We Are:
Fermilab is America’s premier laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. We support discovery science experiments in Illinois and at locations around the world, including deep underground mines in South Dakota and Canada, mountaintops in Arizona and Chile, CERN in Europe and the South Pole.
We are strategic risk takers, innovators, and collaborators. We are engineers, scientists, technicians, administrative professionals. We are over 2,000 employees advancing knowledge for the benefit of humankind. Fermilab has been at the forefront of particle physics for more than 40 years. We build world-leading accelerators and detectors to conduct some of the most advanced particle physics experiments possible. We collect and analyze the data from those experiments with some of the most powerful computers in the world. We conduct this research on a 6,800-acre prairie, 35 miles outside Chicago, a treasure that has been designated a National Environmental Research Park.
Fermi Research Alliance, LLC (FRA) manages and operates Fermilab on behalf of the US Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE). Within FRA, the Finance Division provides safe, efficient, effective financial operations in support of the Laboratory's high-energy physics program in accordance with all laws, regulations, and DOE requirements. Within the section, the Procurement Department is responsible for acquiring goods and services for the entire Laboratory. It provides helpful, professional support for all procurement requirements from the development of initial plans and requirements to subcontract closeout.
This Procurement Specialist for Universities role requires a strategic thinker with an acute understanding of the market, suppliers, and products to ensure that goods and services are procured at the best possible terms for FRA. These responsibilities are accomplished in cooperation with internal customers, FRA project teams, support personnel, subcontractors, and DOE, in accordance with established procurement policies and procedures, contract law, commercial practice, and applicable federal procurement regulations.
This role will execute on known or anticipated opportunities in the acquisition of goods and services while contributing to cost savings, partnerships with suppliers and other value-added activities to support the work of the Laboratory, primarily for custom fabrications for use in scientific endeavors.
You Will Be Required To:
• Execute the acquisition and supply chain management strategies commensurate with the needs of internal customers and stakeholders.
• Manage a large volume of complex purchases independently and effectively with minimal guidance.
• Adhere to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) purchasing requirements and FRA policies and procedures.
• Plan acquisition needs in advance to implement the best sourcing strategy.
• Complete the end-to-end acquisition process, including supplier closeout documents.
• Develop and lead purchasing strategies.
• Complete market research to support acquisition justification.
• Perform price or cost analysis to support acquisition justification.
• Through collaboration with the internal customer, draft solicitations for various goods and services, including front-end specification documents, a well-defined scope of work, and appropriate evaluation factors.
• Negotiate pricing, recommend awards, and prepare all necessary documentation supporting acquisition decisions.
• Negotiate terms and conditions, with consultation from the Office of the General Counsel for the issuance of subcontracts and purchase orders.
• Perform subcontract administration, including ensuring the timely delivery of goods and services, workplace safety, and other requirements, as appropriate, while updating periodically, as necessary.
• Ensure the completeness, organization, and accuracy of the subcontract file.
• Serve as a procurement subject matter expert on Fabrication projects.
• Build and maintain solid working relationships with internal and external customers and suppliers.
• Disseminate technical procurement advice and assistance to end users by applying FRA policies to each purchase and assist with purchasing processes and electronic systems.
We Are Looking For:
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or another relevant field and 7 years of relevant experience as a sourcing or procurement professional or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Understanding of the Buy American Act requirements.
• Experience in building and maintaining successful relationships with customers and suppliers.
• Ability to administer a wide variety of contract types and develop support contract documents.
• Proficiency in an electronic purchasing systems, Microsoft Suite, Adobe and remote platforms, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiating, oral, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated organizational, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Detailed-oriented with a strong demonstration of successful work in supporting team efforts.
• Experience developing solutions to various complex problems using the organization's established policies.
What We Desire:
• Advanced graduate degree
• Experience with various contract types, including fixed price, cost reimbursable, support services, and fabricated lab equipment
• Experience with Federal labor compliance (Davis-Bacon and Service Contract Act) or equivalent state or local labor law requirements.
• Certification (CPM, CFCM, CCCM, CPCM, CPPM, CPPO).
• Familiarity with applicable Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and DOE Acquisition Regulations (DEAR).
• Prior work experience as a member of a University Procurement Department or Public Entity Procurement Department
Physical Activity and Work Conditions:
Human Factors: Mental concentration, sitting, standing, tight work schedule, work may require up to 10% travel.
Hybrid Work Environment
Fermilab is an Equal Opportunity Employer and believes a diverse and inclusive environment based on mutual respect is essential to our mission. Fermilab is committed to recruiting and developing the most hardworking people and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, country of birth, geography/postal code, disability, marital status, parental or gestational status, or other non-merit factor.
REAL-ID Requirement for access to Fermilab Campus
Fermilab and FRA requires all members of the public to produce a REAL-ID, or equivalent, to access the Fermilab Campus for interviews or career events. A list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here: https://get-connected.fnal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/REALID-Documents.pdf If a candidate is selected for an interview but does not possess any of the equivalent documents, we may schedule a virtual interview.
