Responsibilities

The Directorate Contract Manager is a Group Leader responsible for leading contracting activities for assigned Laboratory directorates. This position provides strategic direction, manages a complex contracting portfolio, leads professional staff, and serves as a trusted contracting advisor to Laboratory leadership and customers.

The role requires extensive contracting expertise, including application of FAR and DEAR requirements within the DOE Management and Operating (M&O) environment, as well as strong business judgment, strategic leadership, and the ability to influence and collaborate across organizational boundaries.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and develop a team of contracting professionals responsible for acquisitions ranging from commercial goods and services to complex, high-risk requirements, including construction, fabricated hardware, foreign awards, and specialized contracting activities.
• Develop and execute contracting strategies that align Laboratory and directorate priorities with DOE requirements and mission needs.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and strategic advisor on contracting strategy, policy, risk, FAR/DEAR requirements, and DOE M&O contracting.
• Establish priorities, allocate resources, and manage workload to achieve schedule, quality, customer service, and compliance objectives.
• Evaluate complex contracting and business issues, assess risk, and recommend solutions that balance mission, compliance, cost, schedule, and business needs.
• Provide direction and oversight for acquisition strategies, solicitations, evaluations, awards, modifications, negotiations, and contracting documentation.
• Use business data, metrics, and key performance indicators to monitor performance, identify risks and trends, and drive continuous improvement.
• Build strong partnerships with Laboratory leadership, customers, stakeholders, and peers across the DOE laboratory complex.
• Anticipate emerging business and contracting requirements and strengthen organizational capabilities, processes, tools, and workforce readiness.
• Lead cross-organizational initiatives and represent PC&A in strategic activities and working groups.
• Recruit, coach, develop, and manage professional staff, including Team Leaders, with responsibility for performance management, workforce planning, career development, recognition, retention, and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, customer service, and operational excellence.
• Develop and deliver briefings, training, and presentations for technical staff, customers, management, and senior leaders.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of federal contracting principles, practices, and regulations, including FAR/DEAR requirements and their application within a DOE Management and Operating (M&O) environment.
• Ability to develop contracting strategies and balance mission requirements, risk, cost, schedule, and compliance considerations.
• Strong business judgment and analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate complex issues and recommend practical solutions.
• Ability to advise and influence senior leaders, customers, and stakeholders on complex contracting and business matters.
• Ability to lead, coach, and develop professional staff while fostering accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and high performance.
• Ability to establish priorities, manage competing demands, allocate resources, and deliver results across multiple teams and work activities.
• Skill in using data, metrics, technology, and business systems to identify trends, support decisions, and improve organizational performance.
• Ability to identify and implement improvements in contracting processes, quality, compliance, cycle time, and customer experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex contracting concepts to technical, business, and senior leadership audiences.
• Ability to build effective partnerships and professional relationships across organizational boundaries.
• Sound judgment, discretion, tact, and diplomacy when navigating complex or sensitive business matters.

Domestic and/or international travel may be required.

This position is based at PNNL's Richland campus and requires a minimum of two days onsite per week. Additional onsite presence may be required based on business needs, team collaboration, and organizational priorities.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification:

• BS/BA and 10 years work experience -OR-
• MS/MA or higher and 8 years of experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five or more years of contracting experience, preferably within a DOE Management and Operating (M&O) environment.
• Experience applying FAR/DEAR requirements to complex or non-routine acquisitions.
• Demonstrated people-leadership experience, including hiring, performance management, coaching, employee development, and workforce planning.
• Experience leading multiple teams, major projects, organizational change, or cross-functional initiatives.
• Current DOE security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

Not Applicable

Testing Designated Position

This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).

Rockstar Rewards

Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.
* Research Associates excluded.
**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.

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Notice to Applicants

PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual's relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited-term positions which have specific pay rules.

As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.

Minimum Salary

USD $162,500.00/Yr.
Maximum Salary

USD $243,800.00/Yr.