Job Description

Benefits:

UCAR affirms its continuing commitment to developing, providing, and administering its employee benefit programs with due consideration for equal employment opportunity and diversity guidelines.
UCAR's rich package of employee benefits includes medical, dental, vision, education assistance, retirement, and life insurance. UCAR offers a variety of programs designed to assist with work-life balance including flexible work alternatives, paid time off and 14 weeks of paid parental leave.

Vaccine Requirements:

As required by Executive Order 14042, all Federal Contractor employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee’s duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. Effective immediately, UCAR requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated prior to entering on duty, subject to such exceptions as required by law.

If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by December 8, 2021 or before appointment or onboarding with UCAR, if after December 8, 2021. UCAR will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of UCAR a legally required exception from this requirement.

Where You Will Work:

Contract Administrator III/Team Lead on the Direct Awards team within UCAR Contracts

What You Will Do:

Responsible for the preparation, review, negotiation and administration of complex, multi-phased prime contracts, grants and cooperative agreements, and other contractual instruments for the financial/programmatic support of UCAR activities. Serves as a Team Lead for a team of Contract Administrators/Closeout Specialist.  Serves as a liaison with outside agencies, other funding sources, as well as with internal management, corporate attorneys, and other UCAR personnel. Serves as a mentor for other Contract Administrators. Works closely with contract, financial, budget, and lab/program professionals to resolve issues related to contract provisions.

Responsibilities:

Drafts, reviews, negotiates, and administers complex, multi-phased prime contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, teaming agreements, and multiple types of zero funded agreements which are directly or indirectly related to funding. Reviews and analyzes terms and conditions and negotiates changes or modifications, including the composition of alternate language and new provisions, where appropriate. Reviews contracts and agreements for export, liability and risk, intellectual property, legal sufficiency, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and UCAR policies. Advises internal program managers, general counsel and risk management staff on contractually related issues. Provides guidance to UCAR personnel, including upper management, of risk associated with contract acceptances. Drafts terms and conditions for new agreements that are consistent with UCAR policies and federal regulations. Serves as a UCAR liaison with lab/program personnel for sponsor funded activities. Works closely with entity budget and planning offices, UCAR’s Office of General Counsel, and budget and finance personnel for the coordination of all incoming funds.

Serves as Team Lead and mentor for a team of Contract Administrators/Closeout Specialist and performs reviews of their work. Provides training for Contract Administrators and other personnel on processes, procedures, compliance issues, contract tracking computer modules, and other related topics. Makes presentations to management and to the lab/program personnel regarding contractual issues and other related topics.  Works with team members individually on development plans and training.  Assists in the preparation of annual performance reviews of team members.  Serves as a backup to the Contracts Manager and may oversee distribution of work to Contract Administrators. Works with other departments, UCAR personnel, and outside sponsors on special projects.

Serves as a UCAR representative for communication with fund source providers to protect UCAR’s interest and minimize risk to the organization. Interprets UCAR agreements, the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), OMB Uniform Guidance, and other applicable regulations and laws. Helps ensure UCAR’s compliance with these laws and regulations on direct contracts and interagency agreements by monitoring award conditions and filing appropriate reports and certifications. Provides support to UCAR staff in the review of federal and non-federal request for proposals and other solicitations, including review of outgoing proposals for consistency with UCAR established policies. 

Decision Making and Problem Solving:

Work is guided by UCAR practices and policies, national and international laws, and agency regulations. Has contract signature authority of up to $250,000. This signature authority does not limit the CAIII’s responsibilities for performing the prescribed duties on contracts at any dollar level.

Position requires analysis of complex problems to reach conclusions and the ability to apply conceptual thinking when problem solving. Projects require considerable coordination and are long-term. Problems are highly challenging, involving analysis and evaluation of complicated contractual issues, and federal and state internal contract and accounting practices and procedures.

Position requires the ability to exercise independent and ethical judgment while working within UCAR’s practices and policies and the ability to establish workload priorities using time management skills.

Supervisory responsibilities:

                Direct:                   exempt 1                               nonexempt 2

                Indirect:                 exempt 0                               nonexempt 0

What You Need:

Education and Years of Experience

Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration and at least eight years of government contracts experience in handling direct funding arrangements such as grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Expert skill in analyzing terms and conditions of complex contracts and subcontracts.
Advanced skill in managing large complex, multi-phase contract projects.
Excellent written and oral communication skill with a wide range of people at all levels of an organization.
Advanced skill in negotiating complex contracts and other award related issues.
Advanced skill in managing time sensitive, high volume workload.
Advanced skill using Microsoft Word.
Intermediate skill using Microsoft Excel.
Working knowledge of basic not-for-profit accounting, budgeting and proposal process, including the application of indirect rates and fees.
Skill in preparing and giving presentations to UCAR personnel and other contracting personnel.
Advanced skill in identifying liability, risk, export, and intellectual property issues and proposing solutions.
Advanced skill in coaching, training, and mentoring personnel.
Extensive level of attention to detail required.

Personally Identifiable Information" (PII) is non-public information that is personally identifiable to a single individual. PII may include information such as name, address, email address, phone number, social security number, passport number, credit card information, and other related information. You may be required to enter or submit your PII to a third party on behalf of UCAR for the purpose of identity verification in order to conduct transactions as part of this position.  You may also be required to handle PII of UCAR employees as part of performing the requirements of this position.
Pre-employment screenings and background checks are conducted in conjunction with an offer for employment into risk-based positions. This screening may involve verifying or reviewing any of the following relevant information: restricted parties screening, employment verification, education verification, reference checks, verification of professional licenses, certifications, and Motor Vehicle Records. Risk-based positions require pre-employment screening, a criminal background check, and Sex Offender Registry screening (for positions working with vulnerable populations). UCAR complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Please note that while the position description details both minimum requirements as well as desired skills and experience, we want to remind applicants that you do not need to have all the desired skills and experience to be considered for this role. If you have the passion for the work along with experience in a related field, you are encouraged to apply. We can provide on-the-job training for the rest.
For more information about our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, here is the link to the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategic Plan and to the ODEI landing page.