Procurement Legal Analyst

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s (LBNL) Office of the Chief Financial Officer Division has an opening for a Procurement Legal Analyst to join the team.

In this exciting role, you will develop, maintain and provide support, exercising independent judgment to determine necessary training to the department on the prime contract, subcontract articles, and general provisions in procurement. You will create a formal relationship and work closely with the Office of Laboratory Counsel (OLC), and the Business Assurance Manager to strategically manage terms, conditions, exceptions, develop and execute policies and procedures, and provide oversight when procurement specialists negotiate terms and conditions.

Having a broad expertise and unique legal acumen, you will contribute to the development of objectives and principles and to achieve goals in effective ways. Assignments include providing guidance on highly complex terms and conditions that are critical to Laboratory programs and acquisitions governed by the Lab’s Prime Contract, the Laboratory Procurement Standard Practices(SPs); Berkeley Lab Supplemental Instructions; and generally accepted best business practices. Determine the most appropriate purchasing methods to procure the goods and/or services. Partner with OLC on contract interpretation, negotiation, developing and evaluating the effectiveness of existing and revised procurement processes.

The BA Legal Analyst may have the potential to supervise in this position in the future.

What You Will Do:

• Maintains the buyer’s playbook guide. This includes updating the guide as necessary for new or modified requirements to explain what each subcontract article and general provision clause means, the importance, acceptable alternatives for procurement specialists, including what is non-negotiable and identifying what changes will need Legal and/or DOE approval.
• Trains procurement specialists on common exceptions to subcontract articles and general provision clauses and use of the guide, negotiations, etc.
• Serves as liaison between the Office of Laboratory Counsel and the Procurement Department to establish effective solutions to modified terms and conditions of contract.
• Processes terms and conditions exceptions in the ASkUs system; Utilizes the ASkUs ticketing system to track exception requests from initiation to completion, facilitating the process throughout; Monitors reports from the AskUs tracking system on a routine basis and analyze the data in order to identify potential improvements.
• Review actions needing OLC and DOE approval for terms and conditions exceptions such as Contract Review Board packages; Consults and meets regularly with OLC for exceptions to standard terms and conditions; Directly participate, as required, in negotiations of terms and conditions with suppliers while balancing the needs of our internal customers and stakeholders.
• Responsible, with limited direction, for drafting new Laboratory-specific procedures ensuring policies meet OCFO and institutional standards and requirements for policy development; may direct others in this effort. Responsible for assigning revisions of SPs for the Laboratory, and revising SPs.
• Coordinates with high-level individuals of both internal and external organizations in formulating policies and procedures including the University of California Procurement Policy and Standard Practices Manual (SPs), Desk Guides and other resource documents.
• Provides expertise and guidance in interpreting the prime contract, subcontract articles, and general provisions to assure compliance.
• Serves as a Procurement representative for the analysis of prime contract modifications and assessment of impact of proposed procurement-related changes to the Prime Contract considering existing Laboratory practices and federal and state requirements.
• Evaluates proposed and current procurement policies, procedures, and Prime Contract clauses against proposed clauses and DOE Orders, and develops the Laboratory/Procurement position on these clauses and DOE Orders.
• Exercises ingenuity in specifying innovative procedures and systems, often of unusual complexity, for implementing requirements.
• Helps procurement specialists negotiate terms and conditions exceptions including implementing changes in work methods, systems, procedures, or forms to increase service efficiency/effectiveness or in response to new or modified Prime Contract requirements.
• Utilize research skills in interpreting, the Laboratory’s prime contract, relevant federal regulations, executive orders, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR), DOE Acquisition Letters, FAR Cases, Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) notices, DOE Orders, UC policies. Analyze and interpret these complex procurement directives and apply them to Laboratory procurement operations to determine impact and implementation.
• Leads efforts around implementation and management of UC policy and CA regulations around restrictions for contracting related to collective bargaining agreements or California law that impact the Procurement process and related policies. Manage the related reporting requirements and engagement with UC and third party entities.
• Manages the Laboratory’s General Provisions and drafts revisions for BA Manager and Lab Counsel review and approval.
• Leads the annual content review, suggested edits, and approvals of general provisions.
• Participate actively in process improvement and reengineering efforts related to the prime contract, subcontract articles, and general provisions.
• Performs special Procurement projects as assigned. Projects may include Supply Chain metrics/reports, special studies or analyses of procurement and/or Lab-wide issues. Plans, organizes, and conducts analytical studies related to specific assignments. Collects, compiles, and analyzes qualitative and quantitative data. Determines and evaluates levels of achievement and performance.
• Supports Procurement Training and Development Program, participating in Training and Development team meetings, developing training presentations and delivering training.

What is Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in accounting, business, law or equivalent training and experience plus a minimum of 10 years related experience.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience with general contractual and procurement matters.
• Excellent negotiation, interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain long-term working relationships with a broad cross-section of people.
• Demonstrated experience in and knowledge of contracting including planning, solicitation, negotiation, award, and administration of high-dollar value, unique, and complex subcontracts in a research and development environment.
• Strong knowledge with FAR and generally accepted best business practices.
• Experience in a position that supports contract law matters.
• Understanding of industry practices.
• Ability to multitask, maintain a high level of accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure and successfully meet deadlines.
• Ability to professionally and effectively interact with all level of personnel, both internal and external to the Laboratory.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Excellent organizational, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience monitoring and tracking workflow.

Desired Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate (JD) or comparable postgraduate academic degree.
• Experience working in a National Laboratory environment.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) based contracting.
• At least 6 years of relevant experience in contracts negotiations.
• Strong working knowledge of the administration of a wide variety of contract types (Fixed Price, Cost Reimbursement, Time and Materials, Labor hour, etc.).
• Experience with evaluating the effectiveness of existing procurement processes and developing improved procurement processes.
• Experience with independently developing documents and working on process improvement and reengineering efforts.
• Understanding of Laboratory policies and procedures.
• Familiar with applicable LBNL Procurement Standard Practices, DOE Acquisition Regulations (DEAR), and UC Standard Practices.
• Proficiency with Google applications, Microsoft Suite, Adobe, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system (i.e. PeopleSoft, Oracle, or SAP), and Zoom.
• Experience performing administrative functions related to the practice of law.
• DAWIA, FAC-C Certification, NCMA Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), NCMA Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CPFM), or equivalent certification.