Senior Contract Specialist 1

About RTI RTI is an independent organization dedicated to conducting innovative, multidisciplinary research that improves the human condition. With a worldwide staff of more than 4,000 people, RTI offers innovative research and development and a full spectrum of multidisciplinary services. Universities in North Carolina founded RTI in 1958 as the first scientific organization in and centerpiece of the Research Triangle Park.

Job Description Under general supervision of the Post-Award Manager, develop, negotiate and manage various contracts, including more complex commercial and governmental proposals and agreements, grants, cooperative agreements, and other contractual vehicles, with independence and expertise.  Analyzes significant, and/or unique contract requirements, special provisions, terms and conditions to ensure compliance with appropriate laws, regulations, and corporate policies and business unit procedure. Provides contractual guidance to business team members and manages the contract change control process. Focal point for communication with law, finance and business team disciplines for resolution of contract issues and disputes. Has a sound and reliable understanding of the business case and an appreciation of financial/analytical issues and profit and loss implications. Exercise signature authority pursuant to delegation.

Responsibilities • Provides sound and knowledgeable guidance on various rules and regulations (Federal Acquisitions Regulations, Standardized Regulations, OMB Circulars, and other procurement regulations) that may affect contract compliance and performance.
• Can research contractual regulations to determine appropriate courses of action in problem solving.
• Review, draft, edit and negotiate contractual terms and conditions with external customers.
• Analyzes post award contract requirements and communicates these items to finance and technical staff to respond to customer inquiries.
• Provides reliable and appropriate advice to technical staff, finance partners, and other stakeholders at all levels regarding contract terms and conditions.
• Reviews contracts, grants, agreements, add-ons, amendments and other contractual vehicles to identify risks to the Institute, including financial, performance related, indemnification, export, reputational, and other risks to be mitigated.
• Actively participates in project review team meetings, kick-off meetings, lessons learned, and contribute to these meetings by presenting and championing ORC related issues.
• Communicates effectively as the as ORC contact for customers’ post award issues.
• Identifies risks and issues, suggests alternatives that lead to the best solution, or engages other units and expertise as necessary to address the risk.
• Collaborates with subcontracts and procurement to help reach resolution of issues relative to engaging subcontractors and consultants (for example, required flow-downs).
• Prepares specialized and/or non-routine response for proposals and contract modifications and other communications as needed. 
• Analyzes significant, and/or unique contract requirements, special provisions, terms and conditions to ensure compliance with appropriate laws, regulations, and corporate policies and business unit procedure.
• Manages contract change control process.
• Negotiates more complex contractual issues with independence and skill.
• Provides authoritative guidance to internal business teams on corporate goals and objectives relating to contracts.
• Is viewed as an effective and reliable business partner who can assist in new business pursuit and associated contract strategy.
• Identifies, drafts, develops, implements and provides training on contract policy and processes.
• Trains, instructs and mentors less experienced ORC professionals and other RTI professionals.
• Participates in the development of business alliances and partnering agreements.
• Understands the business case, financial/analytical issues and profit and loss implications.
• Accurately interprets RTI policies and procedures for technical staff.
• Interprets and advises technical staff and G&A units on clients’ contract terms, rules and regulations.
• Identifies need for contract modifications, drafts and negotiates changes.
• Designs new methods/procedures when existing methods and procedures are not applicable or are unavailable.
• Recommends and implements process improvements to management team and technical staff.
• Deals effectively with difficult people and calmly with high stress situations, e.g. tight deadlines, hostile individuals, and emergency situations.
• Handles contract actions in Costpoint, e.g. modifications, limitation of cost notices, and integrates contract terms, technical needs and billing information into Costpoint set-up. 
• Anticipates and resolves issues that would impact Costpoint accuracy and completeness. Issues Project Authorizations (PAs)
• Tracks and reports transactions of interest to ORC Management, Finance and/or technical staff, e.g. overruns; 5300 Memo projects; SCA contracts
• Provides information for and participates in Monthly Financial Reviews and High-Risk Project Reviews
• Coordinates RTI response to Government Contractor Performance• Understands, applies and integrates into the ORC processes applicable RTI directives on financial accountability and financial controls, such as fee guidelines and levels of appropriate financial review.
• Develops and integrates contract management tools, templates, methods and processes for efficient and effective work flow.
• Understands the appropriate use of standard forms and templates, maintains current examples of contractual language as references for new transactions, and drafts language for unique contractual situations.
• Effectively applies RTI Policies and Procedures and organizational operating directives to the work as assigned.
• Understands and applies knowledge of the impact and risk of international procurements, including regulatory, currency exchange, export and tax issues, to applicable transactions.
• Actively participates on project teams as needed to update, review, redraft or redesign contract management tools, templates, methods and processes.
• Identifies and assists departmental management in implementation and training on process improvements to maximize internal and external customer satisfaction.  Training may be institute wide.
• Effectively works with Proposal Cost Accounting to ensure budget and payment schedule accuracy and appropriateness
• Resolves complex contractual and business issues.
• Is seen as a business partner by maintaining expertise in assigned business areas by attending technical unit meetings, presentations, and other forums to understand the technical business and its contracting needs.
• Builds and maintains relationships with technical staff and business personnel in assigned business areas.
• Escalates contracts issues appropriately to avoid delays
• Consults with Manager regarding particularly troublesome or unfamiliar contract issues, but learns and implements with some independence
• Applies signature authority guidelines and signs contractual documents in accordance with the limits of assigned signature authority.
• Participates in contract and project review team meetings, kick- off meetings, lessons learned, and contributes by discussing ORC related issuesQualifications • Working knowledge of FAR, DFAR, AIDAR/ADS, Standardized Regulations, OMB Circulars, and other procurement regulations.
• Experience working in a cooperative, collaborative manner with government and non-government clients.
• Negotiation, analytical, and problem solving skills.
• Highly organized
• Sound and reliable knowledge of RTI’s policy and procedures, operating guidance and possess the ability to apply these policy and procedures in submitting the business proposal.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong negotiation skills and understanding of the negotiation process
• Keen ability to meet business-driven deadlines and commitments while maintaining a high level of quality and professionalism.
• Ability to use sound judgment in setting priorities of a high volume work load.
• Ability to work with seamlessly with other contracting staff.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor in all dealings with RTI’s internal and external clients.
• Understanding of general accounting principles and procedures, as well as RTI policies, procedures, operating methods and other financial drivers.
• Sound and reliable knowledge of general corporate business practices, government and commercial contracting regulations and principles, and subcontracting practices
• Able to resolve contracts and pricing issues with independence and reliable judgment
• Able to advise and interact with all levels of management, both verbally and in writing
• Proficiency in computer-based business applications (Microsoft software products, such as Word, Excel, Outlook or comparable software)
• Demonstrated common sense, logical thinking and exemplary ethics.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance or other applicable discipline, plus six (6) years of applicable contracting experience
• Master’s degree in finance or business and three (3) years of applicable contracting experience, or JD.
• Any equivalent combination of applicable education, training and experience.

 

Equal Employment Opportunity We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/VTo apply for this position, go to www.rti.org/careers and apply on line for position number 11645.