ASSOCIATE SPECIALIST - SPECIALIST - Contracts at Southwest Research Institute

Who We Are:

The Contracts Department is responsible for leading 'cradle-to-grave' contract negotiation & administration activities for SwRI's engineering/technical divisions.

Objectives of this Role:

• Conduct prompt and thorough reviews of solicitation packages and contractual documents to identify key requirements, potential risks, and effectively communicate them to various internal departments.
• Ability to work on multiple proposal and project activities at varying stages, often with short notice and compressed deadlines, while maintaining a sharp attention and focus on fine details.
• Apply creative problem-solving and customer service skills to effectively present positions to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills as well as organizational skills to independently multi-task in a fast-paced environment as a central member of a cross-functional team.
• Exercise sound judgement to effectively communicate and apply SwRI's established policies and procedures.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

• Work closely with SwRI program managers and pricing staff to analyze cost estimates, develop labor rates, and prepare accurate and compliant cost proposals.
• Negotiate contract costs, fees, and terms and conditions with government agencies and commercial clients.
• Coordinate with SwRI Legal and other departments to review contract terms and conditions. Negotiate contract language consistent with SwRI practices and positions.
• Monitor compliance with contractual obligations and coordinate client inquiries and requests for information pertaining to proposals or active contracts.
• Submit requests for contract amendments and other authorizations as-needed throughout the life of the contract.
• Set up projects in SwRI's internal systems to properly align with contract funding structures and comply with accounting, invoicing, and reporting requirements.

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors degree in Business or related degree field with relevant experience.
• 0-5 years years: Professional business office and customer service experience; a capacity requiring careful review of moderately complex documents and numbers.
• A valid/clear driver's license is required.