Principal Contracts Officer

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory•Berkeley, CA

8h•Hybrid

About The Position

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Principal Contracts Officer within the Strategic Partnerships Office (SPO). This position helps create and enable contractual vehicles for research to work with Berkeley Lab’s scientists and engineers across a variety of disciplines. As Principal Contracts Officer, the incumbent is responsible for moving proposals from submissions to awards stage through the successful creation, negotiation and execution of contractual mechanisms used at LBNL, such as those used for Strategic Partnership Projects (SPPs), Cooperative Research And Development Agreement (CRADAs), Agreements for Commercializing Technology (ACTs), User Facility agreements or other Department of Energy (DOE) Management Contractor funded projects. About Berkeley Lab: Berkeley Lab is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory managed by the University of California and designated a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). The Laboratory conducts groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. “Team Science” remains an integral part of Berkeley Lab’s DNA, where research is carried out across multiple scientific disciplines. Berkeley Lab has a dynamic workforce of 4,000 employees and an annual operating budget of approximately $1.3 billion. The University of California (UC) manages Berkeley Lab for DOE’s Office of Science. About 95%25 of the Laboratory’s funding comes from federal and state taxpayers, which highlights the importance of stewardship and trust with the public.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum of 6 years related work experience in a multidivisional organization.
Substantial experience in the preparation, negotiation, and administration of complex sponsored research contracts, including developing innovative contracting solutions to engage new research sponsors.
Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to coordinate effectively with sponsors, researchers, and administrative staff in a university-based environment.
Proven ability to work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders in a team environment.
Demonstrated ability to work with the multiple demands of Laboratory staff, DOE and sponsors under constant internal and external deadline pressures.
Demonstrated ability to prioritize and conduct business using complex documents and database, word-processing and spreadsheet programs.
Strong analytical skills and ability to anticipate, plan for, and resolve unexpected issues in a fast-paced, high-profile environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience working for a large research institution.
Advanced degree in business or law.
Knowledge of University of California policies related to research administration.
Knowledge of enterprise resource planning software.
Familiarity with DOE Orders pertaining to Strategic Partnership Projects and CRADAs, and FAR and DEAR clauses.

Responsibilities

Function as the SPO main point-of-contact for a designated scientific research area as part of a multifunctional team.
Advise and consult on contractual issues with Principal Investigator and Finance Officers, negotiate required changes with external sponsoring agencies and collaborators and devise contractual solutions.
Prepare and enter documentation to track proposals and establish awards in the Lab’s grants administration system.
Analyze contract terms and conditions in order to successfully negotiate research funding agreements with public and private sector sponsors.
Independently execute and authorize financial accounts after receiving all necessary approvals from the Department of Energy and Berkeley Lab.
Obtain Department of Energy approval on exceptions of terms and conditions as required.
Respond to general questions about policies, procedures and status of work.
Provide backup support to other Contracts Officers when needed.
Represent the Strategic Partnerships Office on internal or external committees as needed.
Responsible for the timely review, negotiation, and execution of complex, high volume sponsored research grants and awards, including duties related to SPPs, CRADAs, ACT and User Facility Agreements.
Apply advanced knowledge, principles and theories to develop innovative solutions that satisfy the Sponsor while maintaining compliance with UC and DOE policy and regulations pertaining to research agreements.
Comprehend and interpret complex language, compliance and policy issues within the parameters of DOE and UCOP policy and regulation.
Mentorship of junior staff and newly hired Contracts Officers.
Assists in the development of and successfully delivers training to Laboratory staff on SPO policies and procedures.
Involved in developing, modifying and executing Lab policies that affect immediate operations and have a lab wide effect.