Contracting Professional 3

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

About The Position

The Contracting Professional performs complex procurement activities across the full acquisition lifecycle, from acquisition planning and requirement development through sourcing, solicitation, proposal evaluation, vendor selection, award, administration, delivery, and closeout. The role applies established procurement concepts and techniques to assess scope, risk, and customer objectives, choose appropriate contract provisions and types, and prevent or resolve issues throughout the process. The position generally operates independently, with considerable latitude and without appreciable direction, while working under the general supervision of the Directorate Contracts Manager, Acquisitions Lead Specialist, and Senior Contracting Professional. The role represents Acquisition Management to program and project management on technical projects and in customer-service assignments. It leads procurement-related matters on project teams, provides consultative services to Battelle management and within the directorate, and trains junior Procurement Services personnel and peers on complex procurement processes. It also represents Acquisition Management and the Business Services Directorate in process improvement, problem resolution, system development, and the development of procurement and company policies and procedures. The Contracting Professional works with internal customers and is responsible for risk assessment, negotiating reasonable terms and conditions, analyzing vendor pricing, maintaining documentation, and securing an appropriate balance of price, quality, delivery, and services under applicable Battelle, sponsor, DOE, and federal acquisition requirements. The role requires working knowledge of commonly used contract types and accountability for compliance, timely work planning and execution, maintaining expertise, and identifying improvement opportunities. It has delegated authority to commit Battelle to contractual arrangements, enforce contract and purchase-order terms, provide input to performance assessments, identify equipment and facility needs, and stop work when specified safety, quality, or security concerns arise. Business travel, domestic and international, may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of relevant experience, or a master’s degree or higher and 3 years of relevant experience.
Strong acquisition contracting skills and a high degree of customer service.
Ability to work independently with minimal oversight and exercise judgment in complex procurement matters.
Ability to assess and define risk and negotiate terms and conditions toward mutually reasonable solutions.
Ability to analyze vendor pricing using recognized price-analysis and cost-analysis techniques.
Working knowledge of Firm Fixed Price, Labor Hour, and Cost Reimbursement contract types.
Ability to maintain precise documentation supporting decisions and recommendations.
Ability to comply with applicable Laboratory, Battelle, sponsor, DOE, and Federal Acquisition requirements.
Ability to work on multiple tasks concurrently.

Nice To Haves

Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint.
Experience in international contracting.
Current or previous experience working within Battelle’s Acquisition Guidelines.
Working knowledge of contract negotiations and regulatory compliance.
Familiarity with business systems and acquisition-related systems such as PACQ/PES, Web Reports, PMR/Insight, and Accounts Payable.
Working knowledge of the supply chain process, particularly purchasing and subcontracting.

Responsibilities

Perform complex procurement activities across the acquisition lifecycle, including acquisition strategy and advance planning, requirement development, vendor sourcing, solicitation, proposal evaluation, vendor selection, award, administration, delivery, and closeout.
Evaluate scope, risk, customer objectives, and appropriate contract provisions and types; prevent or resolve problems throughout the acquisition lifecycle.
Represent Acquisition Management to program and project management on technical projects and in customer-service roles.
Lead Procurement Services-related matters on project teams or special assignments to programs and projects.
Provide consultative services to Battelle management and within the directorate.
Train junior Procurement Services personnel and peers on technical complexities of procurement processes.
Represent Acquisition Management and the Business Services Directorate in process improvement, problem resolution, and system development activities.
Participate in developing procurement and company philosophy, policies, procedures, and processes.
Work with internal customers, including project managers, project specialists, business office representatives, legal staff, project management office directors, and technical oversight representatives.
Provide customer service and apply acquisition contracting skills in interactions.
Perform contract activities from initiation through closeout under general supervision of the Directorate Contracts Manager, Acquisitions Lead Specialist, and Senior Contracting Professional.
Assess and define risk and negotiate contract terms and conditions toward mutually reasonable solutions with minimal oversight.
Determine the reasonableness of vendor pricing using recognized techniques such as price analysis and cost analysis.
Maintain precise documentation supporting decisions, conclusions, findings, and recommendations.
Secure the best available balance of price, quality, delivery, and services within applicable Battelle, sponsor, DOE, and Federal Acquisition Regulation guidelines.
Maintain working knowledge of contract types routinely used for laboratory requirements, including Firm Fixed Price, Labor Hour, and Cost Reimbursement.
Comply with Laboratory policies, standards, procedures, and Acquisition Guidelines; plan and execute work in a timely manner and maintain expertise.
Identify opportunities for improvement and perform work in accordance with the position description.
Commit Battelle to contractual arrangements within delegated authority and enforce contract and purchase-order terms and conditions.
Provide input to annual performance assessments and identify equipment and facility needs.
Stop work when an Environmental, Safety & Health, quality, or safeguards and security concern exists.
Travel domestically and internationally as business needs require.