Contract Specialist

Job Title:Contract Specialist

Work Place Flexibility: Hybrid

Legal Entity:Entergy Services LLC

Please note:Authorization to work in the United States is a precondition to employment in this position. Entergy will not sponsor candidates for work visas for this position.

Note: This is a hybrid role requiring three days a week of in-office work and is based our offices in New Orleans LA Little Rock AR The Woodlands TX or Jackson MS. Selected candidates from outside the area will be to relocate. Relocation assistance is not available for this position. This role will be titled Contract Specialist I II III or Senior based on education and qualifications.

JOB SUMMARY/PURPOSE:

The Contracts Specialist utilizes and applies significant supply chain and contracting knowledge and experience to contract for complex services with variable scopes of work across multiple business areas (projects operations etc.). The role is responsible for developing leading and negotiating complex business contracting strategies recognizing and integrating relevant market conditions. Key interfaces for this position are internal business customers such as a business unit Tax Finance Risk Management Safety Human Resources and Legal and external suppliers. Within SC common interfaces for this role are Procurement Operations Category Management Capital Projects & Decommissioning Supplier Diversity and Warehousing and Inventory Management.

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Safety/Human Performance:
  • Actively promote strong safety behaviors and ensure the team always puts safety first;
  • Utilize key tools programs and proactive field visits to assure standards and behaviors;
  • Monitor and influence suppliers to proactively identify any safety concerns.
• Incident Response:
  • Perform storm role duties as assigned through the Storm Assignment Management System (SAMS) and/or the nuclear Emergency Response Organization (ERO).
• Work Processes:
  • Apply the principles and practices of plan strategize source and perform to each request;
  • Pre-award contract development and post-award contract administration; create and lead the RFx bid process; develop negotiation strategies optimal pricing methodology establish KPIs when appropriate and warranty protection;
  • Perform detailed market and financial analyses to determine potential business risk associated with a supplier or contract; coordinate with Credit Risk as required;
  • Identify and evaluate new and current sources of supply including diverse suppliers to ensure the most competitive and advantageous offering to Entergy is achieved;
  • Work with Legal Tax and Risk Management to ensure any deviations from standard contract language are within Entergys Legal and Risk tolerance levels.
  • At times process Purchase Orders and complete other works assignments as necessary to ensure the success of the Procurement organization.
• Value Creation:
  • Deliver and document savings to Entergy through competitive bidding direct negotiations cost avoidance etc..
• Partnership/Relationships:
  • Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders to ensure SC is addressing contractual needs pro-actively and in the most beneficial way for Entergy;
  • Work with stakeholders to analyze and develop company position on claims and disputes;
  • Establish/maintain relationships with suppliers/partners based on the ethical business practices as set forth in the Standards of Conduct and Integrity and Entergys SC Polices.
• Process and Reporting Compliance:
  • Ensure all requirements for savings diversity document retention bidding contractor safety and other areas of compliance are met.
• Communications:
  • Maintain open communications between stakeholders and within SC to ensure that prompt thorough accurate pertinent and complete information is provided.

Minimum Requirements - Education/Experience:

• Contract Specialist I:Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Business Accounting Engineering Legal or other related discipline OR in lieu of a degree minimum 4 years of supplier contracting vendor management or other related supply chain experience
• Contract Specialist II:Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Business Accounting Engineering Legal or other related discipline and minimum 2 years of combined supplier contracting vendor management or other related supply chain experience OR in lieu of a degree minimum 6 years of supplier contracting vendor management or other related supply chain experience
• Contract Specialist III:Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Business Accounting Engineering Legal or other related discipline and minimum 5 years of combined supplier contracting vendor management or other related supply chain experience OR in lieu of a degree minimum 9 years of supplier contracting vendor management or other related supply chain experience
• Contracts Specialist Sr.:Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Business Accounting Engineering Legal or other related discipline and minimum 9 years of combined supplier contracting vendor management or other related supply chain experience OR in lieu of a degree minimum 13 years of supplier contracting vendor management or other related supply chain experience

Preferred Education/Experience:

• Prior contracting experience in support of the energy industry
• SC Certification from an industry accreditation organization such as CPSM APICS etc.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Technical

• Advanced understanding of customer business drivers objectives budgets needs and plans and key interfaces inside and outside SC;
• Skillful application of commercial management processes (plan strategy source and perform); including supplier diversity safety metrics and tools;
• Skillful application of market intelligence to assess supply market status and evolution;
• Skillful in developing contract strategies incorporating relevant market conditions based on customer objectives; including multi-contracting strategies with contractual responsibilities and liabilities allocated between each contract;
• Skillful in building negotiation strategies and leading negotiations for moderate to complex commercial contracts with minimal support;
• Skillful application of pre-award and post-award contract management processes including ability to identify and mitigate contractual risks to Entergy;
• Skillful in building draft and final agreements with a range of compensation vehicles (e.g. lump sum unit rates time and materials);
• Understands the criteria required to create a contract at the local regional or enterprise level; one-off applications or master agreement;
• Advanced knowledge of business and SC operations within Entergy; including how Entergy buys and pays (HEBAP); advanced understanding of supply chain systems and processes
• Ability to engage with suppliers and facilitate other relevant parties to resolve obligation gaps and identify and make recommendations on legal issues;
• Proficient at supplier performance management.

Professional

• Skillful application of project management principles to ensure systematic thorough completion of each assignment identifying critical pathways and risks to delivery;
• Skillful application of commercial skills and financial acumen understanding the key business drivers and impact to Entergy on outcomes;
• Skillful application of data analysis methods/techniques to provide detailed reports and insights; propose conclusions use data trends and present in meaningful ways;
• Ability to coach other supply chain personnel in technical tools and techniques;
• Skillful at internal and external stakeholder communications; operates independently with stakeholders; apply influencing skills to develop best outcomes for Entergy;
• Skillful at building relationships and networks with all stakeholders; including with suppliers;
• Strong understanding of the management of change in post-award contract management;
• Strong understanding of how to effectively manage the costs of the business;
• Strong communication skills in presenting concise/relevant information to stakeholders.

Primary Location: Louisiana-New OrleansArkansas : Little Rock
Louisiana : New Orleans
Mississippi : Jackson
Texas : The Woodlands
Job Function: Professional
FLSA Status: Professional
Relocation Option: No Relocation Offered
Union description/code: NON BARGAINING UNIT
Number of Openings: 1
Req ID: 121296
Travel Percentage:Up to 25%

An Equal Opportunity Employer Minority/Female/Disability/Vets. Please click here to view the EEO page or see statements below.

EEO Statement:The Entergy System of Companies provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race color religion sex gender sexual orientation gender identity or expression national origin age disability genetic information marital status amnesty or status as a protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal state and local laws. The Entergy System of Companies complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including but not limited to recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training.

The Entergy System of Companies expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race color religion sex gender sexual orientation gender identity or expression national origin age genetic information disability or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of the Entergy System of Company employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

Accessibility:Entergy provides reasonable accommodations for online applicants. Requests for a reasonable accommodation may be made orally or in writing by an applicant employee or third party on his or her you are an individual with a disability and you are in need of an accommodation for the recruiting process please clickhereand provide your name contact number the accommodation requested and the requisition number that you are requesting the accommodation for. Employee Services will contact you regarding your request.

Additional Responsibilities:As a provider of essential services Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours to work in alternate locations and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms outages emergencies or other situations as deemed necessary by the company. Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

The non-confidential portions of the affirmative action program for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans shall be available for inspection upon request by any employee or applicant for employment. Please to schedule a time to review the affirmative action plan during regular office hours.

EEI Testing:

One way that Entergy has found to identify and assess the abilities and skills needed for certain jobs is through pre-employment testing. If this position does require an EEI test the type of test will be located under the qualifications section of the job posting. If you are invited to a test session we strongly recommend you review and complete the practice test as well as review the testing brochure for your respective test. The test brochure will give you critical information on the test such as time allocated and numberof questions. Also keep in mind that the actual test is timed; you should practice timing yourself while doing the practice tests. The practice test information and test brochures can be located by going to the EEI website Logon ID: entergy password: practice test (2 words).Travel expenses incurred in connection with EEI testing are non-reimbursable.

In addition to EEI testing there is also Fit-for-Duty testing which will identify and assess the abilities and skills needed for certain jobs. If this position does require Fit-for-Duty testing the type of test will be located under the qualifications section of the job posting.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
As a provider of essential services Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours to work in alternate locations and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms outages emergencies or other situations as deemed necessary by the company. Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

Please note: Authorization to work in the United States is a precondition to employment in this position. Entergy will not sponsor candidates for work visas for this position.