New job Contracting Officer in North Carolina

RTI International has an opening for a Contracting Officer who will provide guidance on various rules and regulations (the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) including the Federal Acquisitions Regulation and supplementary regulations, OMB Circulars, commercial regulations, and contract terms and conditions) that may affect technical and cost strategies, contract negotiations, and that may present a risk to RTI that would require mitigation. The ideal candidate will need to be a team player that is highly organized and detail-oriented.

Responsibilities will include:

• Negotiate and administer contract proposals and projects of diverse scope (some moderately complex and others more complex).
• With minimal guidance, research contractual regulations and perform analysis to determine appropriate courses of action in problem-solving. Provide guidance on various rules and regulations (the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) including the Federal Acquisitions Regulation and supplementary regulations, OMB Circulars, commercial regulations, and other terms and conditions) that may affect technical and cost strategies, contract negotiations and may present a risk to RTI that would require mitigation.
• With minimal guidance, review proposals, applications, modifications, agreements, and add-ons before final submission and/or execution.
• With minimal guidance, review, draft, edit and negotiate contractual terms and conditions with external customers.
• Work closely with the technical team to analyze acquisition requirements and coordinate the activities of the team which prepares the business volumes for competitive procurements.
• Advise technical staff, finance partners, and other stakeholders at all levels regarding contract terms and conditions and related risks.
• With minimal guidance, review RFPs, RFAs, request for bids and pricing information, contracts, grants, add-ons, agreements, modifications, and other contractual vehicles for business risks, including financial, performance-related, indemnification, export, reputational, and other risks to be mitigated.
• With minimal support, attend bid boards, proposal review team meetings, kick-off meetings, lessons learned, project reviews, and project risk meetings and contribute to these meetings by presenting and championing ORC-related issues and identifying technical and financial issues that may have contractual implications.
• Identify risks and issues, suggest alternatives that lead to the best solution, or engage other units and expertise as necessary to address the risk. Review and provide inputs into At Risk (5300) memos documenting the contractual risks.
• Collaborate with subcontracts, procurement, finance, and technical staff on issues relative to engaging subcontractors and consultants and addressing their performance related to prime contract performance.
• With minimal guidance, review and ensure that subcontractors have provided necessary pre-award documentation for the appropriate response to a solicitation and that related approvals, consents, and waivers are submitted.
• Assist technical and legal staff with required IP disclosures in government and commercial transactions to protect RTI’s interests.
• With minimal guidance, prepare teaming agreements, non-disclosure agreements, material transfer agreements, IP disclosures, facility use agreements, correspondence with customers, and other documents.
• Create, draft, and modify terms and conditions to meet the requirements of individual contractual situations.
• Eventually may be granted signature authority for award documents and contracts up to $5 million.
• Communicate within the Contracts team to advise of contract compliance or other issues, which will continue upon contract execution, including financial, payment terms, deliverables, security levels, or other issues.
• Understand and apply RTI directives on financial accountability and financial controls, such as fee guidelines and levels of appropriate financial review.
• Develop and integrate contract management tools, templates, methods, and processes for the engagement.
• Understand the appropriate use of standard forms and templates, and access current examples of contractual language as references for new transactions.
• Understand and apply RTI Policies and Procedures and organizational operating directives to the work as assigned.
• Apply knowledge of the impact and risk of international contracts, including regulatory, currency exchange, and export and tax issues, to applicable transactions. Understand and can articulate the business case, financial/analytical issues, and profit and loss implications.
• Participate in project teams as needed to update, review, redraft or redesign contract management tools, templates, methods, and processes for the engagement.
• Resolve a diverse scope of complex contractual and business issues skillfully and independently applying sound judgment.
• Develop expertise in assigned business areas by attending technical unit meetings, presentations, and other forums to understand the technical business and its contracting needs.
• Build good collaborative relationships with research staff and business personnel in assigned business areas.
• Escalate complex and risk-related contract issues appropriately to avoid unnecessary delays.
• Consult as needed with senior staff in Contracts regarding particularly difficult or unfamiliar contract issues.
• Identify process improvements to maximize internal and external customer satisfaction and achieve increased effectiveness and efficiency.
• With minimal guidance, manage the contract change control process, identify the need for contract modifications, and negotiate changes.
• With minimal guidance, analyze post-award contract requirements and coordinate with financial and technical staff to respond to customer requirements.
• With minimal guidance, analyze significant and/or unique contract requirements, special provisions, terms, and conditions to ensure compliance with appropriate laws, regulations, corporate policies, and business practices.
• Be an effective and reliable business partner who can assist in new business pursuits and associated contract strategy and participate in the development of business alliances and partnering agreements.
• Participates in the set-up of contracts and modifications in Cost Point and ensures the issuance of Project Authorizations.
• Identify, develop, draft, implement and assist with delivering training on contract issues, policies, and procedures.
• Share knowledge gained and lessons learned with other Office of Contracts staff, Finance, and other team members to enhance the contracting knowledge of RTI as a whole.
• Seek advice on all work activities from more senior-level staff, as necessary.