Contracts Agent - GPC Generation

Southern Company•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

Contract Agent – GPC Generation Supply Chain Management Transaction Team This position will be based at the Energy Center (Birmingham, AL) or Georgia Power Corporate Headquarters (Atlanta, GA) JOB SUMMARY This position will provide daily contracting and sourcing support (request for proposal, negotiations, contract development, risk mitigation, tracking, analysis) to meet the acquisition needs for services and materials.  This position will also work closely with our category management strategies in support of contracting requirements. JOB RESPONSIBILITIES Duties will include the daily support of all sourcing & contracting activities "from cradle to grave", including advising customers on Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Proposal (RFP) preparation, lead pre-bid meetings, review of offers upon receipt from bidders, cost & price analysis, negotiations, risk assessment, preparing contract documents and agreements; assists in contract administration, incorporation of changes, expediting & follow-up, disposition of claims, and contract closeout. Duties will require leading sourcing projects, assisting in developing and implementing strategic programs for the procurement of Equipment and Services. Expectations include outstanding oral and written communications with ability to excel in high-level communications with Management at multiple levels. Develop the sourcing strategy for low to high risk services.  A typical agent will support ~(20 - 25) active projects concurrently with defined turnaround parameters (Target Days) for all contract related documents (RFPs, Master Agreements, Non-Disclosure, Amendments, Statements of Work, etc.) throughout the year. Manage relationships with the company’s vendors and ensure efficient and transparent contracting and negotiation process to reduce costs, improve commercial terms and reduce duplication of efforts. Maintain effective, professional communication to keep internal customers up to date on contracts development process. Work cross functionally to improve and streamline processes. Ensure that overall risk is properly controlled and mitigated. Develop a detailed knowledge of the Southern Company and Operating Company 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 common law, contract formation issues, data security 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. Draft contract language, including special conditions for complex, non-standard purchases. Identify and evaluate new sources of supply, domestic and globally, when necessary to meet customer needs, including performing market research and analysis. Build and maintain a fundamental to proficient knowledge of our contracting systems utilized in daily support. Conflict Resolution, the ability to engage and fix identified issues. Maintain the primary interface with contractors in an ethical and respectful manner while protecting the company's interests.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
Knowledge of contract law and drafting of terms and conditions (required)
Legal and commercial negotiation skills (required)
Self-motivated and ability to work with minimal supervision
Customer focused with ability to build and maintain relationships with internal customers, suppliers, contractors and other key stakeholders
Effectively handle tight deadlines, large workloads, and multiple projects with positive enthusiasm
Superior written and oral communication, to successfully negotiate contract terms and write such contracts in a clear, logical and concise manner
Candidate must have effective influencing and consensus-building skills
Strategic focus on problem-solving
Excellent organizational skills are required to plan and manage assigned workload and customer expectations effectively to meet internal business unit requirements
Ability to think strategically and apply broad seasoned judgment to decisions
Analytical and interpersonal skills
Ability to effectively work and participate in cross-functional and cross-company teams at all levels in the organization to ensure buy-in by multiple companies when working on system projects
Must demonstrate behaviors consistent with the Southern Company values of Safety First, Intentional Inclusion, Acting with Integrity and Superior Performance
Self-motivated
Customer focused
Strong work ethic
Exhibits a strong sense of urgency
Promotes teamwork
Practices ethical behavior
Displays creativity, initiative, and flexibility
Learns from and utilizes experience

Nice To Haves

BS in Business, Management, Finance, or Law is preferred
Formal education in contract language and law is highly preferred

Responsibilities

Daily support of all sourcing & contracting activities "from cradle to grave"
Advising customers on Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Proposal (RFP) preparation
Lead pre-bid meetings
Review of offers upon receipt from bidders
Cost & price analysis
Negotiations
Risk assessment
Preparing contract documents and agreements
Assists in contract administration, incorporation of changes, expediting & follow-up, disposition of claims, and contract closeout
Leading sourcing projects
Assisting in developing and implementing strategic programs for the procurement of Equipment and Services
Develop the sourcing strategy for low to high risk services
Support ~(20 - 25) active projects concurrently with defined turnaround parameters (Target Days) for all contract related documents (RFPs, Master Agreements, Non-Disclosure, Amendments, Statements of Work, etc.) throughout the year
Manage relationships with the company’s vendors and ensure efficient and transparent contracting and negotiation process to reduce costs, improve commercial terms and reduce duplication of efforts
Maintain effective, professional communication to keep internal customers up to date on contracts development process
Work cross functionally to improve and streamline processes
Ensure that overall risk is properly controlled and mitigated
Develop a detailed knowledge of the Southern Company and Operating Company procurement policies/procedures and have the capability to become a Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Build and maintain a detailed knowledge and understanding of essential legal provisions, contract common law, contract formation issues, data security 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
Draft contract language, including special conditions for complex, non-standard purchases
Identify and evaluate new sources of supply, domestic and globally, when necessary to meet customer needs, including performing market research and analysis
Build and maintain a fundamental to proficient knowledge of our contracting systems utilized in daily support
Conflict Resolution, the ability to engage and fix identified issues
Maintain the primary interface with contractors in an ethical and respectful manner while protecting the company's interests