Contract Administrator II or Sr. - LG&E and KU Services Company

Company Summary Statement :Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies, are regulated utilities that serve more than 1.3 million customers and have consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. LG&E serves 334,000 natural gas and 433,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 569,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia. LG&E and KU are major employers and active supporters of the communities they serve. They empower employees, community members and initiatives across their service territory through volunteerism and investments in organizations that support education, sustainability and wellbeing.Overview:

Responsible for the solicitation, negotiation and management of contracts for the acquisition of materials, equipment, and critical services at the best overall value on behalf of internal customers. Oversees the acquisition of project material and labor needs of internal customers as assigned by the Manager. Generally considered a position responsible for bidding, negotiating, contracting and managing acquisition projects of moderate complexity.

Responsibilities:

• Core Responsibilities Executes sourcing functions in support of power generation safety, operations, engineering, construction and maintenance activities within the fleet.
• Through bidding, selecting, negotiating and contracting with approved suppliers, responsibilities include measurement and feedback of safety performance, risk mitigation and management, costs and quality control.
• Leads cross functional teams in support of moderate to complex projects by development of the contracting strategy, project plan and management of contract performance.
• Develops negotiation strategies on moderate to complex contracts, partners with the company’s Legal Department to optimize appropriate levels of risk mitigation and conducts negotiations with sophisticated (national and international) counterparties. Establish strong relationships with internal business stakeholders; build a strong understanding of strategic business direction, requirements, and priorities across assigned suppliers and/or spend categories
• Drafts, negotiates and edits a variety of service, material and equipment contracts; master agreements; non-disclosure agreements (NDAs); and information technology protection agreements.
• Leads cross functional teams in support of complex projects by development of the contracting strategy, project plan and management of contract performance. Ensures compliance with and maintains accurate and auditable records in accordance with company policies and best practices.
• Works to develop and certify alternate sources of supply in areas where competition is not prevalent.
• Locates and provides opportunities to Diverse (VBE/WBE/MBE) suppliers. Identifies, negotiates and tracks cost savings that can be captured or reallocated within the business. Collaborates with business units to redefine and converge material / technical standards in an effort to lower costs.
• Develops, implements, and manages robust market analysis/benchmarking processes and monitors market volatility of capital equipment, commodities such as steel, fuels, chemicals etc., as well as specialized and craft labor to strategically plan purchases and ensure competitive pricing.
• Interfaces with Analysts and Warehouse Personnel to ensure inventory management goals are met.
• Designs strategic supplier performance monitoring reports and oversees ongoing performance monitoring of suppliers/contractors.
• Advises and assists internal customers on ORACLE processing issues. Assists Accounts Payable with invoice resolution.
• Drives continuous improvement and productivity with suppliers and internal customers.
• Performs other duties and assignments as directed by Manager.

Qualifications:

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

A bachelor’s degree plus minimum three years of sourcing experience, with utility-related products or services preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience on a year-for-year basis, is required. Strong verbal and written communication skills are required. Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications are required.

 

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Utility-related experience is preferred. Must be adaptable and have the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously. Strong analysis and negotiation skills; certification in purchasing/supply chain (C.P.M., C.P.S.M., etc.); ability to identify, assess and solve problems of both tactical and strategic nature; Outgoing and personable; analytical; comfortable with high levels of ambiguity; excellent financial analysis skills; good communicator (written, oral, listening), proficient with modern office software (Excel, Word, etc.), learns quickly, action oriented, able to think strategically, strong negotiating skills; experienced team leader and facilitator. A bachelor’s degree in a business, legal and/or engineering. Must be action-oriented, service minded and customer-focused. Ability to understand terminology used in the utilities and sourcing profession. Valid driver’s license.

 

WORK CONDITIONS

Normal office environment. Infrequent overnight travel may be required.

 

PHYSICAL EFFORTS

Mostly sitting. Must be able to drive to remote locations. Close work with modern office equipment.