Paralegal

Contracts Agent – Scs Enterprise ServicesSupply Chain Management Transaction TeamThis position will be located in Atlanta, GAJob Summary:The position exists to support the contracting needs of Southern Company's business units and to provide guidance to Company organizations to effectively procure and pay for goods and services. The position is responsible for the daily support of all sourcing and contracting activities "from cradle to grave", including managing the sourcing (RFI or RFP) process, negotiation and contracting, through contract closeout.Job Requirements:Education:Bachelor's degree preferredFormal education or experience in contract language is preferredExperience:Experience in procurement or contracts preferredExperience with negotiating technology related contracts is highly preferredKnowledge and Skills:Contract law and draftingLegal and commercial negotiationSelf-motivated and ability to work with minimal supervisionCustomer focused with ability to build and maintain relationships with internal customers, suppliers, contractors and other key stakeholders at all levelsEffectively handle tight deadlines, large workloads, and multiple projects with positive enthusiasmSuperior written and oral communication, to successfully negotiate contract terms and write such contracts in a clear, logical and concise mannerExcellent organizational skills are required to plan and manage assigned workload and customer expectations effectively to meet internal business unit requirementsAbility to think strategically and apply broad seasoned judgment to decisionsEffective communications skills with ability to excel in high-level communications with Management at multiple levelsStrong customer service skillsAnalytical and interpersonal skillsAbility to effectively work and participate in cross-functional and cross-company teams at all levels in the organization to ensure buy-in by multiple stakeholders when working on system projectsEffective influencing and consensus-building skillsAbility to acquire proficiency in supply chain and basic business technology tools, including procurement systems, SharePoint, etc.Key Job Responsibilities:Duties will include the daily support of all sourcing & contracting activities "from cradle to grave," including advising customers and leading Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Proposal (RFP) preparation, leading pre-bid meetings, reviewing offers upon receipt from bidders, cost & price analysis, negotiations, risk assessment, preparing contract documents and agreements; assisting in contract administration, incorporation of changes, expediting & follow-up, disposition of claims, and contract closeoutSupport a high volume of projects concurrently with defined turnaround parameters (target days) for all contract related documents (RFPs, Master Agreements, Non-Disclosure, Amendments, Statements of Work, etc.)Lead negotiations of all legal and commercial terms to ensure that overall risk is properly controlled and mitigatedEnsure all required terms and conditions are included in procurement documents and work with Legal, Risk Management and Accounting to resolve contractor exceptions and issues in a timely mannerBuild and maintain a detailed knowledge and understanding of essential legal provisions, contract common law, contract formation issues, remedies, liquidated damages, litigation avoidance, and dispute resolutionDraft contract language, including special conditions for complex, non-standard purchasesResponsible for identification and evaluation of new sources of supply, domestic and globally, when necessary to meet customer needs, including performing market research and analysisCollecting and coordinating the update of supplier information and required compliance documentation (safety records, certificates of insurance, etc.)Build and maintain a proficient knowledge of and consistently use our sourcing, contracting, procurement and payment systems (GEP, Maximo, Oracle)Resolve any conflicts that arise during the course of contract performance, including negotiating any contractual revisions that may be requiredCommunicate effectively with business partners at all levels of management regarding contract terms, status, and processesServe as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) and provide guidance to business partners on the Southern Company procurement policies/proceduresMaintain the primary interface with contractors in an ethical and respectful manner while protecting the company's interestManage relationships with the Company's vendors and ensure efficient and transparent contracting and negotiation process to reduce costs, improve commercial terms and reduce duplication of effortsAdditional Job Responsibilities Specific To Technology Support:This position will support technology related procurement activities. Duties will include the negotiation of Software License Agreements, Software as a Service Agreements, Subscription Service Agreements, Master Technology Equipment Purchase Agreements, etc.Duties will require leading sourcing projects and assist in developing and implementing strategic decisions for the procurement of Technology Services, Software, Software as a Service, and Hardware.Duties will require a strong understanding of IT Security related risks and application of mitigation strategies to address data breaches, malicious and harmful code, security vulnerabilities, etc.Behavioral Attributes:Must demonstrate behaviors consistent with the Southern Company valuesSelf-motivatedCustomer focusedStrong work ethicExhibits a strong sense of urgencyPromotes teamworkPractices ethical behaviorDisplays creativity, initiative, and flexibilityLearns from and utilizes experience***This position will report to a Company location in-person a minimum of 4 days per week.***