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 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 Entergy’s 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 Entergy's 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: Bachelor’s 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: Bachelor’s 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: Bachelor’s 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.: Bachelor’s 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 Orleans Mississippi : Jackson 
Job Function: Professional
FLSA Status: Professional 
Relocation Option: No Relocation Offered
Union description/code: NON BARGAINING UNIT 
Number of Openings: 1
Req ID: 118816
Travel Percentage:Up to 25%

An Equal Opportunity Employer, Minority/Female/Disability/Vets. Please click here to view the EEI 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 behalf. If you are an individual with a disability and you are in need of an accommodation for the recruiting process please click here and 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.

Equal Opportunity

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 contact [email protected] to schedule a time to review the affirmative action plan during regular office hours.

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.