Senior Director, Pre-Award Contracts

RTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach-one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world's most challenging problems.

We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.

The successful incumbent of this role will manage and direct RTI Contract Negotiation and Sourcing teams, working closely with senior management in Contracts and Procurement, RTI Pre-Award leadership, and other internal groups as necessary.

Essential Duties:

• Lead the development of the function ensuring sufficient resources and needed skill sets are present to meet RTI growth objectives.
• Responsible for tracking, measuring and reporting on the efficiency and effectiveness of the function, identifying and implementing improvements in work processes, and identifying systems requirements associated with those proposed improvements.
• Have both strategic and operational oversight and accountability for the direction and performance functions being managed.
• Responsible for keeping abreast of and leveraging new methodologies to advance the business.
• Provide expert guidance on various rules and regulations (Federal Acquisitions Regulations (FAR), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Standardized Regulations, OMB Circulars, and other procurement regulations) that may affect the operation of the function.
• Oversee the development, maintenance and adherence to standard operating procedures.
• Interact with proposal/project team members and functions as necessary to ensure compliance with solicitation provisions or contract requirements and to alert appropriate parties to issues requiring resolution or action.
• Review proposals submissions or draft awards as needed.
• Review, draft, edit and negotiate contractual terms and conditions with external customers. Work closely with the technical team to analyze acquisition requirements or contract management issues and coordinate the activities of the team responsible for responding.
• Manage staff through performance, work plan and development planning process. Ensure staff development and career progression. Ensure practices in place to drive towards a high level of staff morale and retention. Guide promotion and succession processes. Ensure the professional credibility of the group function internally, and externally with key professional organizations. Help to develop the professional stature of staff.
• Advise technical staff, finance partners, and other stakeholders at all levels regarding applicable RTI policies and procedures, and best practices to advance RTI's business objectives.
• Understand risk mitigation strategies and draft applicable proposal or contract terms and conditions, and make credible and supportable arguments during negotiations or issue resolution.
• Attend bid boards, proposal review team meetings, kick-off meetings, lessons learned, project review meetings and contribute to these meetings by presenting and championing Contracts related issues.
• Conduct outreach sessions to groups across RTI to ensure services are meeting needs of internal customers.
• Contribute across the organization in working with most senior managers on broad strategic, contractual, procurement, and operational issues.

• Have signature authority for award documents and contracts up to $50 million.

Typical Education & Experience Requirements

Bachelor's Degree and 20 years of experience, Master's degree and 16 years of experience, PhD or JD and 12 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills & Abilities

Below are skills and abilities required to perform the essential duties of this job. An addendum that clarifies additional skills and abilities for incumbents in this job may be used in addition to this description.

• Excellent knowledge of MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel.
• Extensive knowledge of contracts/procurement principles and terminology as well as advanced knowledge of finance or accounting
• Ability to identify risks and ensure RTI interests are appropriately protected
• Ability to interpret, draft, and negotiate highly complex contractual agreements
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and follow tasks to completion
• Ability to work well with others
• Ability to listen and communicate well both verbally and in writing
• Ability to work independently
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to obtain proper security clearances as noted by contracts
• Ability to work in excess of 40 hours per week as workload and deadlines may required
• Ability to travel throughout the year as needed
• Demonstration of the RTI Values and Lead Forward behaviors by all employees is critical to the Institute's success. Behaviors associated with our Values and Lead Forward can been found on RTI Insider and Careers page.

For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is availablehere.

RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

For Applicants in Massachusetts Only:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States. RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.