Contracts Agent

• 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.
• 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.

• Bachelor's degree required
  • BS in Business, Management, Finance, or Law is preferred
  • Formal education in contract language and law is highly preferred

• 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 the ability and determination to support multiple projects under tight deadlines
• 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
• Highly Effective Communications skills
• Strong Customer Service skills
• 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 Unquestionable Trust, Superior Performance and Total Commitment
• 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

• Available to travel (occasionally) as needed which may require an overnight stay
• Candidate must have a valid driver’s license

• Competitive Pay
• Excellent benefits packages which includes:
  • Medical and dental coverage
  • Defined Pension/Cash Balance Benefit Plan
  • Performance-sharing plan
  • 401(k) plan with a generous company match
  • Bonus opportunities
  • Tuition Reimbursement

About Company

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