Agreement Specialist - Professional III

National Laboratory of the Rockies; Golden (CO); Hybrid; USD 77,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Pension benefits

403(b) employer match

Tuition reimbursement

Relocation assistance

Job summary

National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) in Golden, CO seeks an experienced Agreement Specialist to oversee negotiations for sponsored research agreements, CRADAs, and SPAs, enabling collaborations with industry, academia, and utilities.

You will work with legal, finance, and business development teams to close complex contracts, ensure compliance with DOE policies, and manage a portfolio from kickoff to execution in a hybrid onsite schedule.

Qualifications

• Relevant Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of experience or equivalent education/experience.
• Master's degree with 3+ years of experience or equivalent education/experience.
• PhD or JD or equivalent education/experience accepted.

Responsibilities

• Draft, edit, and finalize research contracts and agreements.
• Negotiate, obtain approval for, close, and administer sponsored contracts.
• Manage agreements including CRADAs and SPAs and coordinate with labs and DOE.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Project management

Problem solving

Team player

Detail orientation

Organization skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

JD

Job description

Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Posting Title

Agreement Specialist - Professional III

Location

CO - Golden

Position Type

Regular

Hours Per Week

40

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

NLR’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO) is responsible for planning, directing, and executing NLR’s sponsored research agreements, intellectual property, and licensing programs. The Office manages the negotiation and oversight of research and intellectual property-related agreements working in close strategy coordination with multiple offices across the Lab and at Department of Energy (DOE). The Office also provides leadership and guidance across the laboratory on technology transfer and intellectual property matters, develops staff expertise, and builds and improves the business processes and systems that support partnering and commercialization.

TTO is seeking an experienced contract negotiation specialist to close complex, funded, sponsored research agreements with industry, utility, and academic partners. This is an opportunity to be part of a highly collaborative team that enables world-class researchers to develop technologies and solutions that address some of the nation’s most important technical challenges. By finding workable paths through complex contractual, business, legal, federal, and institutional requirements, you will enable NLR researchers and external partners to work together, bring funding and capabilities to the Laboratory, and move innovative ideas from concept toward real-world applications.

You will work closely with NLR researchers, business development, legal, and finance on projects across technical areas such as critical mineral supply chains, geothermal, and advanced computing. You will negotiate and manage a portfolio of sponsored research agreements from business development support through negotiation, execution, and administration. You will work on both standard and non-standard agreements to develop solutions to complicated and multi-faceted contracting issues.

This role requires strong critical thinking, solid judgment, diplomacy, and customer service, as well as the ability to independently navigate ambiguity and develop creative, compliant solutions within applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. You will work under general direction to independently develop suitable solutions and execute agreements. This is a mid-level contracts position with opportunities for advancement.

Essential Responsibilities

• Draft, edit, and finalize research contracts and agreements to ensure clarity, compliance, and alignment with institutional policies.
• Negotiates, obtains approval for, closes, and administers standard and nonstandard funded or cost share only sponsored research contracts.
• Manages, negotiates, and processes a diverse range of agreements - including federally/non-federally funded sponsored research agreements such as Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) and Strategic Partnership Projects (SPP) Agreements.
• Communicates well with partners and stakeholders.
• Advises management and makes recommendations to address roadblocks in contract negotiations.
• Maintains accurate and timely data in the central database system.
• Coordinates with and informs technical staff in developing contracting parameters and requirements.
• Handles complex agreement negotiations and a high volume of transactions.
• Trains other staff in specific job functions, as needed.
• Assesses often competing priorities and to ensure deadlines are met.
• Works closely with NLR attorneys, business development staff, finance staff, and researchers to resolve contractual issues.
• Maintains liaison with Department of Energy (DOE) concerning NLR’s sponsored programs and related policies/procedures
• Represents NLR in negotiations to ensure consistent application of contract provisions and policies and proactively and independently addresses issues.
• Ensures compliance with DOE policies (e.g., fiscal, property, intellectual property) in cooperation with other NLR offices.
• Collaborate and partner with our business development Strategic Partnership Office (SPO).

Basic Qualifications

Relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant PhD or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant JD or equivalent relevant education/experience. Complete understanding and wide application of technical principles, theories and concepts in the field. General knowledge of other related disciplines. Considerable knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Strong leadership, project management and problem solving skills. Ability to use various computer software programs.

• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Ability to work with ambiguity on a daily basis depending upon contract and customer.
• Demonstrated depth of experience negotiating complex contracts involving significant legal, business, financial, and customer considerations.
• Proven ability to independently negotiate complex, high-value, and/or high-risk contracts and agreements.
• Lifelong learner who is eager to develop a deep understanding of the organization, its research, and the complexities of sponsored research partnerships.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Strong customer relationship development and client satisfaction skills.
• Exceptional communication and excellent customer service skills.
• Strong team player. Collaborative with both team and stakeholders across the Lab.
• Strong organization skills, project management and problem-solving skills.
• Detail orientation and ability to follow current processes and procedures.
• Must be able to work a hybrid schedule onsite at our Golden, CO location 2–3 days per week.
• Ability to use various computer software programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Federal contracting and/or Research and Development (R&D) contracting experience.

Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: Professional III / Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400

NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.

• Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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