Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) Specialist (Hybrid Eligible)

Requisition Id14690

Overview:

The Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) Specialistwill be responsible for supporting Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) research staff and administration by providing customer-oriented research proposal administration services to facilitate the mission of ORNL and the Department of Energy (DOE). The SPA Specialist will join a team helping to facilitate ORNL's research community in the proactive development of research proposals, working with research staff and administration to facilitate the development of research proposals and agreements for external funding. This includes knowledge and understanding of federal and non-federal research proposals, intellectual property and data rights, collaborative research and partnership agreements, and federal regulations related to research at federally funded research labs.

The incumbent will independently manage a portfolio of pending and existing pre-award, research proposals and agreements and will be responsible for the successful negotiation of research related contracts and agreements with terms acceptable to both UT-Battelle, LLC, and the DOE. Additionally, the incumbent will have the responsibility to counsel research staff involved with nonfederal research partnerships on the substantive and procedural requirements for implementing such agreements at ORNL.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal staff members and external contacts.

• Educate and assist ORNL research staff seeking to enter partnerships with non-federal entities, serve as a resource for ORNL research staff and external collaborators on partnering mechanisms, and understand and effectively communicate to ORNL stakeholders the proposal and contracting process for federal and nonfederal agreements.

• Review and evaluate grant and contract solicitation documents for alignment with the ORNL mission and DOE policies.

• Provide guidance and support to research staff and administration during the preparation of industry and agency specific proposal documents to ensure compliance with ORNL and DOE policies and procedures.

• Use customer relationship systems and databases to submit and track proposal development and agreement status and utilize other contract management and reporting systems as needed in the performance of described duties.

• Assist in preparing and managing internal and external project communications, including reports and documents for the Strategic Partnerships Group's Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, Strategic Partnership Proposals, and other reimbursable agreement emplacement activities.

• Work with internal stakeholders to obtain the reviews and certifications necessary for project approval.

• Establish strategies and negotiate agreements via personal interaction with customers, and process and manage those agreements post negotiation.

• Ensure that all negotiated terms of nonfederal research partnership agreements in incumbent's assigned portfolio comply with all federal laws and regulations, comply with DOE policies, and protect the interests of UT-Battelle, LLC and DOE.

• Perform support activities for the processing of Integrated Contractor Purchases (ICPs), Interagency Agreements (IA), and other intergovernmental agreements through which ORNL provides research support to DOE entities and government agencies.

Basic Qualifications:

• A BS degree or higher.

• Minimum of 5 years' relevant experience facilitating and/or managing large, sponsored research proposal portfolios and/or negotiating sponsored research and/or technology related agreements.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills and good interpersonal skills. Must be able to understand and communicate technical and legal information effectively to a wide variety of professionals in various fields including science, legal, business, and marketing.

• Ability to work as a team member in a collaborative environment.

• Ability to be self-motivated, self-directed, detail-oriented and accurate, set priorities appropriately, and work on multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to perform consistently and professionally while under pressure and be able to achieve results while maintaining the integrity of the contracting process.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity/working knowledge of federal regulations surrounding SPPs and CRADAs preferred.

• Ability to work independently with the capability to recommend process improvement where needed.

• Experience in working with information of a business sensitive nature, with proven ability to meet this responsibility in a professional and ethical manner.

• Ability to adapt to evolving needs of group and proactively contribute to process improvements.

• Familiarity in working in a federal laboratory environment is highly desirable, and familiarity with working in a university laboratory environment is desirable.

Work Direction and Interfaces:This position reports to the Group Leader, Strategic Partnerships Office, Partnerships Directorate, for all aspects of job performance as well as task assignments and priorities. Incumbent will interface with ORNL research staff and management, Tech Transfer Office, ORNL Office of General Counsel, DOE Oak Ridge Site Office, and other DOE offices, contractors, and government agencies.

Measures of Effectiveness:

• Successful preparation, negotiation, and execution of nonfederal research partnership agreements and/or amendments in a way that meets ORNL timeliness standards and protects the interests of UT-Battelle, LLC and DOE.

• Rapid demonstration of successful preparation, negotiation, and execution of nonfederal research partnership agreements and/or amendments as an independent contributor, with little or no assistance necessary.

• Proficient in processing proposals and all standard agreements, through personal interaction with customers as well as using internal systems.

Visa sponsorship: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email:ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

This position is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and requires onsite presence. We offer a flexible work environment that supports both the organization and the employee. A hybrid/onsite working arrangement may be available with this position, which provides flexibility to work periodically from your home, while reporting onsite to the Oak Ridge, Tennessee location on a weekly and regular basis.

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This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.