Contract Specialist

Objective**

The Contract Specialist manages all phases of contract development, negotiation, and compliance for electric and broadband utility related agreements. This position serves as the primary liaison and ensures contracts meet all legal, regulatory, and cooperative standards.

**Essential Duties and Responsibilities**

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned.

- Serve as the primary liaison with contract representatives.

- Manage the full lifecycle of contracts, including drafting, reviewing, negotiating, executing, and administering agreements.

- Ensure all phases of contract developmentfrom initial research through final executionare conducted in accordance with applicable regulatory codes, federal/state laws, industry standards, and cooperative policies.

- Coordinate with engineering, operations, and accounting to ensure alignment of contract terms with cooperative goals while mitigating contract risk, obligations, and financial implications.

- Address and resolve contract breaches or disputes in a timely and professional manner.

- Maintain accurate contract records and documentation, including annual pricing negotiations.

- Ensure contracts align with organizational goals and effectively mitigate risk while protecting the companys interests.

**Competencies**

1. Ethics and integrity

2. Oral and written communication skills

3. Negotiation skills

4. Analytical and critical thinking

5. Organizational awareness and alignment

6. Collaboration and teamwork

7. Professional and technical credibility

8. Project and time management

9. Adaptability

10. Risk awareness and compliance

11. Service orientation

**Supervisory Responsibility**

None

**Work Environment**

This position operates in both office and field settings. Standard office equipment used includes computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and monitors. While performing field duties, the employee may occasionally be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; outdoor weather; extreme cold or heat; electrical hazards; and explosives. The work environment may be loud at times. The employee works in proximity to trenchers, line trucks, energized electrical lines, oil spills and clean-up operations.

**Physical Demands**

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

**Travel**

Periodic travel to state and local destinations, as well as some interstate travel is required.

**Required Education and Experience**

1. Bachelors degree in business, legal studies, engineering, public administration, or a related field required.

2. Knowledge of contract law and regulations.

3. Excellent verbal and written communication.

**Preferred Education and Experience**

1. Experience and/or certification in contract development and administration.

2. Experience with utility contracts, joint-use agreement, RUS standards, and regulatory compliance.

**Additional Eligibility Qualifications**

1. Valid Drivers License.

2. Legally eligible to work in the United States.

**EEO Statement**

Aiken Electric Cooperative, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status genetics, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

**At-Will Employment Statement**

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