Contract Specialist I

Work Place Flexibility: Hybrid

Legal Entity: Entergy Services, LLC

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

JOB SUMMARY/PURPOSE: The Contracts Specialist utilises 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 assisting with complex business contracting strategies, recognising 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 behaviours and ensure the team always puts safety first; Utilise key tools, programs, and proactive field visits to assure standards and behaviours; 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). Write storm contracts proactively and partner with category management specialists on bid events for storm contracting.
• Work Processes: Assist with pre-award contract development and post-award contract administration; assist with creating 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 local 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. Process Purchase Orders and complete other works assignments as necessary to ensure the success of the Procurement organisation.
• 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 analyse 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 Policies.
• 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.

Preferred Education/Experience:

• Prior contracting experience in support of the energy industry.
• SC Certification from an industry accreditation organisation 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.

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.