Southern Companyposted 11 months ago
Full-time • Mid Level
Birmingham, AL
Utilities

About the position

The Contracts Agent position at Southern Company Services is a critical role within the Supply Chain Management Transaction Team, located in either Atlanta, GA or Birmingham, AL. This position is responsible for providing comprehensive contracting and sourcing support to meet the acquisition needs for services and materials. The Contracts Agent will engage in various activities including request for proposal (RFP) preparation, negotiations, contract development, risk mitigation, tracking, and analysis. The role requires close collaboration with category management strategies to ensure that contracting requirements are met effectively. In this position, the Contracts Agent will manage the entire lifecycle of sourcing and contracting activities, often referred to as 'from cradle to grave'. This includes advising customers on RFI and RFP preparation, leading pre-bid meetings, reviewing offers from bidders, conducting cost and price analysis, negotiating terms, assessing risks, and preparing contract documents and agreements. The agent will also assist in contract administration, manage changes, expedite follow-ups, handle claims, and oversee contract closeout processes. The role demands the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, typically supporting 20 to 25 active projects with defined turnaround parameters for all contract-related documents throughout the year. The Contracts Agent will be expected to develop sourcing strategies for services of varying risk levels and maintain relationships with vendors to ensure a transparent contracting process that reduces costs and improves commercial terms. The position also involves working cross-functionally to streamline processes and ensure that overall risk is controlled and mitigated. A deep understanding of Southern Company’s procurement policies and procedures is essential, as is the capability to become a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in contract law, common legal provisions, and dispute resolution. Additionally, the role includes specific responsibilities related to technology support, such as negotiating software license agreements and other technology-related contracts. A strong understanding of IT security risks and mitigation strategies is required to address potential vulnerabilities effectively.

Responsibilities

  • Provide daily contracting and sourcing support for services and materials.
  • Advise customers on Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Proposal (RFP) preparation.
  • Lead pre-bid meetings and review offers from bidders.
  • Conduct cost and price analysis and negotiate contract terms.
  • Assess risks and prepare contract documents and agreements.
  • Assist in contract administration and manage changes.
  • Expedite follow-ups and handle claims and contract closeout processes.
  • Develop sourcing strategies for low to high risk services.
  • Manage relationships with vendors to ensure efficient contracting processes.
  • Work cross-functionally to improve and streamline processes.
  • Ensure overall risk is controlled and mitigated.
  • Become a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in procurement policies and procedures.
  • Draft contract language for complex purchases and identify new sources of supply.
  • Support technology-related procurement activities and negotiate technology contracts.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree required; BS in Business, Management, Finance, or Law preferred.
  • Formal education in contract language and law is highly preferred.
  • Experience with negotiating technology-related contracts is highly preferred.
  • Knowledge of contract law and drafting terms and conditions is required.
  • Legal and commercial negotiation skills are required.
  • Self-motivated with the ability to work with minimal supervision.
  • Customer-focused with strong relationship-building skills.
  • Ability to handle tight deadlines and manage multiple projects effectively.
  • Superior written and oral communication skills for contract negotiation and drafting.
  • Effective influencing and consensus-building skills.
  • Strategic problem-solving abilities and excellent organizational skills.

Nice-to-haves

  • Experience in the energy sector or with utility companies.
  • Familiarity with procurement software and contracting systems.
  • Knowledge of IT security risks and mitigation strategies.

Benefits

  • Competitive Pay
  • Medical and dental coverage
  • Defined Pension/Cash Balance Benefit Plan
  • Performance-sharing plan
  • 401(k) plan with a generous company match
  • Bonus opportunities
  • Tuition Reimbursement
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