Contracts Negotiator II

Contracts Negotiator II

Location: Charlotte, NC, Dallas, TX, Knoxville, TN

Job Summary and Description: The Contracts Negotiator II role is responsible for managing revenue contracts from development of contracting strategies through execution of agreements. This position understands EPRI's business policies and recognizes that the work performed under these contracts provision research and development (R&D) and commercial services, supplied primarily within the global energy industry. The Contracts Negotiator II is responsible for negotiating funding contracts and amendments involving interactions with US and International business entities. This position collaborates with Legal and the R&D staff to develop tailored terms and conditions to address complex legal requirements and manage risk. The ideal candidate for this role demonstrates sound judgment and decision-making through contract negotiations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage contract negotiations for assigned accounts
• Negotiate new funding contracts and amendments to existing contracts from development of contracting strategies through execution of agreements
• Responsible for negotiation of contract type, funding type, contractual terms and conditions, internal policy compliance, and estimated cost and fees
• Evaluate and analyze project statements of work to determine internal policy compliance and necessary, sometimes unique, contractual requirements for the agreement or amendment
• Assist in the negotiation of licensing arrangements contained within Supplemental Contract agreements in conjunction with legal, technical staff and Senior Contract Negotiators
• Work with more senior Contracts Negotiators and Manager, Revenue Contracts to address specific contractual language related to topics that include protection of intellectual property, commercialization, licensing, funding, cost sharing, payment, property, equipment, indemnification, insurance and deliverables
• Solve any contract-related problems that may arise prior to, during, and after the course of negotiations and contract execution
• Develop and maintain relationships with EPRI staff and assigned customers, serving as the point of contact for matters concerning Revenue/Funding contracts
• Identify and inform management of policy issues arising during contract negotiations and recommend constructive resolution
• Work with technical staff and legal to ensure SOW are clear, consistent, and in compliance with policies and best practices
• With assistance, synthesize complex legal & contractual topics and communicate to internal (or external) collaborators with different backgrounds and disciplines
• Assist in the review of updated or enhanced contracting policies and procedures, including development of templates and new special agreements
• Support special projects related to Revenue Contracts as assigned
• Process agreements internally through Contract Lifecycle Management system for funding recognition and records retention
• Maintain records for correspondence and documentation in relation to established contracts and those in progress
• Monitor contracts and move forward with close-out, extension or renewal per contract terms, EPRI policy, or as requested by M&TS and technical staff
• Maintain historical and situational data regarding special contract provisions and scenarios previously developed and applied in order to reduce redundancy and duplication of efforts in future contract negotiations

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in a technical, financial or business field required. Paralegal experience preferred. 4+ years of contracts-related experience; Experience with public utilities or energy industry preferred. Experience in negotiating contracts including the formulation of legal and quasi-legal contractual provisions, terms and conditions. Experience in contract risk management and negotiations. Previous experience with CLM and ERP systems. Previous experience with Online Contracting is a plus. Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) a plus. International business experience a plus.

Skills and Attributes: Demonstrates business acumen relative to the global financial impact of contractual agreements. Basic understanding of industry standard commercial terms and conditions. Excellent listening, oral, and written communications skills. Expresses ideas fluently and logically. Ability to work independently to accomplish objectives and meet deadlines. Values operating in a collaborative and cooperative environment. Proficient Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel skills. Familiarity with AI-powered platforms for automating repetitive tasks and improving efficiency.

AI & Technology Qualifications (Preferred): Use of AI tools is subject to EPRI policy — including safeguards for confidential and proprietary contract and customer data — with human review before any contract deliverable is finalized. Hands-on use of Microsoft Copilot, or similar AI platforms, across Word, Excel, and Outlook, or other like business software, in support of document review, synthesizing information, and analyzing data. Proficiency in using AI platforms to analyze statements of work, contractual terms, and deviations to ensure internal policy compliance assisting as a tool in the decision-making process. Familiarity with utilizing AI tools to support development of draft contract language, amendments, and terms and conditions, to support human focused interpretation, negotiation strategy, and compliance considerations. Ability to write effective prompts and critically assess AI-generated outputs for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with contract requirements, EPRI policy, and legal requirements before implementation or reliance. Ability to leverage AI to synthesize complex legal and contractual documents into actionable summaries and briefing documents tailored to diverse technical groups. Ability to leverage AI tools to assist in managing, maintaining, and retrieving historical and situational contract data, aimed at reducing redundancy and improving future negotiations.

The salary range for this position is $75,000 USD to $81,000 USD annually. This salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on various factors, including without limitation applicant's education, experience, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. The salary may also be adjusted based on applicant's geographic location. This role is eligible to participate in EPRI's annual incentive program. The amount of incentive varies and is subject to the terms and conditions of the plan. This role is eligible to participate in EPRI's standard employee benefit programs, which currently include the following: medical, dental, vision, 401k, STD/LTD and paid family leave, life and accident insurance, paid time off (flexible vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay).