acting with trust, and superior performance

• Self-motivated

• Exhibits a strong work ethic

• Drives for results

• Customer focused

• Exhibits a strong sense of urgency

• Promotes teamwork and collaboration

• Practices ethical behavior

• Displays creativity, initiative, and flexibility

• Learns from and utilizes experience

Southern Nuclear , a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is a leader among the nation’s nuclear energy facility operators and an innovator in advanced nuclear technologies. Southern Nuclear is an essential part of Southern Company’s energy portfolio, operating over 8,200 MW across eight nuclear energy units in Alabama and Georgia at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala., the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga., and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga.

The company recently achieved commercial operation on Vogtle Units 3&4, representing an historic achievement for the nuclear industry and the country. Vogtle Units 3&4 are the first new nuclear units to reach commercial operation and be built in the United States in the last three decades. Southern Nuclear is a recognized leader in the industry in nuclear and fuel innovation, having been the first to deploy Accident Tolerant Fuels and winning over 10 consecutive Top Innovative Practice (TIP) Awards and eight EPRI awards.

For more than 40 years, Southern Nuclear has operated nuclear energy facilities at the highest levels of safety and reliability, generating carbon-free electricity for millions of homes and businesses. The company’s headquarters is in Birmingham, Ala.

Twitter: @SouthernNuclear; Facebook: facebook.com/southernnuclear; www.southernnuclear.com

Job Identification: 7605

Job Category: Supply Chain

Job Schedule: Full time

Company: Southern Nuclear